The Essential 'Community' Watchlist

Good news, guys. Looks like we aren't in the darkest timeline after all! Dan Harmon is coming back to Community next season. No premiere date (or even a night) for Community has been announced by NBC, but the good news is that gives people plenty of time to catch up on the essential Community episodes.

Here are my favorites:

Social Psychology Season 1, Episode 4. I really like Shirley/Jeff scenes - and there generally aren't enough of them on the series in my opinion. Plus, this one includes making fun of Vaughn, Britta's boyfriend at the time and a recurring Glendale character.

Contemporary American Poultry Season 1, Episode 21. A plan to bring chicken fingers back to the cafeteria, in the style of a mobster movie.

Modern Warfare Season 1, Episode 23. The first paintball episode (yes, there have been multiple). Also, Jeff + Britta sexual tension.

Epidemiology Season 2, Episode 6. Contaminated meat from the Army at a Halloween party results in everyone becoming zombies except Troy ("the first black man to make it to the end"). Some unexpected plot developments...

Cooperative Calligraphy Season 2, Episode 8. The 'bottle' episode, referring to an episode of television with only the regular cast usually in one room for the duration. This one is over who stole Annie's pen.

Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas Season 2, Episode 11. Shot in the claymation style of classics like Rudolph. Need I say more?

Critical Film Studies Season 2, Episode 19. A tribute to Pulp Fiction, and more importantly, a Cougartown cameo. (Fact: Abed really  did appear on an episode of the show as a extra)

Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps Season 3, Episode 5. Britta has the group tell scary stories to figure out which one is a psycho. Hilarity ensues.

Regional Holiday Music Season 3, Episode 10. A holiday-themed spoof of Glee. I would buy this soundtrack.

Paradigms of Human Memory Season 2, Episode 21. The classic 'clip show' episode - but unlike the cop-out episodes it mimics, all the footage is completely brand new.

Remedial Chaos Theory Season 3, Episode 3. Widely regarded as one of the best episodes of Community (maybe even television), the episode takes place at a housewarming party for Troy and Abed, with the group (unknowingly) experiencing different 'timelines' with the roll of a dice. A little repetitive, a little confusing... and completely awesome.

Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism Season 3, Episode 9. Most importantly, Abed does his spot-on Christian Bale as Batman impression. And we get some great Shirley and Jeff bonding over a foosball game against Nick Kroll (Fact: the foosball storyline returns in Season 4, Episode 4, but alas, Kroll does not. It's a shame, really.)

  Pillows and Blankets Season 3, Episode 14. A spoof on a Ken Burns documentary, the episode features stunning photography by Britta during a pillow fort vs blanket fort disagreement between Troy and Abed.

  Basic Lupine Urology Season 3, Episode 17. This time Community spoofs Law & Order and it is seriously spot on. The music, the acting, the roles of the different characters; also brings back Omar Little Chalky White Michael K. Williams as their biology teacher. Wait for the twist at the end. Probably my favorite episode ever.

Intro to Felt Surrogacy Season 4, Episode 9. The one and only episode I'll include from the most recent season, and only because there are puppets involved.

And spend some time YouTubing post-credits scenes.

Honestly, in trying to put this list together I worried that there wasn't enough Leonard or Star Burns or John Oliver or the Dean or John Goodman as the dean of the AC Repair School or Magnum (POP POP!'). You might as well just watch the whole series.

Rumors that Dan Harmon is returning for Season 5 of 'Community'

Rumors that Dan Harmon is returning for Season 5 of Community, please please please be true. This season had some a few bright lights, but it lacked a certain punch. The writing was slow, obvious. The characters were so flat. Too many Jeff speeches and Britta psych evals.

What should have been one of the best episodes in history - the puppet ep - just sort of happened. What should have been an epic comeback/takeover - Chang - was resolved in a few minutes over FroYo.

Bring back Dan Harmon. And while you're at it, also bring back -

• John Goodman and the AC repair school. 
• More Leonard. 
• More Magnum. 
• Professor Duncan. 
• Starburns via a dream or flashback ep. 
• Michael K Williams and references to The Wire. 
• Cougartown crossover. 

Chevy Chase is leaving Community!

Rejoice!

In the beginning, Chase was the reason I wanted to watch Community. He's a comedic legend. I grew up with Clark Griswold. I love(d) him.

But Pierce's character has fallen flat for me, and Chevy's character off-screen could be (IMHO) to blame for Harmon's exit.

I'm happy to see him go (rumor is there is one more episode to shoot and he will not be in it), but how will they explain Pierce's exit? Recently, I came up with some ideas as to how to get Chevy Chase off of Community.

Will Community still have holiday episodes?

Question: Community always has amazing Halloween and Christmas episodes, and if they'd premiered on October 19 (the actual date, not the state of mind), I assume they would have stuck with tradition and knocked it out of the park again. Any idea how far production runs on the series? Did they already film/write Halloween or Christmas episodes? What will happen to those now that the show isn't premiering until February? — Danielle 

 Matt Roush: I'm told Community has produced holiday-themed episodes for this season, covering Halloween and Thanksgiving and Christmas. But it comes with the territory for this show to have "timeline" issues, so the expectation is that they'll all air at some point when Community returns, and we can just pretend the timing makes sense. At least we'll get to see them, and on Thursday nights no less, which already seems a small miracle, no matter how long the delay.

Look at me! My question in TV Guide!

Community, airing Oct 19th - er, someday.

Hi. Let's talk for a minute about how absolutely brilliant Community is. Take this video, for example -


Community was supposed to premiere last night, Friday, October 19th. But NBC pushed back its premiere date. Which is lame. (And, also smart, because I was watching the Cardinals game anyway.) But Community isn't just going to sit back and not say anything about it. And they're not just going to be polite about it. Oh, and they are going to be not quiet and not polite about it on NBC's own website. BRILLIANT, I say.

Best digs-
"We don't for it for them, we do it for the fans."
"Even though the powers that be agreed to out the premiere on October 19th, they couldn't decide where to put October 19th."
"Annie's Boobs wanted her own show!" Referring to the monkey named 'Annie's Boobs', which, in turn, is referring to the ridiculous show with a better time slot and more network support, Animal Practice.

And Best YouTube comment goes to 'NBC Britta'ed October 19th!' ha.

Can we fire Chevy Chase?

"The hours are hideous, and it's still a sitcom on television, which is probably the lowest form of television," he told the Huffington Post UK. (via TV Guide)

I also think it is important to note that Chevy followed the above quote with, "I think the reason I have stuck around is because I love these kids, the cast - they are very good. It's not like I am working with the great innovators of all time, but at the same time, they are my friends." So at least he isn't a total jerk.

But, for serious? Can we fire Chevy Chase on Community already? He already totally mucked up the show by getting Dan fired + Pierce is my least favorite character.

Let me be clear in saying that I do adore Chevy Chase. I think 80s Chase was a total dreamboat. I just finally watched all of Fletch recently and got a serious girl crush on him. But Pierce Hawthorne is not that Chevy Chase. In no way, shape or form. He has funny lines from time to time... but in general, he's terrible. I get the character - an aging entrepreneur going back to school. It's actually quite logical. But they've just done nothing with Pierce.

Here are my three options to solve the problem:

1. Make Pierce graduate. Shocker! While everyone else is caught up in zombies, paintball and blanket forts, Pierce actually took extra classes and is eligible to graduate early. Goodbye Pierce!

2. Reinvention, version 1. Is there some way to show what could have been? And make Pierce into the Chevy Chase we all know and love? Some sort of flashback or flash sideways or alternate reality?

3. Reinvention, version 2. We've seen glimpses of 'evil Pierce.' You know, the guy who teams up with Chang. The one from the western paintball episode. The one that is 'out' of the group. Can we get Pierce as a villain? Can we get him teaming up with Chang or Goodman or something to bring the group down?

Good News/Bad News for some of my favorite shows on the bubble.

via TV Guide

Alcatraz (Fox)Wrapped March 26; aired Mondays at 9/8c

The Good News: Fox has kept Fringe alive this long — maybe executives will be generous to another J.J. Abrams drama with a small-but-passionate fan base? And they already canceledTerra Nova, which theoretically helps.
The Bad News: The Voice kind of clobbered it, and worse, viewers flat-out rejected this island mystery. Less than half the audience who watched the premiere tuned in for the finale to learn the secret of those disappearing, reappearing prisoners.


Awake (NBC) Thursdays at 10/9c

The Good News: Series creator Kyle Killen, he of the well-liked-but-short-lived Lone Star, is a guy with ideas! A guy creative people flock to! So what if he makes shows for broadcast that would be better off on cable and not enough folks come to watch?
The Bad News: To be fair, airing it at the end of NBC's low-rated Thursday-night comedy block — and immediately after the night's biggest loser, Up All Night — hasn't been a great fit for the somber drama about a man dealing with tremendous loss. Ratings are abysmal. 



Community (NBC) Thursdays at 8/7c
The Good News: After a more than three-month hiatus, Community returned in March to its biggest audience since October 2010. And relative to NBC's Thursday-night lineup, it's pretty coolcoolcool.
The Bad News: NBC's Thursday-night lineup is a bust, led by a flailing-in-its-eighth season The Office, so any ratings fetes enjoyed by Community are still small in the bigger picture — and it will be measured against some strong comedy pilots in contention, among them Justin Kirk-frontedAnimal Kingdom and White House comedy 1600 Penn, starring (Bill Pullman) and Book of Mormon's Josh Gad.

Fringe (Fox)
Fridays at 9/8c

The Good News: Fox has always loved this show, having rescued it from the bubble twice already. Since the network has already canceled Terra Nova and House, it may want to hang on to this cult favorite for a final (probably shortened) season.
The Bad News: Fox has a couple of buzzy new drama pilots, including a serial killer story from Kevin Williamson starring Kevin Bacon, so the network may decide to clear the bench. Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly put it pretty plainly in January that the network's generous pocketbook might be closing when it comes to the costly Fringe: "We're not in the business of losing money," he said.



Parenthood (NBC)
Wrapped Feb. 28; aired Tuesdays at 10/9c
The Good News: This touching family drama is a critical darling with a small-but-loyal fan base, and NBC will need a couple veteran dramas to anchor its fall schedule. Parenthood is neck and neck with Law & Order: SVU to be the second-highest-rated drama at NBC behind the already-renewed Smash.
The Bad News: We're running low on Kleenex over here!


Up All Night (NBC)Wrapped April 12; last aired Thursdays at 9:30/8:30c
The Good News: NBC pulled out all the stops trying to make this one work. After it did so-so numbers on Wednesday, they decided to give it another push, slotting it behind The Office and hoping that viewers would take a second look at Will Arnett and Christina Applegate playing new parents, and Maya Rudolph as a crazy diva talk show host.
The Bad News: The audience actually shrunk in the move to Thursday! NBC already has a few low-rated pedigree comedies it probably wants to keep (30 Rock, Community, Parks and Recreation) and this one has the fewest viewers.

Troy and Brother Sam

via

Some Thoughts.

The Sing Off: Did you see the guys from Branson! Woop Woop. They were lame, but who cares. Loved the shots of them singing at the Titanic museum. ha. But note to the judges: Have you really never heard of Branson? It isn't some small town these guys are putting on the map. It's a musical mecca.

Modern Family: Finally watched it! And yes, I giggled more than once. I understand why the whole cast gets nominated... every single character is hilarious. (But still think off beat comedies like Community and Bored to Death deserve more accolades!)

And speaking of Community: How brilliant was the addition of John Goodman? That voice!

Did the beginning of Grey's Anatomy always have 'Created by Shonda Rhimes' in the opening credits?

Is Project Runway one and a half hours long so we can have Garnier hair commercials worked into the episode? Because that is uncool.

I assume I should tweet out questions like this, but that would have required me getting my lazy bum off the couch and finding my phone.

Omar Comin'... to Community

I was going to write about Omar Chalky Michael K Williams on Community's premiere, but TV Guide said it for me....

The charismatically menacing character actor, who blew viewers away as gay thug Omar Little on The Wire, slyly spoofed his badass image as an ex-con biology professor on the Season 3 premiere of Community (and he'll be back for another episode next month). Meanwhile, he's returning to HBO's Emmy-winning Boardwalk Empire as bootlegger Chalky White. Season 2 introduces us to Chalky's family, and Williams has a jailhouse scene in next week's episode that rivals Omar's most electrifying moments.

Williams wasn't the only David Simon HBO drama alum to turn up on Community's opener: Treme casualty John Goodman also guested as the intimidating vice dean of Greendale's Air Conditioning Repair Annex. Hey, Dan Harmon, how about writing a part for The Wire's Isiah Whitlock, Jr., who showed off his comedic flair in Cedar Rapids. To use State Sen. Clay Davis' favorite word, that could be some funny "sheeee-it."

What do you think of Michael K. Williams — and Community?

I love and agree with every word of this. Can't wait for more Williams. More Goodman. And more Community.

Omar. Chalky. Professor?

Coming soon to Community. Details here. 

Knights of Badassdom

Yes, that is the actual movie title.

Dinklage. Zahn. Kwanten. Pudi. And LARPing.
I love everything about this.

No Joke. Emmy Nominations.

Mad Men, Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, Justified - I love you all. And even the shows I don't watch, I'm confident your nomination is well-deserved (except that Beau Bridges' Brothers & Sisters nod. Seriously?)

Ok. Drama cataegories, you can go sit over there in the corner. You're good. I've got beef with the comedy nominations though. MAJOR BEEF.

There are more comedies besides Modern Family, The Office and 30 Rock. And Glee wasn't even that funny this season.

Have they ever seen Community or Bored to Death? I literally LOL every single episode. And don't all my friends love It's Always Sunny in Philedelphia? Curb Your Enthusiasm? I mean, people even like Cougar Town, but Courtney Cox's buddy Matt gets nominated for playing himself on Episodes? Really? Even newbie Happy Endings has caught a spot on my DVR!

I get it. The shows that were nominated are good. But geeeeeeeez I am so sick of seeing Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey at every stinkin award show. I'm rooting for Big Bang Theory by default.

I'm a DonGlover Lover

Let's call this Donald Glover week. I caught up on Community last weekend, saw (and posted) this video, started following him on Twitter and got jealous of all my MU friends seeing him next Wednesday. And now there is this:

Reasons why I love it:
1. He came out to the Reading Rainbow theme song.
2. His Twitter name was @DonGlover, which looks a lot like 'dong lover'.
3. His Dad was on Twitter first.
4. His 'handjob of cereals' analogy. (What does it mean if I actually want Kix?)
5. His rap name comes from a Wu Tang Name Generator. (PS: Mine is Annoyin' Specialist. Wildly accurate.)
6. He is a legit GOOD rapper. Reminds me of Lupe's 'Kick Push.'

La Biblioteca.

I'm on a post-Community high (I caught up on the last three episodes last night) and then this morning I see this video of Donald Glover (Troy) and a fan. LOVE. Seriously, if you don't watch this show, you NEED to start.

Sawyer Returns!

EW has learned exclusively that Josh Holloway — who played James “Sawyer” Ford on ABC’s Lost — is in the process of closing a deal to make a cameo in Community’s two-part season finale. It’s set for May but no date has been announced.

Holloway’s character emerges as a mysterious figure who shows up on campus during another game of paintball. The two-parter is a sequel, of sorts, to “Modern Warfare” — last year’s memorable episode that began with the Dean announcing a prize for a game of paintball. It devolved into campus-wide battle.

via EW.

Community Christmas FTW

Copycat

CBS is developing a new show based on the Twitter account @shhdontellsteve (I know, I've never heard of it either....). In Mashable's story, they say....

'If you have a crazy friend, roommate or family member, tweeting about what he or she says is a winner.'

Um, sounds exactly like Troy/Pierce on Community with @oldwhitemansays, no? 

Want the good news or the bad news?

Good news first.
TV Guide reports that the following favorites of mine will get a full season:
Community
FlashForward
One Tree Hill
Glee

Rejoice!

And now, the bad news.
TV Guide also predicts that Fringe, one of my absolute, favorite shows, is in danger. Here is my plea to Fox-

PLEASE move Walter and Peter and Olivia and Broyles and that freaky bald dude back to Tuesdays where they belong. Fringe is such a brilliant show, but it can't compete with the Thursday night lineup of Grey's, The Office/30 Rock, CSI, and Supernatural. I know your Thursday night ratings are up, but the shows audience is declining. Have you forgotten that last year, when the show was on Tuesdays, you scored the highest ratings for the 18-49 year old demo of any new show on television?

MOVE. IT. BACK.

Community credits keep me laughing after the show ends

If you are not watching Community on NBC, you seriously need to start. Joel McHale, Chevy Chase, the naked asian guy from The Hangover, and Abed (sorry girls, he's mine). The dialogue is fast and witty- like the kind of scenes I want to watch over and over so I can memorize all the lines.

AND, at the end of each episode you get hilarious scenes during the credits... Exhibits A & B.