Chevy Chase leaves ‘COMMUNITY’, couldn’t have it before Harmon?

Chevy Chase, everyone’s favorite douchebag, has left Community. A bit of sour grapes upside my head, since I imagine he had something to do with Dan Harmon getting the boot. As my Nana used to say as she was throwing her diaper out the window, “good riddance to bad rubbish!”

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How do you let a piece of unsavory news fly as far under the radar as possible? Announce it late in the afternoon the day before a major holiday. It’s hardly a surprise at this point, given how much he’s trashed the show, but Chevy Chase is officially leaving “Community.” Bet you didn’t see that coming.

Over the past year the actor has called joining the show “a big mistake,” and also said that it could be funnier, and that’s not to mention a very public explosion between himself and former showrunner Dan Harmon (though they both kind of acted like children in that instance). And oh yeah, there was his recent on set tirade in which he apparently dropped an n-bomb. Oof. Either way, it has always seemed one foot was out the door already, and now it’s fully closed behind him. Most of the 13 episode season has been shot, so Chase will be appearing except for the last one or two shows.

Chase has never had the greatest reputation in Hollywood, and if his goal was to alienate himself even further, well, mission accomplished. He’s got a couple of credits coming up — a drama called “Before I Sleep,” a comedy in “Lovesick” — but yeah, it’s the first time we’re really hearing about them too and we probably wouldn’t have looked them up otherwise. Most actors — particularly those with little other prospects brewing — would kill to be able to play alongside a young cast who are making waves. But Chase seems to have bristled from day one. Anyway, “Community” returns on February 7th. Annie responds to the Chase news below. [Deadline]