COMMUNITY Season Six Preview

Article originally written for Seat42F.

This is a preview, so will contain only light spoilers.

COMMUNITY, formerly of NBC, finally gets its sixth season as foretold in the prophetic hashtag #sixseasonsandamovie this week on Yahoo Screen. Two episodes premiere on the online video service, “Ladders” and “Lawnmower.” A number of things have changed for the sitcom, but essentially, it’s still the same show fans know and love.

What I mean by that is, while some the cast has rotated out, leaving voids in the theme song and our hearts, the setting is still the same old Greendale. Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) may have departed, but her sandwich shop lives on, and her absence is adequately explained in the first episode back. Hickey (Jonathan Banks) and Duncan (John Oliver) get less of a firm send-off, but the latter especially has always drifted in and out of the series, so while neither appears or is mentioned in this first week, there’s always the chance they could show up later, and the sharp-eyed will see a hint of that for one. These three, along with Pierce and Troy, are replaced with a couple of new faces.

“Ladders” introduces viewers to Frankie Dart (Paget Brewster, Criminal Minds), a new administrator that The Dean (Jim Rash) hires to work with the Save Greendale Committee. Frankie is, at first glance, an older, less quirky version of Annie (Alison Brie), but she’s also a bit more than that. COMMUNITY is bizarre and that’s its strength, but having a level-headed person who is not opposed to the oddness strikes a new dynamic in the cast. I’m a little sad Brewster doesn’t reprise her previous role on the show, but glad she returns, and being honest, Frankie is probably more interesting in the long-run than her techie.

The second addition, Elroy Patashnik (Keith David, Enlisted, Platoon), doesn’t show up until “Lawnmower,” but feels more like a traditional COMMUNITY role. Elroy is a weird genius, which seems a perfect fit to the gang. He brings life experience and plugs a generational hole, while at the same time coming in as a newbie who is open to possibilities. I’m not sure yet exactly what his role will be this season, as his first appearance is more as a guest star than a central lead, but I look forward to finding out.

Lest one wonder what Yahoo has done different with COMMUNITY than NBC, I’m not sure any of the changes made are because of the new platform. If anything, the budget seems increased, with more exteriors and new sets than we’re used to seeing. The same recurring players are glimpsed in multiple scenes. The offbeat sense of humor is present, with some inexplicable and ridiculous plot points and jokes. Abed (Danny Pudi) still thinks of the world as a television show.

Change is a major theme, though, and I think that’s because of necessity. With so many of the original group gone and some cast members no longer being students, there will be a different vibe. Greendale has barely hung on, and while the Save Greendale Committee has done much to ensure the institution’s future, it does feel like we’re building towards a major conclusion. I’m not anxious to see a beloved favorite like this series end, but should these thirteen episodes tee up a movie with much finality, I won’t complain, as long as everyone returns for the end.

As mentioned, there is a lot of weirdness, as usual. The second half hour reveals a major conspiracy happening right under one of our main character’s noses these past six years. It’s quite a secret, but one that proves COMMUNITY has not lost its touch, tying things together and shifting perspective. It’s this sort of thing that makes me comfortable in saying I expect COMMUNITY season six to be every bit as good as season five, even remaining a little more somber and grounded than the first few years.

Oh, and the stinger of the premiere is not yet released, even to press, so I’m guessing they’ll be something really good there.

COMMUNITY launches its first two episodes of season six this Tuesday exclusively on Yahoo Screen.

COMMUNITY "Story" Far From "Basic"

Article first published as TV Review: 'Community' - 'Basic Story' on Blogcritics.

NBC’s Community has reached the end of its fifth season with the two-parter that airs this week and next. Part one, called “Basic Story,” finds absolutely no story happening at Greendale. This drives Abed (Danny Pudi) nearly insane, as there always must be a story. But no, the Save Greendale Committee has done its job and saved the school, so all is good in the world. That is, until an insurance appraiser (Michael McDonald, Web Therapy) finds the campus has value, and then the school board can’t wait to sell it off, meaning the Save Greendale Committee did their job too well and had the opposite effect on the school.

It’s absolutely fantastic that “Basic Story” starts with no story. True, Seinfeld made a ten-year run off of a lack of plot, but Community is a show that almost always has something going on. The meta way in which Abed references this, combined with his break down, as he sees his life as a television show and can’t cope with that illusion being broken, is funny and intelligent. It’s another new direction for Community, one that feels very apropos, should this end up being the series finale, the real end of the story.

Fans of Community have long pushed for six seasons and a movie, made famous by their hashtag. Since this is only year five, these viewers, myself included, do not want to see things come to an end now. It would be a promise unfilled, and a terrible tease to get so close to that goal and then fall short. Yet, as has frequently been the case in years past, Community teeters on the brink, unsure of it’s fate. Will the network please just give it one more run, bringing us that much closer to the twitter prophecy?

It’s hard to imagine talking about any other show in these terms, pointing to a social media trend and calling it destiny. Yet, for a series as weird as this one, a program that breaks all the conventional rules of the standard sitcom, it feels right. Just like Abed breaks the fourth wall within the confines of the series, Community should match up with the expectations and dreams of its fans. NBC would be stupid not to give it one more pick up, a gift to those who have followed it for so long, even if it barely makes financial sense. It’s not like the network has an abundance of other successful options to choose from.

If “Basic Story” and its second half does end up being the series finale, though, it is sure to be a good one. This whole fifth year has been a depressing tale of accepting life as it is and giving up on flights of fancy. Jeff (Joel McHale) has to be realistic, returning to the place that drives him crazy and accepting that’s where he belongs. That this place may now be yanked away from him, after he’s put forth so much effort to make it work, feels like the ultimate injustice, and yet one that fits with the tone of the show as a whole.

Jeff deals with the situation as fans would expect him to. At first, he’s in denial, even sending Abed away because he’s can’t cope with the possibility that there might be a problem at Greendale. Then, he acts like he’s OK with the outcome, dissolving the Save Greendale Committee without any huge, outward display of emotion. Finally, he prepares to hook up with Britta (Gillian Jacobs) again, even proposing marriage, settling in love as he does in life.

Some root for Jeff and Britta to be a couple, but I’ve long been a Jeff-Annie shipper. While Britta helps Jeff grow, usually unintentionally, she often feels like she’s the wrong choice for Jeff. In the end, she could be right, but not under these circumstances, where Jeff is just clinging to an anchor as the ship goes down. Their almost-sex is pathetic and sad, not celebratory or fulfilling. So Annie (Alison Brie) is still in the running!

Speaking of Annie, she allows herself to be pulled in to a treasure hunt with the Dean (Academy Award-winner Jim Rash) and Abed. At the last moment, Abed discovers a clue that could save Greendale from being bought out by Subway (anyone else getting Chuck flashbacks?), and they begin searching for the lost riches. This is zany, silly stuff, the kind that the best of Community is made of. But is it real, a Greendale mystery brought to light, or is it Abed forcing a savior into being where none exists?

“Basic Story” has other great character moments, too. The Dean’s breakdown is moving, Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) shoots off some terrific one-liners, and Hickey (Jonathan Banks) and Duncan (John Oliver) bond over an unexpected possible family connection. Best of all, Chang (Ken Jeong) betrays the group yet again. If this is how Community is going out, it’s fitting that Chang should become a henchman for the wrong side, the Subway stooge that spies on the group. Another excellent effort in a long string of them for this show.

Community will conclude its tale, at least for now, Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

"Jeff" Supported By COMMUNITY

Article first published as "Jeff" Supported By COMMUNITY on TheTVKing.

The latest installment of NBC's Community, "G.I. Jeff," doesn't feel like Community when it first begins. Animated in an older style, the opening has G.I. Joe and company in combat with Cobra. Then Jeff (Joel McHale) and his friends join the battle, fighting for Joe, which ends poorly when Jeff kills one of the bad guys. Because, after all, you're not supposed to kill people in cartoon war.

Community has poked fun at a number of genres and mediums in the past, and the G.I. Joe take-off is the latest in this tradition. It's clever and well-drawn, fitting the style and format. I love how the writers bend the conceits of the genre in general and the show in particular, pointing out the absurdities and inconsistencies.

To make a good idea even better, Community adds themed commercials for the G.I. Joe toys, which are part of the tale, a layer of the world. These are fun, but they also mean something, as does the "message" tag on the end. This demonstrates not only a clear understanding of the topic being parodied, but also a brilliant formation of a cohesive story.

The cast of Community is folded nicely into this imaginary world. Jeff and the study group fight for the right side, with Britta (Gillian Jacobs) being renamed Buzzkill, Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) always mentioning her three kids, and so called Three Kids, Abed (Danny Pudi) pointing out the elements of the format as Fourth Wall, the Dean (Jim Rash) serving as the Vice Commander of Cobra, Duncan (John Oliver), Hickey (Jonathan Banks), and Chang (Ken Jeong) are sort of themselves, and Greendale is a dangerous place that thrives on ambition but sucks away the soul. It's a fitting parallel.

That Annie (Alison Brie) is a big-boobed sexpot may not completely match her character, but it quickly becomes clear why she's taken on this persona when we find out "G.I. Jeff" happens in Jeff's mind. Depressed on his fortieth birthday, Jeff has drank too much scotch and taken some suspicious pills, resulting in a delirium while he recovers in the hospital, his friends surrounding him. This whole thing is Jeff's attempt to recapture his youth and expose his frustrations.

Thus, as much of the season has done, "G.I. Jeff" takes a dark turn. Jeff isn't trying to kill himself, but he isn't happy and needs to get unstuck from his current situation. While past years have seen our heroes revel in their joyous fantasies and friendships, this one focuses on the undercurrent of depression and failure. For some, becoming a college professor would feel like a dream fulfilled. For Jeff, returning to a place he has a love-hate relationship with, it's killing him.

There is no closure in this plot, nor can there be at this time. Jeff does realize he's loved, and that will help him heal from the latest wound. But the damage to his psyche is much deeper. He can escape the animated world in his head, but he cannot escape his reality.

This does not bode well as to how the series will end. Jeff has to leave, which will, by necessity, separate him from the people he cares about. The group may remain friends, but nothing will ever be the same when they leave the sheltered community college. However, leave they must, as that's the only way to find the successes and satisfaction they crave.

"G.I. Jeff" is a clever way to deliver this sermon, all the while playing to the familiar Community characteristics and style that make the show so good. A reference to Pierce and 'Harmon Sucks' graffiti are the touches that make the show so beloved, and even when an episode is more emotional than funny, it remains highly entertaining.

Community airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

COMMUNITY Celebrates the "Beta Male"

Article first published as COMMUNITY Celebrates the "Beta Male" on TheTVKing.

The latest installment of NBC's Community, the season's mid-point, is titled "Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality." Most of the study group attends a charity show where Professor Duncan (John Oliver) intends to take advantage of a vulnerable Britta (Gillian Jacobs), but both find themselves confronted with self-reflection instead. Meanwhile, Abed (Danny Pudi) bonds with Professor Hickey (Jonathan Banks).

Professor Duncan has always been a bit of a flat character, which makes sense, since he's only a recurring part, rather than one of the personalities at the center of the show. His presence has increased this season, however, and with that comes a bit of depth. Before, he's been a lecherous jerk, but now we see the compassionate, human side of him. I really thought Duncan would sleep with Britta, but that would have sabotaged his development, knocking him back to what he was before this season.

Community loves point out absurdities right in front of our faces. The friendship between Duncan and Jeff (Joel McHale) is one of those. We're told they're friends, but we never see it. They aren't that nice to one another, and they don't help each other out much. "Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality" corrects that. We still don't know what brought them together or why they've stayed close, but we see Jeff try to help Duncan with Britta, and then Duncan stays away from Britta at least partly for Jeff, instead choosing to spend time with a guy who's down.

Jeff's feelings for Britta have long lingered in the background. Last year, amid a weak overall season, the two shared some really great bits. Now, that attraction is brought out again when Britta is admired by her peers. This does make Jeff a little shallow, but it's nice to see him pull back, both out of affection for Duncan and because preying on Britta for the wrong reasons would be bad. They may still end up together, but probably not, and this was not the right time for it.

Britta herself also demonstrates growth. In the past, she'd rush to some guy's arms to make herself feel better when humiliated in front of former colleagues. Or, at minimum, she'd need a good friend to cheer her up. She and Duncan aren't really pals, so he just provides a ride home. There, she engages in introspection, and while this happens off-screen, it's advancement for her. Probably temporarily, somewhat false advancement in a way, knowing Britta, but still, baby steps are good.

Back at Greendale, Abed wanders into Hickey's study before heading to a movie. One has to assume he's lonely and that's why Abed seeks companionship, as he certainly doesn't have any real purpose for going to Hickey. With Troy gone, Abed does seem adrift, his nerdy antics more pathetic these days, and Abed has to sense that, despite his emotional handicaps. Hickey is the only one around, so Abed seeks that connection to another human being.

This has to prove Abed is not too far gone to save. As much as Community viewers enjoy odd Abed, he can never have a happy ending while remaining so detached from reality. This plot has long been building, at least the past couple of years, and with enabler Troy gone, Abed has no choice but to actually confront it.

Hickey, on the other hand, also lacks many bonds to others. He's suffered, to be sure, but he's also soulful, with a creative side that he caters to. He won't put up with Abed's crap, but he does seem willing to help. Through assisting Abed, Hickey might also find purpose in himself, as he doesn't really seem to like teaching at this point. This relationship could lead to real meaning for both.

Then there's the Chang (Ken Jeong) subplot in which he may or may not have gone to the theater and, while there, may or may not have interacted with ghosts. "Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality" doesn't tell us what happened with Chang, but one might think he's having a bit of a breakdown while going through a divorce; at least, that's one theory from the clues presented. At least Chang's delusions aren't mean-spirited this time, but while funny, this unexplained side story is also sad at its core.

I'd rate "Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality" as a middling Community episode. I enjoy it because of the good character stuff, much better than anything last season, but it is lacking any real excitement or outrageous humor (save for the hilarious Duncan / Dean (Jim Rash) tag). It's a more somber note, as much of this season has been, one heralding change for the better, but in incremental movements.

Community airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

COMMUNITY Investigates Another Crime

Article first published as COMMUNITY Investigates Another Crime on TheTVKing.

The latest installment of NBC's Community is called "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics." Like the previous Law & Order spoof, this episode, including the lighting, tone, and opening credits, is done in a style different than the typical week. Here, we have the cable version of the genre represented, a higher quality, more ambiguous focus on the characters and how the crime relates to them, rather than the dastardly act itself.

The case at the center of "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics" is simple enough: the butt crack bandit is back, dropping coins down the exposed backsides of the folks at Greendale. Annie (Alison Brie) becomes obsessed with uncovering the culprit as the population goes into a panic. Jeff (Joel McHale) reluctantly agrees to help, as long as Annie doesn't tell anyone he's doing so.

The suspects are numerous. Could it be Professor Duncan (John Oliver), who has recently returned from a sabbatical spent caring for his ailing mother (she's not dead, he's just wasted enough time on her)? How about Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), whose re-opened sandwich shop is profiting from the ban on change? Or Britta (Gillian Jacobs), hoping to make a name for herself by studying the psychology of the bandit? Or Starburns (Dino Stamatopoulos), who is found to have faked his death and has been hiding in the college stables? Or even creepy Professor Bublitz (musician Ben Folds)?

Well, one can make a strong case for any of the above at first, and while a couple of them are ruled out throughout the course of the half hour, there is no clear answer by the end. Instead, we're left to think the identity of the criminal isn't that important, and perhaps the search for them will make up another episode some time in the future.

It's a bit disappointing that Community chooses not to expose the bandit. After all, viewers want the answers to their questions, and it's unsettling to not be given such. We are fine making our own guesses, but we want to know if we're right or not, especially when the field of suspects is so deep and the clues are so numerous and clogged with red herrings.

However, that's not the point, and it's true to the style of what the episode imitates to not have the mystery solved so easily. Instead, the main plot is what goes on between Jeff and Annie. The Dean (Jim Rash) accuses them of getting into the antics of the investigation just to spend time together and steal a few embraces. He may very well be right. They've never worked as a couple, but there is definitely still strong attraction there, and these circumstances allow them to be brought out.

Could there ever be a future for Jeff and Annie on Community? I do think so, though probably only as a series endgame. A large theme of the show is finding oneself, and it's difficult to do that in a relationship. That's likely why none of the couples on the show have worked out, and it makes sense. I still enjoy their dancing around one another, which is shown sparingly enough to not have grown stale, and by addressing the issue head on, it seems like there is movement, even if it's miniscule.

Despite the dark and serious nature of "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics" it is still very funny. Troy's (Donald Glover) turn as the traumatized victim is hilarious, it's good to have weird Starburns, who has now designed a cat-powered vehicle, back, and Duncan is amusingly creepy. Chang's (Ken Jeong) backwards costume is ridiculous in the best of manners. Scenes make use of many of the minor recurring players, from Garrett (Erik Charles Nielsen) screaming in panic, to Leonard (Richard Erdman) almost kissing Jeff to illustrate a point. Even with an uneasy conclusion, it's a very satisfying installment.

There's also a moment of major sadness when Shirley reveals that Pierce (Chevy Chase) has died. This not only reinforced the more depressing mood this season, but also leads us in to next week's "bubble" episode, set just after the funeral, and pretty much halts all action on the A story for this week. I love that the characters are affected by the passing of one of their own, even if they seemed annoyed with him during his life, and it neatly solves why we can't have Pierce back, while leaving the door open for more hologram cameos from him down the road.

It's worth noting that in the previous crime-themed episode, Starburns is said to have died at the end, only to turn out to be a ruse. Might the same be said for Pierce if the messy issues between Chase and the studio can be sorted out? Plus, Pierce's father faked his own death, so all signs point to an easy come back, should the opportunity arise. Perhaps the fabled movie after seasons six? #sixseasonsandamovie

Community airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

COMMUNITY Season Five Preview

Article originally written for Seat42F.com

NBC’s COMMUNITY is back this week! And so is creator Dan Harmon! After three fantastic seasons, Harmon and the show parted ways, resulting in a not-so-good fourth year. But as the story picks up for round five, months later, it’s quickly clear that Harmon’s return heralds the show getting back to form quite quickly.

***This review contains light spoilers, with much more focus on tone and quality than plot. There are some fantastic, surprising bits in the hour, and those will NOT be revealed in this article. Still, if you’d rather not know anything ahead of time, please check back here after the show airs.***

Two episodes are presented this week: “Repilot” and “Introduction to Teaching.” Rather than throwing out a whole batch of episodes that aired in 2013, these installments attempt to reset the tale, taking into account developments such as Jeff (Joel McHale) graduating, and finding a way to move the story forward again. The first half hour is concerned with a realistic way of bringing the characters back together, while the second strives to establish a new normal, which should carry on for the rest of the season.

The biggest change by far, and it’s one made pretty early on, so I don’t feel it’s a big spoiler, is that Jeff becomes a teacher at Greendale. I won’t go into the circumstances that lead him to this point, but suffice it to say, he must return to the place he couldn’t wait to escape from. And he’s not alone.

It’s no secret that Greendale Community College is a haven for losers, those that failed at life in general, and have few options to better themselves. Still, it takes a bit of spirit and drive to go to college at all, and through this, we’ve found reasons to care about the students enrolled, making them underdogs to root for, instead of failures to pity.

Leaving the safe walls of the school, though, it turns out that our ‘heroes’ may not be exactly prepared for the real world yet. Jeff sure isn’t, and Annie (Alison Brie), Britta (Gillian Jacobs), Troy (Donald Glover), Abed (Danny Pudi), and Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) aren’t, either, leading them all to make their way back early in COMMUNITY’s return.

As one might imagine, this makes “Repilot” extremely depressing. COMMUNITY is first and foremost a comedy, and there are funny parts even in this premiere episode. However, there’s also a sadness that has always underlain the story. “Repilot” brings that up to the surface, really digging into who these people are and what they need. It’s gloomy, but there is also hope. More than most installments of the show, this one is a dramedy.

Now, many shows would have to do something hokey to contrive to keep a group of people together whose time has naturally come to an end, in this case through graduation. COMMUNITY does not. It builds upon who the characters portrayed in the show are and how they’ve grown, as well as how far they have yet to go. The way everything comes together makes total sense and promises that, while the series will still be what fans love, there is a trajectory that is being followed, and there has been movement on that path.

The Dean (Jim Rash) and Chang (Ken Jong) are back, too, of course, with the former taking a big role in “Repilot” and “Introduction to Teaching.” There is a definite arc to season five, which is only just getting started, and it will involve the Dean. We also get to see a side of the Dean we haven’t seen before, a raw, exposed nature that has always existed, but never focused on until now. It’s not that pleasant to think about, but it makes sense, and it makes me wonder what the endgame will be exactly.

“Introduction to Teaching” introduces one of this year’s big new players. Besides the return of Professor Duncan (John Oliver), which does not happen this week, another teacher who will fill a major role in year five is Buzz Hickey (Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad). He’s gruff and stern, hinting at Bank’s infamous AMC character, but he’s also someone of layers. Intriguing from the start, Hickey lends a new dynamic to the cast that should shake up interactions for the foreseeable future.

All of this is great, but what viewers want to know is, is COMMUNITY fixed? After two episodes, I feel confident in unequivocally saying yes. The series was still funny and the characters remained the same people in season four, but the stories lacked depth and cohesion, with that intangible spark absent. Both “Repilot” and “Introduction to Teaching” are much improved, with the feeling one gets when watching the best of COMMUNITY fully restored. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why the Harmon-led installments are so much better than the others, but there’s just an overall depth and charm to the early years, and that is definitely back now, in a darker manner befitting the changes that have occurred.

COMMUNITY premieres Thursday, January 2^nd at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Community Practices "Felt Surrogacy"

Article first published as Community Practices "Felt Surrogacy" on TheTVKing.

NBC's Community does a puppet-themed musical episode with this week's "Intro to Felt Surrogacy." The study group returns from an adventure oddly, regarding each other with awkward silence. Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) decides that the best way to help them work through their issues is to give them puppet versions of themselves, whom they can speak through to reveal uncomfortable things. It works.

Community has done many outlandish episodes before, such as working with claymation or 8-bit animation. The puppet premise seems a logical way for them to continue that trend. As such, the idea of this installment is within the tone and tradition of the series.

I really like that they have two puppet versions of each character - one that is realistic for the Dean to have made, and the others are the ones we see in the flashback story, which look much more professionally done. Having the good puppet Chang (Ken Jeong) wearing and interacting with the crappy puppet Chang is a genius touch.

While "Intro to Felt Surrogacy" is not a parody of anything in particular, I do feel it has a strong kinship to Jim Henson's Muppets. The hot air balloon could be a reference to one of those films, the puppet cast interacts with humans, and the songs have a similar tone. Considering that among the themes of Community is accepting others for who they are, even when they are weird, and supporting one another, added to the fact that Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) has always spoken in a Miss Piggy-esue manner, this seems a fitting tribute to that creation. Even if they look more like the puppets from Angel's puppet episode, and the Dean's costume references another famous puppet, Pinocchio.

There is a lot to like about "Intro to Felt Surrogacy." The songs are fun, and the entire cast have pleasant singing voices. The story is solid. Jason Alexander and Sara Bareilles are perfect in their guest spots. We get wonderful references to other Community plot points, such as Pierce's (Chevy Chase) hatred of Vicki (Danielle Kaplowitz), and the unfortunate long-standing absence of Professor Duncan (John Oliver), who has been mentioned, but not seen since season two. And Troy's (Donald Glover) line about "If Jeff said we had to live out here..." is hilarious.

There is also wonderful character development. Once more, we find out another layer about Jeff's (Joel McHale) father issues, when he talks about breaking up with the perfect girl because of her kid, after allowing the child to get attached to him. He also makes sure that the entire gang supports one of their own who is suffering. Shirley's stress as a mother is explored, Troy has a surprisingly dark past, and Annie (Alison Brie) has allowed a creepy professor access to her feet when her grade in his class slipped. These are important and interesting sides to the characters, well worked into the story.

Abed (Danny Pudi) seems even more broken. He references Lost and Ferris Bueller just fine, but doesn't have a secret to reveal? And why he is totally uncaring when Shirley is upset, thus throwing off the dynamic of the group, which Abed once considered sacred? It doesn't make sense. When will Abed get fixed? Or is his character forever ruined?

A bit that might almost be missed is that the Dean has actually come to the group to make his own confession, something about not being traditional. He doesn't get the chance because, not officially being a member of their group, they blow him off. At this point, it's not fair, and it's heartbreaking to see how hurt he is. It's no wonder he turns to puppet versions of the group, as lonely as he is. I really hope Jeff, at least, comes around to helping him out soon.

A theme explored in "Intro to Felt Surrogacy" is the want to escape Greendale. The group blames their college for their problems, and are happy to see the guy in the woods. This could be foreshadowing to their likely coming graduation in a few episodes (I assume, since this is season four), happy to leave the school behind, or it could be an attempt to preemptively cut themselves off from a thing that they love and are going to miss. It's hard to tell exactly what their feelings on the subject are, but their relationship to the institution is sort of a mixed bag, though I think it will end up being looked at with fondness when their days are done.

Which is not to say that the episode isn't funny. The method by which they get around to revealing secrets, drugged by a hobo in the woods (Alexander), is amusing and makes sense. Troy and Abed come up with a Bingo game based on common catchphrases of the characters, to everyone's frustration. Britta's (Gillian Jacobs) secret involves not being an actual activist like she says she is, and Jeff has to deftly sidestep to spare her feelings. Pierce's (Chevy Chase) woods confession is yet another of his frequent humble brags. All of these things get laughs.

Yet, despite all of the wonderful things I've just mentioned (Abed's breakdown aside), there is still something a little off. Community's fourth season has not lived up to the first three, and the spirit of the show is just a bit hollow now. This should be memorable as one of the best episodes of Community, but it only will be considered so for the season, not the series. That's disappointing.

I think "Intro to Felt Surrogacy" also contains Pierce's send-off. Many have wondered about how the character will be written off the series, as the actor quit around the time this episode was being filmed. It seems pretty clear that Pierce has just been left in the woods, and we likely won't see him again. It's a little sad, and a bit of a shame, as there had been some better ideas circulated that could have been done. But I guess it works.

It's just a bit strange how, in the behind-the-scenes stuff that served as the episode's ending tag, it looks like every effort is made to include Chevy Chase, even when he's glaring absent from several parts. At times, it seems unclear if he's there, such as when the top of a bald head peeks out from a group shot when the rest of the cast is shown prominently posing with their puppets, or when a Pierce line reading doesn't really sound like Chevy's voice. I wonder why his leaving isn't really committed to? Is this out of respect for the screen legend, or are they trying to ineptly hide a falling out that was very public news?

Community, assumedly now sans Pierce, airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Community - "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas"

     Some people may have been surprised when they turned on NBC  this past Thursday night at 8pm and saw, instead of their beloved Community, a stop-motion animated Christmas special. I say stop-motion instead of claymation because the technology has grown way more sophisticated than the clay of old, and the episode pointed that out. I hope those people weren't too hasty to turn the channel, because that stop-motion special was this week's Community entry, and while not appropriate for children (Jeff-in-the-box got eaten by humbugs, which left a gruesome skeleton), it was a holiday delight.

     The premise of the story, titled "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas", was that Abed (Danny Pudi), feeling devoid of the Christmas spirit, imagined everyone in stop-motion animation to get himself more into the holiday mood. Relax, political correctness police. Abed is half Muslim, but loves Christmas. And in his imaginary winter wonderland, he included a menorah for Jewish friend Annie (Alison Brie) and a reflecting pool for Jevoah's Witness Troy (Donald Glover). But what he got right is that, in America, most people celebrate Christmas, whether they are Christian or not. The season is about much more than the religious roots, which weren't the actual roots of the holiday anyway, as pointed out by Brita (Gillian Jacobs). So please stop being so uptight and just let us celebrate a holiday our country has adopted and taken as our own.

     Anyway, Abed's distress leads him to Professor Duncan (John Oliver, The Daily Show), who wants to make a case study of the delusion, and profit off of it. Abed is resistant, as Duncan arranges a group therapy session with the Study Group. Unfortunately for the wannabe therapist, Abed assumes control of the meeting, and Duncan never gets it back. He takes his friends and Duncan to Planet Abed, a Christmas haven where the air is seven percent cinnamon. Abed transforms his friends into Christmas-type characters, and they set off the find the Christmas spirit. One by one, the group drops out, accompanied by a Willy Wonka-esque song (from the old version of the film, not the new one). In the end, the true reasons for Abed's depression are discovered, and everything is righted.

     This episode will not be remembered for its musical numbers, which were short and not that exciting, through true to the series. The one memorable ditty was Abed's rendition, with holiday-centric lyrics, of the show's theme song. However, songs are not all that goes into such an endeavor, and in many other ways, it was a success. The visions created were magical, the characters were quite fun with their new looks, and the distinctly Community brand of humor was certainly present.

     I also love how true the writing was to each of the established characters. Of course Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) wanted to make the thing about Jesus, but her slowly grown restraint won out. Jeff (Joel McHale) was appropriately sarcastic and dismissive, while the Dean (Jim Rash) warred between what he thinks a good college should be and his own struggle with being politically correct, which is clearly unnatural for him. Pierce (Chevy Chase) was just as sad as Abed, but hid it behind cookies, pretending he didn't care. All fit with the people represented each week.

     On a broader not, I miss Señor Chang (Ken Jeong). Sure, he's been in season two about as much as season one, which is, not all the much, besides a few featured episodes. He had one brief scene where he was a snowman this week. But his expulsion from the teaching staff opened up an opportunity for him to join the group, and with such a talented actor signed to the series full-time, why are they squandering it? It's time for him to be let in and get a meatier role. Otherwise, he can be relegated to recurring status like the Dean and Duncan are, because he's currently only about as important as them.

     Community, like most shows, is now on a scheduled winter break, but will return to NBC Thursday nights in early 2011.

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Article first published as TV Review: Community - "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas" on Blogcritics.

Community grew into consistent funny

     I wasn't a fan of NBC's Community last year.  I think I watched two episodes, maybe a bit of a third, last fall, and found it much more stupid than amusing.  A friend told me that it improved by winter.  I gave it another chance, and the first episode I sampled at that time didn't impress me.  At her urging (she usually has really good taste in TV, especially comedies), I tried one more episode, and found it pretty funny.  And so, more because she was so excited about it, than because I wanted to, I pre-ordered the first season DVD and watched the whole season in a few days this fall.  I'm glad that I did.

     Community took a little time to find it's footing, but the reason that I wasn't much into it from my winter sampling was because it really builds on itself over time.  It's not exactly serial, although there are serial elements.  Most episodes are stand alone, though.  It's just that the characters go through a lot together, and somehow, the more you watch them, the more you grown fond of them, they way they have with each other.

     Last week in "Basic Rocket Sciene", most of the group is trapped in a KFC space simulator, except for Abed (Danny Pudi), who was so excited that he ran home to change into a space suit.  The episode parodied a number of astronaut movies as the study group tried to finish the simulator, while Abed and Dean Pelton (Reno 9-1-1's Jim Rash - why isn't he a main character yet?) guided them in.  And Pierce went crazy, an oppurtunity for Chevy Chase to act more weird and outlandish than he has in awhile.  He's a great comic actor, who has made some of the best and worth movies of all time, but I can see why he is enjoying himself in this show.  It was very funny.

     I'm still trying to figure out how Senor Change (Ken Jeong) fits into the show, though.  He was the mean teacher the first season, but then was fired, and has become a student.  Will he eventually integrate into the central study group, a friend to the other misfits?  He's not any more screwed up than the rest of them, after all.  Or will he morph into an even greater villain, intent on taking them down?  I can't decide which I'd rather see.

     The basic cast is led by Joel McHale (The Soup) as Jeff, but also includes Mad Men's Alison Brie as Annie, the aforementioned Chase, and occasionally, The Daily Show's John Oliver and the hilarious John Michael Higgins.  The lesser know actors, Donald Glover, Gillian Jacobs, and Yvette Nicole Brown have all also been around for awhile, and hold their own.  It's a true ensemble, and that's what works best.

     I have changed my mind on Community.  It's certainly not my favorite sitcom on television, but it's earned a season pass on my TiVo.  I hope it can do the same for you.  Community airs Thursday nights at 8pm on NBC.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.