College provides people with many wonderful opportunities. For instance, all universities offer a wide array of classes designed to educate young people so they would have the information vital for their inevitable careers. College also provides different physical prospects, such as athletic teams and fitness programs, structured to keep students in shape as well as getting involved in extra-curricular activities. Furthermore, colleges across the country offers pupils an environment I which they can interact, hang out, and form meaningful relationships that last forever. Yes, it seems that universities can offer every necessary fundamental for a student’s growth and development. But college can also provide people with unorthodox classes, such as outdoor sailing in the faculty parking lot, unconventional methods of learning, such as literally being taught how to seize the day through film class, and avant-garde events; such as a campus-wide paintball fight. Doesn’t sound like any college you have heard about? Well, such is the case with Greendale Community College; which is featured in the very creatively-written and brilliantly-performed NBC sitcom Community. The Dan Harmon-created series, which airs every Thursday night at 8:00pm, follows the college life of a seven-member study group and how they adapt to their school’s out-of-the-ordinary curriculum. And every episode features many-layered stories, important life lessons, and lots of laughs. Thus, it is with a pounding in my heart that I say:
‘Community’ is the Most Original and Endearing Sitcom on Television!
What makes Community so exclusive is that its ensamble is so perfectly casted; leading their respective characters to be completely multi-dimensional and real. The star of Community and the leader of the study group is Jeff Winger, played with great cockiness and biting wit by Joel McHale, a thirty-three-year-old former lawyer who was actually caught with a fake law degree and forced to go to Greendale Community College to complete his requirements so he could go back to work. Upon arriving, he notices Britta Perry, played by Gillian Jacobs a twenty-eight-year-old high school drop-out who ultimately serves as the show’s voice of reason. In an attempt to impress her, Jeff establishes order within the study group; as the show’s principle cast are in the same Spanish class throughout the program’s first season and then in the same Anthropology class throughout the current season. McHale and Jacobs possess great chemistry. While they are often sarcastic towards each other, they ultimately cooperate together as well as with their studymates; who are all different in ages, interests, and personalities. For instance, twenty-year-old Annie Edison, played gingerly by Allison Brie, is the most studious of the group; but she is also the show’s most emotionally-delicate character. There is also single-mother Shirley Bennett, portrayed by Yvette Nicole Brown, who is very polite; but can also be very dynamic if angered. Comic-turned-actor Donald Glover plays Troy Barnes; a former high-school football player that has transitioned greatly throughout the program’s run as being haughty to becoming very sensible but fun-loving. Then, there’s Abed Nadir, played by Danny Pudi, a movie-buff and pop-culture-obsessed film student that becomes Troy’s best friend. The final member of the group is Pierce Hawthorne, a sixty-six-year-old former moist towelette mogul—played greatly by Chevy Chase. He is always desperate to be included in all affairs; despite being out-of-touch with the modern world. And throughout every episode of the series, the main characters work well with each other; providing opportunities that are entertaining and heartfelt.
While the core cast of characters is a great source of Community’s wit and creativity, Greendale itself is a significant source of amusement as well. The school is run by over-enthusiastic and eccentric Dean Pelton, portrayed by Jim Rash, who consistently tries to make the school appear as a normal college. Unfortunately, nothing ever goes according to plan; as all events and proceedings end up poorly-executed. For instance, in the Season One episode “Debate 109,” Jeff Winger and Annie Edison participate in a grand debate against archrival City College; despite the fact that the proceedings are held at Greendale’s gym the event ends up being suspended due to the basketball team’s practice being scheduled at the exact same time. Another instance of Greendale’s mismanagement occurs in the Season One episode entitled “Advanced Criminal Law;” in which Britta Perry is put on trial for cheating on a Spanish exam. While Jeff Winger serves as her lawyer, the court case is held at the school’s swim court; which results in everyone getting splashed by divers in the process. Furthermore, Dean Pelton always tries to increase student activities; leading to the creation of multiple school dances and parties that do not go according to plan as well. An example of this occurs in the Season One episode “Environmental Studies,” in which Dean Pelton organizes an environmentally-friendly dance; that includes a band called Green Day. It turns out, however, this specific “Green Day’ is not the famous punk band; but, rather an elderly Celtic Band with the same name.
It should also be mentioned that the teaching staff of Greendale are also a source of the show’s humor; specifically Professor Ben Chang—who serves as the study group’s unstable Spanish teacher. Throughout Community’s first season, Ben Chang, played with considerable craziness by Ken Jeong, fills his class time by either having his students repeat more-than-simple phrases or insulting them with Spanish-sounding made-up words. Thus it is clear that Chang hardly has a grasp of the language at all. Ultimately, in the Season One episode “English as a Second Language,” Chang confesses to Jeff that he is not a certified professor and wants to know where to get a fake degree. Eventually, Dean Pelton finds out and he is removed as teacher; and in Season Two, the supposed teacher is now a student, desperately trying to get accepted into the study group. Unfortunately, Chang is still shown to be very unhinged; thus making the group unsure about welcoming in their former teacher into their designated learning space. Ken Jeong gives a hilariously-the-top-performance; making his character funny and a hit with fans.
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Cast clockwise from left: Yvette Nicole Brown (Shirley Bennett), Danny Pudi (Abed Nadir), Ken Jeong (Ben Chang), Donald Glover (Troy Barnes), Chevy Chase (Pierce Hawthorne), Allison Brie (Annie Edison), Gillian Jacobs (Britta Perry), and Joel McHale (Jeff Winger)
What also makes Community so unique is that it utilizes pop culture so considerably more so than most sitcoms on television. What originally was thought of as just a situation comedy detailing the day to day lives at Greendale Community College; creator Dan Harmon surprised all viewers by finding a way to incorporate spoofs of specific movies and genres of film within the episodes’ plotlines—without making the show seem ridiculous in any way. For instance, in the season two episode “Basic Rocket Science”, the study group participates in a space travel simulation; but, right in the first few minutes, there is a spoof of Armageddon; in which the study group approaches the simulation machine the in the same manner in which the astronauts draw near their designated spacecraft in the Michael Bay-directed film. Also, within the episodes there are spoofs of other space-travel films; including 2001: A Space Odyssey and Apollo 13. Also, in the Season Two episode “Epidemiology,” Dean Pelton’s tainted potato salad infects Pierce; turning him into a flesh-craving zombie and the infection spreads throughout Greendale. What then follows is a spoof of zombie-and-slasher films as the members of the study group each become zombies as well; leaving Troy Barnes to ultimately restore order. Furthermore, members of the study group often compare each other to different movie stars and different characters from different television shows. In fact, it should be stated that Community frequently breaks the fourth wall through Abed Nadir, who likens the situations that the group gets involved in as aspects of a television show; such pointing out moments that set up a premise as well as indicating occurrences that be considered as “jumping the shark.” This is a very creative because it allows viewers to laugh and be entertained while keeping in mind that they are watching performers interact within the confines of a television program.
But while the laughs and Meta humor are many, Community excels as a sitcom due to the combination of the cast’s well-matched chemistry and the clever writing; allowing the characters to emerge as authentic. There is a lot of genuine heart present within every episode as they help each other out in times of need. For example, in the aforementioned episode “Advanced Criminal Law, “ Pierce volunteers to lend his supposed songwriting skills to Annie; who has joined Greendale’s song committee and needs someone to write a song for the school. But, as the storyline proceeds, it is evident that Pierce has no real talent whatsoever; as it turns out that a jingle that he wrote for his moist towelette company was, in fact, set to the tune a well-known song alread. Ultimately, knowing that Annie is counting on him to come up with something, Pierce does come up with a school song; even though it turns out that it is not original at all. Another instance of how Community’s characters help each other occurs in the episode “Introduction to Film,” in which Abed wants to pursue his goal of becoming a film director; despite the fact that his father wants him to work in for the family falafel company. Wanting to help Abed, Britta gives Abed the money needed for him to take a film course. Soon enough, his father comes to Greendale to confront his son and Britta stands up for Abed. And, all the while, Abed is documenting everything for a movie; and the finished result shows his father as well as Jeff and Britta where his heart is set and his decision is accepted.
But, perhaps my favorite instance of how the characters support each other occurs at the climax of the abovementioned episode “English as a Second Language,” in which it is revealed that Annie is the one who ratted out Ben Chang out to Dean Pelton for not having a degree in teaching Spanish; knowing that if they under succeed on the final, they would have to retake the class -- and she feels that they would drift apart if they did not take another class together. When the group finds this out, they are very angry with her as now they are expected to know everything in the textbook for the final; as their new teacher is a truly certified teacher and completely fluent in Spanish. Annie leaves the group out of extreme sadness for what she did; and Jeff urges everyone not to call or text her—as he says she is insecure and she needs to grow up. However, when she is not present for the exam, Shirley Bennett receives a text from Annie; who says that she wants to apologize to Chang for getting him fired. Knowing their former teacher is strongly unbalanced, Jeff and the study group abandon their finals and rush to her aid; even though there’s no trouble whatsoever as Annie has helped Chang decide to become a student and obtain his teaching degree. Nevertheless, even though they were angry with her, Jeff, Britta, Shirley, Abed, Troy and Pierce wanted to be there for Annie; as they know that at the end of the day, they are more than just a study group—they are friends!
And that’s what I love about Community: No matter what friction develops within the group, they always end up cooperating and strengthening their friendship at the end of every episode. And, throughout everyepiside, we see that they do all care about each other; thus providing a strong senseofcloseness amongst them. For instance even though we see Jeff Winger being cynical towards certain problems that arise we know deep down in his heart, he does care about his friends’ problems and will help them rebound. We see the close, brotherly relationship between Troy and Abed; who share many of the same interests and engage in humorous pastimes- as evident by each episode’s closing credits scenes in which they are seen either rapping, dancing, or hosting a pretend early-morning talk show entitled “Troy and Abed in the Morning.” We see Pierce offer Jeff life advice; specifically in the Season One episode “Beginner Pottery,” in which he advises him to not let his classmate’s perfect ceramic skills get the best of him. We also have seen Shirley teach Britta appropriate behavior when interacting with other women, especially Annie, in the ladies room—as seen in Season One episode “Football, Feminism and You.” But, most importantly, we see the group as a whole survive every complication that arises at Greendale. And the performers' acting is top-notch as they play off each other with great enthusiasm and timing; thus making the humor believable and rich. Also, whenever the storyline requires moments of genuine humanity, the show's stars deliver each line in a manner most sincere; thus allowing them to match each other's level of acting perfectly. Henceforth, they are a great team; and perhaps the best ensamble in a current sitcom.
Thus, I can’t wait to see what adventures our heroes have in the remaining episodes of Season Two. And, with Community renewed for a sure-to-be-exciting third season, I am all ready for more laughter, enthusiasm, and friendship at Greendale Community College. And that’s what Community comes down to: a show about friends; which is intended for friends and family to enjoy watching together. Who could ever ask for more from a television program?
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
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