"Grifting" COMMUNITY

Article originally published as TV Review: 'Community' - 'Grifting 101' on Blogcritics.

On this week’s episode of Community on Yahoo! Screen, a grifter (Matt Berry, The IT Crowd) comes to Greendale and decides to swindle the students by teaching “Grifting 101.” If that sounds a little meta, well, this isn’t the first time the series has gone in that direction, and couching the whole thing in the community college’s version of The Sting, complete with simple piano music (including for the theme song) and sketched images, gives a stylistic, enjoyable experience. Though he leaves sans tar and feathers, let’s hope the grifter doesn’t darken the halls of the institution again.

Much of the plot of “Grifting 101″ is pretty easy to see coming. Jeff (Joel McHale) declares the class a hoax the moment that the Save Greendale committee brings it up. Despite this, five of the seven members fall for the scheme, Jeff and Frankie (Paget Brewster) being smart enough to abstain. But of course the gang comes back to Jeff for help when they realize he is right. And Jeff makes it seem like he’s losing to the huckster over and over again, even though intelligent viewers know that has to be a part of his plan.

The only time Community has me doubting the certainty of the outcome is when Jeff is forced to admit in the storage closet that he doesn’t have a plan yet, which probably ends up being part of the plan (I think; or maybe the plan is solidified after this?). The Save Greendale Committee and the school at large are not the most clever bunch, even given the way Jeff cheats at being a lawyer for years. (Community did it before Suits, for the record, though I love Suits, too.) A real grifter could come easily in and take full advantage of them. For a second, it looks like that might happen.

It all comes together in the end, though, as it must. Community sometimes gets dark, especially this season, but a loss in “Grifting 101″ would be worse somehow. Perhaps because the failures of the characters are almost always internal, found when a person tries to overcome something within themselves. To have a villain from the outside get one over on the cast is intolerable. Greendale exists in a protective, delusional bubble, and that’s the way it must stay. At least until the end of the #sixseasonsandamovie

The finale of “Grifting 101″ is pretty awesome, keeping with the tone of the show and serving the premise. Leonard (Richard Erdman) wheels a hotel cart full of briefcases in the professor’s way, and a briefcase parade taunts him. It’s goofy stuff, to be sure, but I like that this is Greendale’s version of an elaborate set and a host of extras. The flashbacks to the briefcase switch, with Abed (Danny Pudi) loudly banging the cases and the professor not noticing as he makes out with Britta (Gillian Jacobs) is icing on the cake, even if it stretches the believability that the group gets away with the scheme a little bit.

“Grifting 101″ doesn’t do much for the overall continuity or character development of the show, but I find myself OK with that. Most of Community‘s episodes this season have served the whole, and it’s acceptable to have a stand-alone adventure once in awhile that is merely fun for fun’s sake.

My only disappointment with the half hour involves the tag, in which we learn that Jeff has been basically using a gym buddy as a slave all these years, possibly inadvertently. It’s a humorous concept, and it’s even OK that it’s introduced this late in the game. My issue is that it probably won’t be followed up on, and that’s a shame.

Also, Jeff gets a new office mate and no mention of Hickey? C’mon!

Community posts new episodes every Tuesday on Yahoo! Screen.

COMMUNITY Doesn't "Recycle" Characters or Story

Article originally published as TV Review: 'Community' - 'Into to Recycled Cinema' on Blogcritics.

 

“Ham, girl!” This week’s Community on Yahoo! Screen, “Intro to Recycled Cinema,” finds Chang (Ken Jeong) making a big name for himself in Hollywood after a memorable commercial. To capitalize on his success, the Save Greendale Committee decides to complete a film that Abed (Danny Pudi) started making starring Chang. Creative differences threaten to derail the project, but there are also deeper insecurities at work.

I admit, I did not see the twist coming in which Jeff (Joel McHale) admits to Abed that he fears being left behind by himself at Greendale as the others move on. This moment is great payoff for Jeff’s arc through the series, finally being comfortable enough to come to terms with his deepest emotions and share them with a trusted friend. This one scene explains pretty much everything you need to know about Jeff as a character, and makes up what I hope will be his arc into the end of the series.

Because of what Jeff says in “Intro to Recycled Cinema,” I’m kind of disappointed that Chang returns to the group at the end of the half hour. Jeff’s prediction that everyone is moving on could and probably should come true, though with Jeff included. Chang has his best chance to escape the community college this week and he blows it. This almost cheapens the dramatic parts of the episode.

On the other hand, Chang’s return could serve as reassurance that Jeff will not be left alone. While other members of the gang have gone away and not yet come back (though they have to for the ultimate conclusion), Chang’s absence is temporary, and the group numbers seven again at the end. Perhaps with all of the darkness present this season, this is a bit of comfort for Jeff and for the fans.

“Intro to Recycled Cinema” also highlights the growth of Abed as a character. At the start, it’s clear his vision will be steamrolled in favor of a quick release, which Maury (the Steve Guttenberg, Police Academy) promises will result in major money. Abed does resist some, his soul hurting, but Jeff helps Abed understand that one can let go and move on. The gym analogy is a little awkward, which works for “normal” Jeff trying to relate to the oddest co-star. Abed’s acceptance of it, though, shows that not only have his friends learned to understand him a bit, but that Abed is willing to expand his way of thinking as well.

Abed’s gradual grounding has led to much less weirdness on Community, which is often regrettable, but not in this case. “Intro to Recycled Cinema” is the most bizarre installment of the past season or two, our core group and several recurring players participating in a sci-fi film that is cheesy and hilarious, making good use of copious amounts of tin foil and Frisbees left over from the season premiere. The costumes and hastily constructed sets make this highly enjoyable.

The whole episode is great, to be honest. I’m not a big Star Wars fan, but I can appreciate the tributes stuck in here. Leonard (Richard Erdman) makes a great villain in the surprisingly moving climax. Elroy (Keith David) has some strong one-liners. Frankie (Paget Brewster) gets to show off her steel drum skills again, continuing a joke that deserves to have legs. And can we talk about how great it is that Annie (Alison Brie) can now toss “Pay your rent!” in Britta’s (Gillian Jacobs) face whenever Britta acts ridiculous? Genius!

Community has been my favorite sitcom for awhile primarily because of its originality and willingness to take chances. This episode kind of lacks both of those, with aping Star Wars and having Chang reset. Yet, in somewhat removing the elements I generally consider its best, the depth the characters have achieved is revealed and makes the show fantastic all over again for different reasons. I still think they should end after five more episodes and a film (unless Yahoo! orders what they could call a “second half” of season six), as the hashtag must be satisfied, but Community is on track for a fitting conclusion and a solid legacy.

Well, except for the year of the gas leak, but that’s perfectly acceptable because of the in-canon explanation.

Community drops new installments every Tuesday on Yahoo! Screen.

COMMUNITY Climbs "Ladders" on Yahoo Screen

Article originally published as TV Review: 'Community' - Season Six Premiere 'Ladders' and "Lawnmower Maintenance and Postnatal Care' on Blogcritics.

Community is back! NBC tried to kill it after a mere five seasons, prior to its prophetic fulfillment of the hashtag #sixseasonsandamovie, but Yahoo Screen has revived the odd comedy about the teachers and students at Greendale Community College, and the first two half-hour episodes are live on their website today. The show’s budget seems to have increased a bit, with more exterior shots than I remember seeing in awhile! Plus, the episodes are no longer confined to a strict twenty-two minutes, which gives them room to breathe, and the writers are using those additional moments wisely.

Some significant things have changed when the first episode “Ladders” begins. Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) has moved away to take care of her father (like the real Yvette, who is now starring in the less time-intensive The Odd Couple), and then got herself wrapped up in solving crimes with a man in a wheelchair (unlike the real Yvette, presumably). The idea that Shirley is starring in a spinoff makes sense for the universe as it exists in Abed’s (Danny Pudi) head, and even provides a fun little tag with Steven Weber (Wings, Helix) so fans can see her one last time. But her presence is deeply missed. The group protecting her seat in the library and running her sandwich shop in her absence illustrates that, and makes one hope her absence is temporary. There is, after all, still a movie needed to finish the hashtag, and if she, Troy, and Pierce don’t return, along with the large recurring cast, it will be most regrettable.

Hickey (Jonathan Banks) and Duncan (John Oliver) are nowhere to be seen because Banks is starring in Better Call Saul on AMC and Oliver has Last Week Tonight on HBO, though neither really feel like a part of the main ensemble, anyway.We do see Abed polish Duncan’s nameplate, so presumably he is still around. Still, because they are essential in founding the Save Greendale Committee, and Duncan has been on the show off and on since season one, I miss them.

They are replaced by Frankie Dart (Paget Brewster, Criminal Minds), who is said to be ‘white Shirley’ when the minority members of the group feel their numbers slipping, but is more like ‘grown up Annie,’ an administrator who likes the weird people, and seeks to keep things running smoothly. Frankie is completely unlike any other character on Community, including Brewster’s previous role on the show, in that she likes being boring. This completely shifts the dynamic of the ensemble, since it seems Frankie will be a central player in season six.

The first thing Frankie does is eliminate some of the kooky, wasteful things at Greendale. For instance, there’s a class called “Ladders,” the episode’s namesake, that she feels is a waste of time. In order to push her agenda, she latches onto Abed, who likes the idea of her grounding the school in reality, something he sometimes seeks to do to himself.

Is this the end of Abed as we know him? For five seasons, Abed struggles with the fourth wall, a character seemingly self-aware that he’s on television, even as his friends just see him as weird, which is saying something when he is compared to the other bozos around. While Frankie does try to break him of making montages, though, she does seem to stop short of ruining Abed, so that alone makes me think she’ll be a good addition to Community, rather than a villain.

Jeff (Joel McHale), Annie (Alison Brie), and Britta (Gillian Jacobs) don’t welcome Frankie as easily as Abed does, opening a speak-easy underneath Shirley’s when Frankie bans alcohol on campus. When Frankie eventually breaks them up, though, it’s not because she’s just found out about the project. This is another reason I’m not afraid Frankie will screw up Community, as Jeff and Abed end up wooing her back to campus after she quits. She may seem normal, but is weird in her own ways and is just trying to help. Thankfully that is realized in time to keep her.

There is a small part of “Ladders” that makes me wonder what the series is planning for the rest of the season. Garrett (Erik Charles Nielsen) is glimpsed glaring at Frankie and the group, as if he has some big beef with them. Maybe he’s mad about the Frisbee tidal wave that swept him away after the Save Greendale Committee failed to clear the roof of the plastic toys, their single failure since inception? But Leonard (Richard Erdman) scares him off and offers a thumbs up to the camera. Is Community‘s most frequent recurring player protecting out heroes? I want to know more about this interaction.
The second half hour, “Lawnmower Maintenance and Postnatal Care,” does not go back to things as usual, though I’m not sure Community ever really has a definable status quo. Instead, it has two main stories, one of which uncovers a long-secret conspiracy, and introduces viewers to the second major character to join the cast this year, alongside Frankie.

The conspiracy story involves Britta’s parents (Clue‘s Martin Mull and Lesley Ann Warren), who have been secretly funding Britta’s life through her friends. Apparently, throughout the run of the entire series, anytime Britta has been borrowing money from the rest of the group, she’s really been taking it from mom and dad, whom everyone else is familiar with. They know Britta needs to rebel, but they have found a way to support her anyway. The secret comes out when Britta moves in with Annie and Abed and is presented with a brand-new sleeper sofa.

I love the idea that there’s been something happening all this time on Community that has never been mentioned. I don’t know if anyone could ever go back and pick up any dropped clues that this is going on, but it seems perfectly in keeping with the show’s tenor to find this out now, as well as to have everyone except Britta treat it like it’s no big deal. Plus, “Lawnmower Maintenance and Postnatal Care” has great actors playing Britta’s parents, so there’s little reason to complain about the story.

In the second major plot, The Dean (Jim Rash) buys a virtual reality system that the school can’t afford. Jeff and Frankie try to return it, but The Dean won’t come out of his fantasy world. Finally, Jeff tracks down the inventor and seller of the unit, Elroy Patashnik (Keith David, The Cape, Platoon), who not only refunds Greendale, but decides to enroll as a student since he’s not doing anything better with his life.

The Dean is always getting into ridiculous situations, and this is just the latest one. I do think “Lawnmower Maintenance and Postnatal Care” wastes an opportunity to show all of the characters in a new format, as they have done with clay-mation and 8-bit-animation, among other styles, in the past, but it’s still a fun little bit that is consistent with Community in general.

I also like Elroy. We haven’t yet seen him in the Save Greendale Committee, which he will surely join, but he already seems quite intriguing. Here, we have someone with world experience and supreme intelligence who has wasted his life, which makes the college seem like the perfect place for him. He’s not mean and rich, like Pierce. Instead, he’s worked hard and just not made it. That’s a story many of the main cast members can relate to, and Elroy comes at it from a fresh angle.

Besides the obvious stuff, Community drops what feels like a hundred little gags and one-liners into “Ladders” and “Lawnmower Maintenance and Postnatal Care,” often referencing past events on the show, and just delivering its trademark humor in general (not to mention a great cameo from Nathan Fillion). The series remains darker than it used to be, creator Dan Harmon having returned after being fired for season four with a more somber atmosphere, which he’s translated into the natural aging process for the characters. I think these new installments are close enough to what’s come before them to satisfy fans, while still allowing forward movement to keep the show from growing stagnant. Two episodes into season six, Community feels very alive, if possibly building towards an ending.

The first two episodes of Community are available now on Yahoo Screen, with a new half-hour dropping every Tuesday. Check back on Blogcritics for my weekly coverage of future installments.

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 Introduces a New Teacher Or Two

Article first published as COMMUNITY Introduces a New Teacher on TheTVKing.

If the first half of tonight's Community season five premiere on NBC is all about rebooting and setting up a new premise, the second half, "Introduction to Teaching," focuses on the characters trying to find their footing, the new normal, if you will. In my opinion, it's just a little weaker than episode one, lacking the emotional heft, but overall, it's still a pretty great installment, definitely feeling more cohesive than all of season four.

Jeff (Joel McHale) starts his job as a teacher, and quickly realizes he has no clue what he's doing. Not being educated in the content, he doesn't know what to tell his students, and not having any experience or knowledge about teaching, he doesn't have a methodology as a basis, either. Basically, he's a mess, and he knows it. At least he feels bad about it.

But only at first. It doesn't take Jeff long to bond with his office mate, Professor Buzz Hickey (Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad), who introduces him to the finer points of teaching. They get to bully students, like Leonard (Richard Erdman), drink in the faculty lounge, and the Dean (Jim Rash) must stay away from them. The professors rule the school, and it takes Jeff very little time to adapt to the new position.

Except, Jeff isn't the same person he used to be. In the past, shallow Jeff could enjoy the perks and coast through the job without caring. This Jeff cares, which Annie (Alison Brie) is quick to remind him when she signs up for his class and pushes him to do better. An attempt by Hickey to scare Annie off her quest only convinces Jeff to side with her more strongly. Plus, he really doesn't like that he's suddenly on the other side of the war between teachers and students, his former classmates (other than the study group) treating him differently.

So what does Jeff do about it? At the Dean's urging, he gets Hickey and his friends to form a Teacher / Student Alliance to work towards a better Greendale. This actually demonstrates real growth for Jeff, working on a program that doesn't directly benefit him much. He could keep going along with the divide, but instead, he chooses to make Greendale a better place.

That seems to be the whole point of season five: Jeff saving Greendale. The Dean mentions that Jeff's Save Greendale group is fake, but the alliance is a version of that, a realistic way to effect change. Perhaps this doesn't solve every problem the community college faces, but at least it seeks to unite those who have a vested interest in the place, and could definitely come in handy when the hammer comes down.

And this gives the main characters a great, believable reason to stay together as a unit, with Hickey replacing Pierce (Chevy Chase) at the table, albeit in a very different type of role.

I really dig Hickey. Jeff needs a new buddy that's in the part of his life that his pals can't follow. Hickey is also a very fresh role, not being anything like any other character on the show. He's not just a threatening stereotype, with layers already peeled backed in his first appearance. There is some real potential for him to be a main character and bring something new to Community, and that appears to be the direction the show is taking him in.

The dynamic between students and staff in "Introduction to Teaching" is interesting. It's not something we've really seen before, with Chang (Ken Jeong) the most developed teaching character up 'til now, and surely not a typical representative of the faculty. Now we see how Chang got by, but it also explains a lot about why the education provided at Greendale is as sucky as it is. The teachers don't care about their charges, but Jeff does, and he wants to change it.

While Jeff is settling into his new position, the rest of the study group take an "easy" class from Professor Sean Garrity (Kevin Corrigan), someone we've seen before. The course poses the question "Is Nicholas Cage good or bad?" It's just the type of bizarre subplot Community is known for, and it's quite funny.

Abed (Danny Pudi), predictably, becomes obsessed with finding out the answer. Surprisingly, he isn't able to. We all know Cage is a weird man who takes on a variety of roles and is both revered and hated by moviegoers. So why does he exist in this pocket universe, with individuals having such varying perspectives on his talent, and his skill seemingly very uneven across pictures?

Not being able to definitively find a conclusion, Abed snaps, becoming a crazy Cage himself. Abed has been more fragile in the later seasons of Community, and something like this shakes him to his very core. Abed bases all his faith and framework of understanding life on the movie world, and to come across such an unexplainable mystery practically destroys him.

It's easy to see the parallels between Abed and a religious person, and so it has to be Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) that saves the day. After all, who else understands belief the way she does? Abed and Shirley rarely get screen time together outside of the group, so this is a pleasant twist that I'd like to see explored more, though it's hard to imagine it will be, as Shirley will never accept Abed's ideas as a true religion.

Other little bits are also entertaining. The Dean attempts to learn Excel, and feels left out when Jeff finds ways to cut the Dean from his life. Britta (Gillian Jacobs) has some choice one-liners, including one about an Asian. Familiar recurring parts are seen in the riot of the students, a scaled-down epic event on scale with other Community disasters. As much as I love the main story, it's the details that were missing last season, and by getting them right, it restores the high quality of the show once more.

My only complaint is that Troy (Donald Glover) seemingly has had less to do than anyone else in the first two episodes back, and with the actor only signed on for three more installments, his time is dwindling. Hopefully, the rest of his run will give him his due.

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

Community Passes "Basic Human Anatomy"

Article first published as Community Passes "Basic Human Anatomy" on TheTVKing.

Just when I'd given up on NBC's Community, they pull a surprise from the bag. This week's installment, "Basic Human Anatomy," gives rich character development for multiple main players, and while not super funny, advances along a couple of plots in a very nice way.

The premise is, Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed (Danny Pudi) switch bodies after holding a video copy of Freaky Friday and saying some words in unison. Except, they don't really switch. Troy is having trouble telling Britta (Gillian Jacobs) that he wants to just be friends, ending their one year relationship, and uses the ploy to escape facing his emotions.

The only issue I have with the setup is that Abed and Troy have been steadily growing apart this season, so seeing them execute a stunt like this, so perfectly in sync, feels weird based on how they have been shown with one another lately. However, much of the schism occurs when Troy focuses his attention on Britta, rather than Abed. When Troy feels the relationship falling apart, it makes sense he would turn to Abed, even if we don't see that development.

Glover is brilliant at playing Abed. Perhaps he does the finger bit just a hair too much, but he captures Abed's speech pattern and mannerisms perfectly. Pudi isn't quite as good, but still makes a serviceable Troy. Watching the two of them swap characters is a serious delight, and provides most of the funny moments in the episode.

I am a little disappointed at Britta's lack of a strong emotional reaction to being dumped, but like Troy, she likely sees this coming, even if the viewers aren't privy to the dissolution of their romance. The fact that neither member of the couple remembers their anniversary is telling. I just can't believe she accepts the news gracefully from Abed, rather than demanding Troy tell her, although maybe she actually is becoming a decent therapist and realizes how hard this is for Troy. She can be understanding occasionally.

Jeff (Joel McHale) makes it his personal mission to fix Troy and Abed, and helps them track down the "missing" video. This provides some wonderful scenes, such as a visit to the janitors' group, having to be told anything picked up would be in the lost and found, even though it's clearly on the board in the study room, and Jeff participating in a terrible gag of checking the functionality of a light switch to support his friends.

"Basic Human Anatomy" gives Jeff another step towards maturation as he realizes he should, and gives advice for Troy to, embrace one's feelings. Is this a sign he might finally be ready to put himself out there with Annie (Alison Brie)? It's certainly further development on the excellent path Jeff has been walking this season towards being a compassionate person in touch with himself.

The best part of the entire half hour is when the Dean (Jim Rash) tries to engineer a body switch with Jeff. It clearly doesn't take, based on Jeff's behavior, and we find out later it hasn't even happened with Troy and Abed, but Jim Rash does a dead-on Jeff impersonation. He even gets the voice so right that he sounds like Joel McHale. It's a comedic triumph for Rash.

While he's "Jeff," the Dean lets Annie and Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) peek at Leonard's (Richard Erdman) transcript, since he's the only one ahead of the girls in the class rankings. It makes no sense Leonard would be allowed to graduate with only one grade, the rest being pass/fail, nor does it make sense that he flees when this is revealed. However, at least it resolves the rankings story, and allows us to move forward with Shirley poised to be valedictorian, a satisfying conclusion.

Pierce (Chevy Chase) is in this episode, staying in the study room during the craziness to make banners for their class assignment. His part is essential to the grade subplot, but his character contributes pretty much nothing to the episode. This installment must have been filmed out of order, since it seems pretty obvious that Chase quits the show most of the way through production of "Intro to Felt Surrogacy," and I almost wish a solution could be had to edit him out of this one, since leaving him in the woods would have been the more concrete ending. But I guess his absence will be dealt with soon. Or not at all.

"Basic Human Anatomy" speaks to me because it allows emotional depth and character development, something lacking through much of this season. While Community's most memorable episodes tend to be their weirdest ones, and this one isn't that weird, this is a very good way to dredge up feelings and deal with them. In an overall weak season, this episode ranks near the top of the list in terms of quality and enjoyability.

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