NBC's '30 Rock,' 'Community,' and 'Parks and Recreation' will be renewed, sources say
However, all three NBC shows will have shortened seasons.
'30 Rock' will be one of the NBC comedies returning for an abbreviated season next year.
Ali Goldstein/NBC/AP
For those who are big fans of NBC鈥檚 Thursday night comedy line up, the news is good as the network is close to smoothing out deals for 听and to return next season鈥攂ut there鈥檚 a catch.
In what will be the seventh (and most likely final) season of 30 Rock, the Emmy-winning comedy series has been cut down to an episode count of only 13 or 14 shows. NBC has secured deals with the series鈥 key writers as well as co-executive producers Jack Burditt, Josh Siegal, and Dylan Morgan. Community and Parks and Recreation are also expected to make a return for next season, also with reductions in episodes. Following a ,听Community to complete its third season and will enter its fourth next fall with Parks and Rec back for a fifth.
No official word if either Parks and Recreation or Community will meet their ends next season鈥攂ut rumors of 30 Rock鈥檚 swan song have been popping up for awhile 鈥 one of being from the unmuzzled mouth of 听show star Alec Baldwin. After Twitter tirades about new time slots, and 鈥渟talking鈥 from NBC鈥檚 Today Show, Baldwin stated that he will be back on the hit comedy next year, but 2013 will be its end. Baldwin then concluded his online outburst with 鈥I think I鈥檓 leaving NBC just in time.鈥 听The much calmer Tina Fey added to the claim last month on The View by saying the end is 鈥visible on the horizon鈥 We can鈥檛 do this for 35 years.鈥
NBC abbreviating its veteran Thursday night lineup may be a way of not only saving some money, but making room for the new comedies the network has planned 鈥 including , starring former Friends alum Matthew Perry, which the network has . With freshman shows and not doing so well, it seems likely both will be added to the comedy cleanse 鈥 especially Whitney,听as show star Whitney Cummings has ! called Love You, Mean It with Whitney Cummings, which is set to air this fall.
Scott Stoute blogs at .