Community: "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux": AKA: It's Not that Easy Being Dean...

The first episode after the benching announcement and the Communies were out in full force. Twitting up a storm attempting to trend such phrases as #savecommunity and #sixseasonsandamovie. They even took to tweeting sponsors as their commercials aired to prove that despite what Neilson may say, we are watching. Take note NBC, "We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive!" That's right, I just quoted Independence Day at you.

The episode itself included all the mad cap craziness we've come to know and love. Opening with a classical cheesy 1980's-esq commercial advertising our beloved Greendale. Turns out the Dean has finally gotten the board to allocate funds for a new commercial. Of course the natural choice to star in this new ad is every one's favorite study group, with the priceless idea to have Jeff play the Dean. Gotta say in his Dean garb Jeff bares a striking resemblance to Damon Lindelof. True to form rather than be in the commercial, Abed decides to film a documentary on it's creation.

Things don't go exactly as planned and when Louis Guzman calls and tells the Dean he would LOVE to be a part of the commercial, it all start to go awry. The episode was full of all the things fans love about the show. From the Dean's epic meltdown to Abed coming through to save the day, it was completely ridiculous, and yet some how completely sincere. It's very rare for a half hour comedy to find a perfect balance of absurd and heartfelt, yet Community seems to have been able to achieve just that.

So come on NBC, get off your ass and tell us when we can expect to see the Greendale gang back in our weekly schedule.

Community Benched?: AKA: Why I Have No Reason to watch NBC Now

I'm finally weighing in. This week NBC announced their new mid season line up...and something very important was missing...NBC had decided to "bench" Community. This lead to a rousing chorus of "WTF?" around the fandom.

I feel, Jeffrey Kirkpatrick, of TV Fanatic perhaps put it best when he stated, "Evidently, you are completely unaware of the power of the Communies. They're as crazy as Dan Harmon. They'll cut you." You can read his full article here.

Ok so that may be pretty strong but, still the out pouring of black beards, a reference to the dark timeline in episode, Remedial Chaos Theory, the petitions and just general outcry on the Internet is pretty amazing.

I admit that I got into Community later than most, but I still love this show, in fact with the exception of Grimm, which due to it's awful tome slot of 9pm on Fridays, I record and usually forget to watch for days, Community is the ONLY reason I tune into NBC at all. I remember the days of Must See Tv and making sure that I was home to watch Friends and Will and Grace, but lets face it it's been a LONG time since the glory days of the peacock. Even the Today Show got to annoying for my taste, with the addition of Meredith Vera and I switched over to the Early Show, for my morning needs.

It is a VERY rare occasion these days for any tv in my house to be tuned in to NBC, to be fair I tried returning to the channel this fall but none of their shows excited me all that much. I started off watching Playboy Club, and I, though I think I may be in the minority here, actually liked it. But with that gone, and Grimm stuck on Fridays, and therefore relegated to my DVR, I do have a life folks, Community was the one show NBC had to offer that I couldn't wait to see each week.

The new shows for the mid season unvailings aren't looking so great either. While SMASH sounds like it should be something right up my alley, I'm just not really feeling it, though I had every intention of watching, only because it employs so many people I know and love. However, it is slated for 10pm on Monday nights, which pits it up against CBS's Hawaii 5-0 and ABC's Castle, both well established shows, which, sorry SMASH take my allegiance over you. Also, and I realize that SMASH is NOT Glee, but one would think in order to get ratings up, you might want to at least try to tap into that Glee watching demographic, 10pm is  a little late for that.

I will admit to being IN LOVE with NBC's new series Awake, unfortunately they have stopped production due to some "pressing creative issues". Thus putting them behind and absent for the mid season schedule thus far.

NBC should take the time to realize that although they are not getting the ratings they desire, they are putting out shows that have rabid loyal fan bases, best not to anger the few loyal viewers you have. Until then, if all they have to offer is Whitney  and Are You There, Chelsea?  I think I'll pass.

Community "Remedial Chaos Therapy": AKA: Creating Six Alternate Time Lines

Tonight's episode of Community is a perfect example of just awesome this show is. It takes a random event such as a house warming for our beloved Troy and Abed, and turn it into something that resembled the ending of Clue.

Let's take a quick moment to discuss just how awesome Troy and Abed apartment really is, the Andy Warhol-esq painting of them, the pictures of their various shenanigans hanging upon the wall, the freakin replica of the Indiana Jones bolder scene? It's truly a place you'd want to hang out. I totally echo Annie's sentiment of loving their apartment, does that mean I can come live there too, Abed? Please?

I found it really interesting that there are some things that remain the same in all time lines. Jeff always hits his head on the fan, and Pierce always mentions his airplane bathroom hook up.

Every possible role of the die creates a different timeline, some darker than others. The "correct time" line  however occurs when Abed stops the rolling of the die and it is Jeff goes to get the pizza. It seems that this is also the time that the group is happiest, goofing off and dancing. Once again we are reminded that these people have come together as a family, who need each other.

Last night's episode proves that even in its third season Community is still as fresh as ever. Dan Harmon proves time and time again that a half hour comedy can still be smart and funny.

Community "Competitive Ecology": AKA: Poor Todd

Its official Chang has gone completely bonkers. We opened to find him living in the boiler room with his "girlfriend" a mannequin leg he has named Veronica. I'll admit to plenty of giggles over the film noir style of his storyline, because I'm a sucker for that kinda stuff, add in Dean Pelton's own inner monologue about firefighters and dalmatians and it was by far my favorite moments in the episode.

 Last night was one of those episodes that reminds us, that even though we have grown to love them, are favorite study group is made up of some pretty awful people. "The Mean Clique" as Professor Kane called them. Poor newbie Todd, had to deal with the brunt of their awfulness. But as always the discourse brings the group together, clearly the problem wasn't with them, it was with Todd.

To be honest, I think it would have been a bit more interesting of an episode if the group HAD to pair up with their original "nobody" partners. Not exactly sure how that would have gone down, but it would have been interesting to see them having to relate to someone other than each other.

So "Competitive Ecology" may not have been my favorite episode, but there was still plenty of laughter, which is why Community is still one of my favorite shows.

Community "Geography of Global Conflict": AKA: Annie and Jeff Heat Up

For some reason this weeks episode seemed to fly by, it felt even shorter than the already short half hour. Annie Kim was the perfect nemesis for our little Annie, and it'd be great if she sticks around. Annie has gotten so comfortable in the study group that she seems to have lost a lot of her crazy competitive nature, it was fun to see it back in full force.

It was a very Annie/Jeff heavy episode and while I see how that could be semi scandalous with their age difference, she is turning 21 this semester, and honestly once you can get into bars, age  different doesn't really seem to matter much. I know, I know there are people who will vehemently disagree with me and that's fine, but I kinda like Annie and Jeff together. She's so high strung and he's so laid back that they sorta balance each other out. They've played with the idea of this pairing for almost the entire series now, it's interesting to see them really start to go for it. Plus, Jeff seems to genuinely care for her, it's sweet.

Chang/Brita's relationship in this episode was hysterical. The use of Lionel Richie's "Hello" was priceless, I literally laughed out loud. I'm hoping they keep this pairing going in other episodes.

All and all a good episode, but not one of my favorites.

Community "Biology 101": AKA: Returning to Greendale

I'll admit got into Community late, I had every intention of watching during the first season, I even DVR-ed some of it, since I have loved Joel McHale ever since he started on The Soup. Somehow it never really worked out though and Community never made it into my TV rotation, until my best friend received her season two DVDs the weekend I happened to be staying with her. I have since eagerly devoured both seasons of the show and have been eagerly been awaiting season three.

Last night was back to school, of course I was in transit home while it aired because on top of long hours I have a crazy commute and for some reason NBC decided to move the show to 8pm. Naturally, the first thing I did when I got home was rush to couch and start it up.

Once again, Community didn't disappoint, opening with a musical day dream sequence, in which they all promise to be more normal. Troy and Abed announce that they have moved in together, please, please, please let us get to see some at home capers.

Pierce is back, wanting to reenter the study group and everyone seems ok with that, except Jeff. It's only when Jeff gets kicked out of Biology that he realizes the "magic of the table". Kudos to Pierce for falsely confessing to bribing the new professor, to make Jeff feel better about his freak out.



Chang, who was outed about his vent living situation, was hired as a school security guard in exchange for room and board. The thought of Chang back in a position of authority, makes me gleeful, there's just so much potential in that.

I just want to point out that the name of the "monkey knockout gas" was Chimpan-zzzs, brilliant. Also Annie and Jeff sang that they were "Going to sleep together", I'm really curious to see how that will play out, given that we know Jeff and Annie will become more romantically involved this season.

 I've always love the insanely awesome guest stars Community manages to get. John Oliver (The Daily Show), Kevin Corrigan (Grounded for Life), Jack Black (School of Rock), Betty White (The Golden Girls), Josh Holloway (Lost) among many other lesser known who I recognize and sqwee giddily over. Last night we were given, Michael K. Williams (The Wire) as Professor Kane, the gang's new former inmate turned biology teacher and John Goodman (Rosanne) as Vice Dean Laybourne, head of the school of air conditioning repair. Side bar confession, I have watched a lot of Rosanne and secretly love it, so see John Goodman back on my tv made me happy.

The introduction of these two characters, who are far less zany, but no less interesting than are usual Greendale faculty should provide a really interesting new dynamic. I can't wait to see the interactions between Dean vs. Vice Dean. It's definitely going to be an interesting year.