Joel McHale Was Almost Cut From ‘Community’ – Here’s Why

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Community is unique among sitcoms due to its exceptional ensemble cast. It’s difficult to picture anyone else embodying the characters in the study group, but according to Joel McHale, he almost didn’t make the cut at the last moment. McHale recently shared this story on the podcast “Dinner’s On Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson.” He revealed that NBC had initially considered another actor for the role of Jeff Winger. McHale stated that the only reason he landed the part was due to the efforts of series creator and showrunner Dan Harmon, who advocated for McHale as the slick lawyer. The network’s preferred choice was Michael Rosenbaum, known for his role in Smallville.

According to McHale, both the network and Harmon desired Michael Rosenbaum for the role. He mentioned that it came down to a very tight race. Furthermore, McHale shared that Harmon’s preference was influenced by his girlfriend at the time, who was an ardent fan of McHale’s show The Soup. However, he clarified that there were no hard feelings between him and Rosenbaum during the casting phase.

He remembered Rosenbaum as incredibly cool and encouraging. This is because, just like when you land a show, you never truly know what to expect.

At that point, McHale was well-known for his notable stint on Smallville where he portrayed Lex Luthor from the initial seven seasons, but parted ways with the show in 2008. Fast forward to 2009, Community debuted, and by then, McHale had limited experience in scripted TV roles. However, he was already a recognizable figure for television enthusiasts, due to his weekly on-camera commentary on viral videos that resonated with viewers.

As I reflect on my journey as a film critic, the hilarious and innovative show “Community” marked the beginning of my thriving career in television, leading me to take on several lead roles in other sitcoms, such as my current project, “Animal Control”. Meanwhile, McHale has also carved out an impressive niche for himself in the world of television. In stark contrast, Rosenbaum’s career has soared primarily in Hollywood, with many of his notable roles gracing the silver screen rather than the small one. He even donned the armor of Martinex T’Naga, one of the Ravagers, in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and its sequel. Interestingly, there was a proposal for a standalone Ravagers film at one point, so it’s possible that this character could gain prominence within the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the future.

The community has solidified itself as one of the most outstanding sitcoms of its time, and it’s set to take another lap in triumph. After numerous years of anticipation and preparation, the Community movie will commence filming this year. In the interim, you can catch the main series on Peacock and Tubi streaming platforms right now.

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2025-03-30 18:11