In a sweeping decision that will no doubt affect television production for years to come, NBC has cancelled the basic concept of “comedy, with regard to or in the purpose of mirthmaking, satire, puns, parody, and all efforts that might purposefully or inadvertently elicit joy.” This decision has been “in the works for years” according to top network brass.
“About midway through The Office’s run we realized that comedy was no longer viable as an artform,” reported NBC spokesperson Grant Fried. “We decided to removed comedy from the remainder of The Office series and were pleased with the results.”
NBC reiterated that it would be excising comedy as an overarching concept, removing it from the public consciousness slowly but surely, even if it meant brushing the competition the wrong way. “Comedy Central, or as we call it now, Nothing Central, was particularly miffed by this decision.” Broad City is expected to be a direct casualty of this decision, as it was one of the lone hold-outs of comedy on the network.
When long-standing NBC comedy institution Saturday Night Live was broached for comment on this matter, producer Lorne Michaels reminded reporters that “we have already been operating under this assumption for years. No changes are necessary.”
Matt Shore 