Dan Harmon discusses his new documentary and his own self-destruction By Sidney Butler

“[Harmontown] is the direct emotional result of losing my job, I had two choices; I could do what a good person does and cope with it and get back to work writing new scripts for new shows that could either succeed or fail or I could avoid that entirely or go get hugged by people who already loved what I did. I did the cowardly thing.”

In May of 2012, was fired from the show he created for NBC, . During this period of unemployment Dan sought out to fill his time by going on tour for his podcast Harmontown, which was then known only by locals and the most avid Community fans. In January of 2013, Harmon, his director Neil Berkeley, his podcast partner Jeff B. Davis (Whose Line is it Anyway), his girlfriend Erin McGathy (now fiancé), and his gaming enthusiast Spencer Crittenden (Apple store in Moorpark) went on tour across the United States while recording the entire process. Harmontown is the journey taken by a gang of misfits who set out to help Dan Harmon discover who he truly is as well as who the people are who adore him.

Harmontown does a lot of humanizing; it portrays the internal struggle of a complex man in a comedic way. Through Harmon’s interaction with his fans more of his psyche and personal self is reflected.

“I think I went out [on tour] looking for those “atta boys” and pats on the back, but I also think I went out looking for self-destruction, and for people to boo me off stage. I wanted to worship myself, hate myself, love myself and go out in front of people and succeed or fail and have them judge me for who I was instead of what I’ve done.”

Harmon does not hesitate to reveal himself emotionally in this documentary. He puts everything out on the table and let’s his audience judge him for who he truly is; this honesty is overpowering, heart wrenching and slightly difficult to watch.

“Before the Portland or Pittsburgh show Neil (director) talked to me and asked me if there was anything I could tell my audience that would make them not like me,” He laughs, “It was a challenge but I told them [the audience] about the drugs I’ve done, the judgments I’ve cast and I told them that I was mean to my girlfriend sometimes.”

Harmon is self-aware and brutally honest with himself as with those around him. This aspect of himself is illuminated in Harmontown and when asked if he went into this film trying to decipher who he is Harmon answered truthfully.

“I feel like I’m always naval gazing. I’m particularly addicted to epiphanies and I’m really resilient to them as well; I keep announcing things I’ve learned. I just went out there thinking something good could come out of the fear I was in, and if I could turn that into entertainment.”

On the tour, Harmon found himself in the middle of two television deals with the networks of CBS and FOX, as he was developing a for each.

“Looking back, the draining part of it [the tour], was attributed it to me taking work on the road with me, I should of just taken any money I got from CBS and FOX back and told them: “you know what? This isn’t happening. I have to do something for a while.” I should of lived in that moment because I have these memories of being in this bus with my loved ones and a hand full of strangers and we were all on this journey, it makes life feel like a fieldtrip. It’s a really cool way to live; and I wasn’t present because I was trying to write a script. So I would like to do it again.”

Community a show, which can easily be defined as one of the most unique and well-written comedies of the late 00’s, offers its viewers a breath of fresh air with its inside jokes, diverse cast, and quirky situations. Harmon, who was renamed the shows rightful before being cancelled by NBC stands at the reigns for its sixth season on Yahoo.

“To go from a network where every new boss is like: “What is this show and how do we get rid of it without offending crazy people” to a home where someone actually paid for us – I feel like little orphan Annie,” He laughs, “sometimes in the middle of the night I wake up thinking: “I’m going to disappoint yahoo- this show isn’t good enough for them, they love me too much.”

Whether you hate Dan Harmon or love him entirely, Harmontown will lead you to respect a man who speaks his mind and showcases his faults for the world to see.

Harmontown is in theaters now. Season six of Community will be on Yahoo in Jan. 2015. For more Harmontown news visit: http://www.harmontown.com