Reviewed by Melissa Garza
Currently, NBC has the television show Community on hiatus which often means cancelation is on the horizon. Though NBC has declared that the intention is to continue with the show, they have yet to designate a timeframe for its comeback.
As the show has a legion of cult fans there are several campaigns to save it already underway. Thanks to outlets which make connecting easy, the groups are gaining momentum and even had last week’s TV Guide discuss and compliment their efforts.
As I have impeccable taste, I am most cetainly on the side that hopes the show returns soon and in tact. With the exception of the Law and Order series, I rarely find myself watching anything modern. The only reason I began watching Community was because my husband won the first season from an NBC contest. Once we started watching, we couldn’t stop. This is the type of show that we had been waiting for ever since Simon Pegg’s cult classic Spaced disappeared from UK television.
Community is a uniquely hilarious comedy which follows a study group attending Greendale Community College. Jeff (Joel McHale) leads the group as a sarcastic, confident, former lawyer who lost his ability to practice law by the bar. As the lead actor he does extremely well – not only as eyecandy but more importantly as a fine actor with excellent comedic timing. It is so refreshing to see someone who is not just good looking but has the talent to deserve to be where he is.
The other characters are played by actors who are just as deserving. This includes Annie (Allison Brie) who is an immature 18 year old who seeks for independence and acceptance to hilarious heights, best friends Abed (Danny Pudi) and Troy (Donald Glover) who are constantly showing off their youthful antics by building forts, dressing in costumes, and pretending to be super heroes to dangerous levels. Abed as Batman harassing his landlord who has a shoes fetish has to make some of the greatest television of all time.
Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) fits well into the bunch as a Christian woman who is nearly always sweet except when crossed. Another great episode is Shirley attempting to show awkward Britta (Gillain Jacobs) how to relate to women by sympathizing with them during bathroom talk.
Senor Chang (Ken Jeong) is fantastic as their Spanish teacher who transcends from one who threatens them with long term papers and insults them to someone desperate to be part of the group. Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) adds much as the annoying leader who everyone but Annie nearly always ignores. One superb episode follows Pelton as he is in charge of making a commercial for the school and he takes it too seriously, ostracizes himself away from everyone and descends into complete madness.
Finally, there is Pierce Hawthorne (Chevy Chase). I am a hardcore Chase fan. I loved The Chevy Chase Show. I always found him to be both charming and fun. More than that, he is a comedic genius. Whether initially on Saturday Night Live, in the cult favorite The Groove Tube, the timeless Three Amigos (side note: pick up the Blu-Ray release ASAP), and now of course Community. Hawthorne is sexist, racist, homophobic, demeaning, malicious, and cruel. If played by nearly anyone else, the character would have every organization calling for the show’s cancellation – but Chase also shows the level of insecurity of the character. Even as he is making fun of a suicidal man who seemingly has the social talents of an awkward teenager, Chase shows Pierce’s own fragile ego. He lashes out and he would push someone over the edge and to their death without a second thought, but it is only because he’s afraid of losing his friends. He reacts in a way that is completely contrary to his needs. Rather than being nice and friendly to those he wants to keep around, he’s the opposite but as soon as they put together a gathering and don’t invite him, his feelings get hurt and he lashes out even more. He’s like a little kid who needs love and when his father is introduced onto the show – it’s easy to see how he became this way.
Perfect casting, great writing, and a show that makes the audience remember why television is so special – Community has it all. Hopefully, the powers-that-be will realize the gem they have on their hands. It’s a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still has moments of sentimentality. From making fun of Glee, to providing an old fashioned claymation style (I know it wasn’t technically claymation) Christmas special, to a zombie virus that invades Halloween – Community is providing hilarious episodes that will live on forever!
As for a possible pending cancellation – Community has many successful years ahead and they deserve the opportunity to explore each character further. Moreso, the fans deserve an outstanding show to watch – it’s been so long since we’ve had one! For Pete sake, they’ve brought back Fear Factor – you can’t tell me that their schedule is too tight for Community!
Scared Stiff Rating: 9/10 – It’s a sitcom that makes you remember that you love TV