Joel McHale is ready to turn Animal Control into a full-blown Community reunion—and he's not shy about it. In a recent interview, the actor opened up about the Season 4 finale, teasing what's next for Frank and Victoria, the chaos of Templeton's unexpected promotion, and his secret mission to bring more of his former Greendale pals into the Fox sitcom before the long-awaited Community movie finally happens.
The Season 4 finale, titled "Golden Moose and Wiener Dogs," ended with the ACOOTY Awards descending into pure mayhem. Frank and Templeton (Gerry Dee) went head-to-head for the top honor, complete with sabotage, stolen speeches, and Frank ending up shirtless and victorious. But the real drama unfolded in a quiet hotel room, where Frank and Victoria (Grace Palmer) shared a near-kiss that left fans buzzing. When asked about that moment, McHale played coy: "Well… wait till Season 5." He admitted he dodged the question, but praised Palmer as "a freaking movie star" and "so damn funny."
The finale also flipped the power structure at the Northwest Seattle Division. After Emily (Vella Lovell) and Shred (Michael Rowland)'s relationship was exposed during the awards, Templeton swooped in to become the new animal control director. McHale described Frank's reaction as a resigned "You got to be f—ing kidding me." The actor teased that Templeton's takeover will drive Frank "out of his mind" in Season 5, promising even more hilarious chaos.
But McHale's biggest tease? He's secretly trying to turn Animal Control into a Community reunion tour. "I want more Community stars on Animal Control before the movie," he said, though he acknowledged there are "a lot of loops to get through first." Fans of the cult classic can dream of seeing Donald Glover, Alison Brie, or Ken Jeong pop up in the animal control world. For now, McHale is focused on Season 5, which he promises will be a milestone season full of shenanigans.
McHale also joked about bringing in Hugh Jackman for a four-episode arc, though that was clearly a pitch. He even riffed on a fake movie called The Sheep Detectives, where sheep solve a murder. While that's not real, the actor's enthusiasm for the show's absurd humor is palpable. Animal Control continues to balance emotional beats with outright disaster, and McHale is loving every minute of it.
For more on the show's future, check out our coverage of Can't-Miss Calgary Expo 2026 Panels and Fra Fee Teases Potential 'Unchosen' Season 2. And if you're craving more Community nostalgia, don't miss Frankie Muniz Eager for More 'Malcolm in the Middle'.
Season 5 of Animal Control is expected to premiere on Fox later this year. Until then, fans can rewatch the Season 4 finale and speculate on whether Frank and Victoria will finally cross that line—and which Community alum might show up next.
