Six-time Emmy winner and current pop-culture darling Betty White will guest star in season premiere of NBC sitcom "Community."
That show will face strong competition next season in its time period from CBS' hit comedy "The Big Bang Theory," which moves to 8 p.m. Thursday this fall.
Clearly, NBC and the other producers of "Community" are sending a message that they are planning to be competitive in the timeslot from the outset, and will not concede anything to CBS.
Last week, NBC ran six consecutive repeat episodes of "Community" on Thursday night. The block did not get the greatest of ratings, leading to speculation that NBC might switch the show out of the 8 p.m. slot this fall and replace it with "30 Rock."
But the announcement that comic icon White will appear in the season premiere is a clear indication that NBC will be aggressive in battling the CBS move.
In the episode, White will play an esteemed anthropology professor who is slightly unhinged.
White, who has been enjoying a career revival of late, currently is co-starring in "Hot in Cleveland," an original sitcom on TVLand. That show recently received a second-season order.
Last month was nominated for an Emmy for her hosting of NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in May. In January, she received the 2010 Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award.
"Community" is produced by Krasnoff Foster Entertainment, Harmonious Claptrap, Russo Brothers and Universal Media Studios, in association with Sony Pictures Television.
