When NBC canceled it in May, Community was supposed to drop out of TV for good. Instead, the series took a cue from its characters and reenrolled at Yahoo. ''We've always been a Web series,'' says Gillian Jacobs, returning as perpetual wet blanket Britta. ''We're now just finally on the Web. It's a brave new world of...'' she pauses. ''TV?'' she considers. ''Content,'' she concludes.

A few changes worth noting: Yvette Nicole Brown asked to be released from her contract to care for her father, which means her Shirley will follow Chevy Chase's Pierce and Donald Glover's Troy away from the study table. To replace the absent members of the study group, the show is bringing in two new characters. Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds) will play Frankie Dart, a troubleshooter hired to help Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) in the never-ending quest to save Greendale from oblivion. Meanwhile, baritone-voiced character actor Keith David will join the cast as an inventor. ''He's very smart, very proud, and made the mistake of focusing too much on his work in the past,'' says Harmon. ''Now he has no idea what he's going to do with the last chapter of his life.''

For Harmon, a sixth season is both a step forward and a chance to get back to the show's roots. ''We wanted to recapture a look and feel of season 1,'' he says. ''That means building a foundation of immersiveness, believing Greendale is a real place, as opposed to surrendering to the fact that it's kind of a magical place. There's no episode so far where everyone's a Roman gladiator.'' —Darren Franich