Apart from its miraculous Yahoo Screen renewal, 'Community' season 6 has had fans on edge with potential cast departures to follow Donald Glover and Chevy Chase. Now, following availability concerns with CBS, Yvette Nicole Brown has been confirmed to depart 'Community' season 6 before shooting, albeit for unexpected reasons.

Per TVGuide, Brown asked Yahoo and creator Dan Harmon to be released from her 'Community' contract as Shirley Bennett in order to care for her ailing father, who requires a more regular presence than 'Community' season 6 would allow. "The idea of being away 16 hours a day for five months, I couldn't do it. It was a difficult decision for me to make, but I had to choose my dad," says Brown.

That said, Brown will still take part in CBS' forthcoming Matthew Perry-fronted 'Odd Couple' reboot, the multi-camera schedule of which proved less taxing than 'Community''s. Adding that she'd be open to 'Community' guest appearances down the line, Brown praised Harmon for supporting her through the difficult decision, while Harmon had his own brief statement with 'Community' executive producer Chris McKenna:

Yvette was an integral part of Community and is irreplaceable. We are sad to see her go and wish her the very best.

As 'Community' season 6 will also see the departure of season 5 addition Jonathan Banks for his regular role on AMC's 'Better Call Saul,' the report also reveals that the cult comedy series is looking to cast both a female consultant brought in to help shape up the school, and a retired salesman who comes to Greendale to reinvent himself.

Elsewhere, we know of 'Community' season 6 that creator Dan Harmon and executive producer Chris McKenna will remain at the helm, while cast members Joel McHale, Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Jim Rash, Danny Pudi, and Ken Jeong have all signed on to return. Dan Harmon suggested that John Oliver could potentially return as 'Last Week Tonight' allowed, while any inclusion of Donald Glover might best be reserved for the seemingly inevitable movie.

Writing has presumably begun by now, while Harmon himself has suggested we might see the 'Community' season 6 premiere (directed by the Russo brothers) after Christmas, or more likely in 2015. Production is also expected to keep the series in a weekly format, rather than Netflix's "all at once' model.

Certainly sad news for fans of the series, but what do you think of Yvette Nicole Brown''s 'Community' season 6 departure? How might Shirley be written out of the series? Will more cast abandon ship, or could 'Community' ultimately reinvent itself in time for the inevitable movie?

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