Line #21 Creator/DanHarmon


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dan-Harmon_538.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:[[http://channel101.wikia.com/wiki/Story_Structure_101:_Super_Basic_Shit Check this out!]][[superscript:[[note]]Storytelling insights from Dan.[[/note]]]]]]
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4	->''"I'm his biggest fan, and ''I'' fired him."''
5	-->-- '''Creator/SarahSilverman'''
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7	Daniel James Harmon (born January 3, 1973) is the creator of ''Website/{{Channel 101}}'', ''Series/TheSarahSilvermanProgram'', ''Series/{{Community}}'', ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Krapopolis}}'', ''Series/{{HarmonQuest}}'', ''Series/GreatMindsWithDanHarmon'' and ''Series/HeatVisionAndJack''. Frequent collaborator of Creator/RobSchrab and master of creating [[CultClassic Cult Classics]]. Showrunner on ''Community'' for seasons 1-3 and 5-6 (he was fired before season four). Executive producer of ''WesternAnimation/LittleDemon''. Currently the creator / executive producer of ''WesternAnimation/{{Krapopolis}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/StrangePlanet2023''.
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9	Interviews with the cast of ''Series/{{Community}}'' suggest he reads a lot of websites regarding his show. This, combined with the nature of [[MetaGuy Abed]], suggests he's JustForFun/OneOfUs. He is [[http://twitter.com/danharmon/status/3266557937459200 a confirmed reader of TV Tropes.]] Also a confirmed redditor with [[http://www.reddit.com/r/community/comments/gvcaj/iama_creator_of_the_tv_show_community_ama three]] [[http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/yne9x/i_am_dan_harmon_creator_of_community_writer_of amazing]] [[https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/5azrwi/im_dan_harmon_executive_producer_and_star_of IamA AMAs.]] He also hosts the weekly podcast ''Podcast/{{Harmontown}}'' with Jeff Davis.
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11	!!Tropes pertaining to Dan Harmon:
12	* AntiNihilist: Both ''Series/{{Community}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' are about how the meaninglessness of existence makes family and friends really important as they're our only way of coping in a hostile world.
13	--> '''Morty:''' Nobody exists on purpose. Nobody belongs everywhere. Everyone's going to die. Come watch TV?
14	* BlackComedyRape: It shows up a lot in Community's HilariousOuttakes (along with Don Glover, Joel Mc Hale and Allison Brie who also often joke or playact the subject), but in his shows it's rarely treated with anything but dead seriousness.
15	* CentralTheme: How the meaninglessness of our life makes our loved ones all the more important as they are our only way of coping in a hostile world.
16	* CreatorThumbprint:
17	** His works often feature positive portrayals of characters who have symptoms of autism-spectrum disorders (Abed in ''Community'' is almost certainly the most obvious example; ''Rick and Morty'' both have elements of this as well). In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emo-OT3RzQc&feature=youtu.be at least one interview,]] he has mentioned possibly being on the spectrum himself and spoken about how he feels that much of what is written off as being a "disorder" is actually a matter of perceiving the world and behaving differently from other humans, and that the fear of being alone is common to all of humanity. He's also spoken about how he feels the autism spectrum needs more positive representation in media, and noted how closely the community tended to identify with these characters and that he didn't want to let them down.
18	** Incest has come up way too many times to be a co-incidence. Arguably reaches it's zenith when an episode of ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' has a Giant Incest Baby as a major element of TWO episodes.
19	** Redheaded women seem to be his cup of tea.
20	** His works will often [[DeconstructiveParody subvert and make fun of meaningful story and sitcom conventions]].
21	* DeconstructiveParody: Part of his SignatureStyle.
22	* DeconstructorFleet: His projects will often deconstruct as many storytelling tropes as possible. To be more specific:
23	** ''Series/{{Community}}'' deconstructs many classic sitcom plots, typical story conventions, and as many genres as possible.
24	** ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' deconstructs ''Main/WesternAnimation'' ''Main/FantasticComedy'' shows. It also mixes it with deconstructions of various 80s cult movies and common tropes related to science-fiction such as the philosophy of nihilism and the MadScientist archetype.
25	** ''WesternAnimation/{{Krapopolis}}'' is one to [[DomCom family sitcoms]] and every aspect of Myth/ClassicalMythology.
26	* DeconReconSwitch: His projects will often tend to subvert and deconstruct a lot of plot conventions usually found in sitcoms or classic stories while also following them.
27	* ExecutiveMeddling: On the ''Series/TheSarahSilvermanProgram'' his BunnyEarsLawyer nature was what got him kicked off alongside his personality making him hard to work with. On ''Series/{{Community}}'' this was what was publicly stated to be the reason for his firing after Season 3, but was later revealed to have actually been Harmon sexually harassing a member of the writing staff[[note]]He had already apologized for this well before it came to light[[/note]]. Thankfully, Harmon has been doing better since he made his public apology and hasn't been causing nearly as many problems on set as he used to.
28	* HeroicComedicSociopath: In a Dan Harmon show, a comedic sociopath that is part of the main cast is expected. ''Series/{{Community}}'' has Jeff Winger, ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' has Rick Sanchez, and ''WesternAnimation/{{Krapopolis}}'' has Deliria, (who is known as the goddess of self-destruction and questionable choices).
29	* OldShame: He admitted that he was unimpressed with his work on ''WesternAnimation/MonsterHouse''. Outside of his work, he has also admitted that, during his time on ''Community'' where he was sexually harassing an employee and lying to his girlfriend, he said he deserved to be fired. His public apology for that has been lauded as "a master class in how to apologize". Harmon has since gotten a lot better over the years and has not been fired from any of his shows since.
30	* ThePerfectionist: Harmon tends to be a guy who is very hard on himself and he even admitted he had this problem for years. It was likely at his worst during production of ''Rick and Morty'' season 3. This seems to have died down in recent years and he is less likely to put pressure on himself and his writing.
31	* RousseauWasRight: In ''Series/{{Community}}'' and even surprisingly WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty. Many characters struggle to truly learn lessons and develop as people. However, we learn why they are that way and can therefore sympathize with them, and they ''do'' learn and grow, though it's difficult for them.
32	* SignatureStyle: His shows will often take simple and familiar concepts and turn them into [[DeconstructiveParody deconstructive parodies]] of various story conventions and genres. This will help explore the messed up and relatable turmoil of their seemingly cliched character archetypes. Characters don't particularly have any meaningful character development but we do see more of what makes them who they are and with repeated effort ''do'' slowly but surely get better over time. There also tends to be a lot of incest, redheads, and positive portrayals of people on the autistic spectrum in his works.
33	* SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers: This is essentially the arc of more than one of his protagonists. Both [[Series/{{Community}} Jeff Winger]] and [[WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty Rick Sanchez]] learn that their cynical and self-serving outlook on life have ultimately left them lonely, miserable, delusioned, riddled with psychological issues, and toxic towards those they care about.
34	* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: Cynically optimistic for the most part. His stories are [[DeconstructiveParody deconstructive parodies]] of meaningful story conventions with a dose of harsh realities and a lack of genuine character development. Despite this, they remain fairly insightful even when in a world filled to the brim with bleakness. That lack of genuine development is relative, however, as his shows, alongside others like ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' show a more realistic kind of development that takes years of hard work and often involves failure and backsliding.
35	** ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' is widely considered one of the most nihilistic cartoons on television. However, the series likes to heavily subvert its overly idealistic ''and'' cynical moments. Many episodes still present insightful ideas on being happy in life. There are also story elements that get exposed that show that this nihilism is at least partially caused by the collective actions of the Ricks.

Context Creator / DanHarmon