The ultimate two seasons of “Group” had been a painful affair, because the beloved comedy sequence fought valiantly in opposition to its personal inevitable decline. The present shedding its unique showrunner, Dan Harmon, after season 3 was the primary strike. Harmon returned to “Group” in season 5, however then the present needed to cope with the departure of two main solid members, Chevy Chase and Donald Glover. Strike two.
By the tip of season 5, there was nonetheless some hope that the present might need loads of years left in it. The departure of Troy and Pierce was dealt with gracefully, and the standard of the writing itself had returned to pre-season 4 high quality. Then “Group” was canceled, after which introduced again to viaa little-known streaming service run by Yahoo, after which a complete different spherical of solid departures was introduced. Not solely would Buzz Hickey (Jonathan Banks) and Professor Ian Duncan (John Oliver) not be in season 6, however the nice Shirley Bennett (Yvette Nicole Brown) was leaving the sequence too. Strike three.
Of the seven unique solid members that made up the research group, solely 4 now had been left. “Group” season 6 was nonetheless a enjoyable time, however the present at this level appeared to know the tip instances had been close to. It was principally 13 episodes straight of “Group” coming to phrases with its personal demise. The present may simply barely deal with Troy and Pierce leaving. Shirley leaving was the ultimate straw, however there was an excellent purpose for Brown’s departure.
Why did Yvette Nicole Brown depart Group?
In September 2014, Yvette Nicole Brown introduced that she’d be leaving the present as a result of she needed to care for her sick father. “My dad wants day by day care and he wants me,” she informed TV Information. “The concept of being away 16 hours a day for 5 months, I could not do it. It was a tough resolution for me to make, however I had to decide on my dad.”
The “Group” producers had been unhappy to see her go, however had been nonetheless supportive of the choice. Dan Harmon and co-executive producer Chris McKenna launched an announcement together with the information, saying, “Yvette was an integral a part of ‘Group’ and is irreplaceable. We’re unhappy to see her go and need her the easiest.” In a 2024 interview, Brown talked a bit extra about her relationship along with her dad, explaining:
“I have been my dad’s full-time caregiver for 11 years. He has Alzheimer’s and he used to reside with me. Sadly, he had a fall a couple of months in the past. Now he is bedridden and requires 24-hour care that I am unable to give him anymore. He nonetheless remembers me and says ‘Hello’ once I are available in. However so far as having lengthy conversations with this man that’s pleasant and humorous and clever, we will not do this anymore.”
That interview was to advertise her current podcast, “Squeezed,” which is all about her expertise with caregiving and navigating the healthcare system in America. “The sequence is a love letter to those that look after others, whether or not that is an aged guardian or the particular person subsequent door or your youngsters,” she defined.
How did Group clarify Shirley’s absence?
“Group” season 6 took inspiration from actual life and established early on that Shirley had left to care for her ailing father. In fact, “Group” wasn’t content material with leaving it there; it additionally established that Shirley had gotten a job “as a private chef to a superb, however troubled Southern detective.” Abed describes it as a by-product, and Annie insists that no person “spins off” in actual life. Nonetheless, the premiere ends with a scene of Shirley in her new life in Atlanta. It is just a few minutes lengthy, however it establishes the premise for a TV present that appears genuinely thrilling. I do know it is a joke, however I might 100% watch this:
Shirley was talked about repeatedly all through season 6, particularly since Britta was now working on the on-campus sandwich store Shirley established in season 3. She makes one remaining shock look in the sequence finale, throughout an imaginary research desk scene dreamed up by Abed. Granted, this is not a canon Shirley second, as her interactions with Frankie and Annie listed below are all in Abed’s creativeness. Nonetheless, it was good to have her again.
The excellent news for Shirley followers is that the actress now appears very out there for the upcoming “Group” film. We nonetheless do not know when it is popping out, however Yvette Nicole Brown appears very a lot enthusiastic about it. “We do not know when, however I am on board,” she informed TVLine in August 2024.