While reading your comments from last week, I noticed that some of you were under the impression that I didn’t like Community. Far from the truth. The show offers 30 minutes of satisfying entertainment (22 minutes without commercials, as Abed would surely point out). It’s just that Community hasn’t taken it to the next level. It sits there like a puppy desperately wanting to be loved, but it hasn’t earned its gold star, unlike, say, ABC’s delectable Modern Family. Last night’s episode, “Social Psychology,” continued Community’s trend, which, let me reiterate, consists of providing a number of moderately funny moments, a couple of laugh-out-laugh zingers, and an overall agreeable aura. Top-tier comedy? Not so far, but that’s a tall order for any new sitcom, and I don’t believe this one will be sputtering out anytime soon.
Last night’s episode reacquainted us with Dr. Duncan (The Daily Show’s John Oliver), a (very) British professor of psychology. Whereas Oliver irked me during the premiere, this time he was rather endearing, especially in regard to his awkward flirtations with Annie. After Duncan misinterpreted Annie’s interest in his psychology lab as a display of romantic affection, he cut to the chase: “I’m not allowed to date students, even though you’re an 8, which is a British 10.” Then, lest we forget what island he hails from, Duncan followed with this comedic nugget: “I seem to have left my purse in my duffel, and my duffel in the boot of my lorry.”
In Duncan’s lab, the students learned The Duncan Principle, which consisted of leaving test subjects in a waiting room until they broke down. Señor Chang (an always welcome Ken Jeong) was the first to crack, and you gotta love the way he left, only to barge back in and fling a chair across the room. One by one, the test subjects departed until only Abed remained. When it comes to stamina, you don’t mess with Abed, who managed to stay in the room for 26 hours without ever once complaining. Duncan and his psychology students, on the other hand, couldn’t take it anymore. “Damn you, you outlying piece of data,” Duncan yelled at the TV monitor as Abed sat there, waiting and waiting and waiting. When a chubby, bespectacled student decided he had to get out of there, Duncan responded with the episode’s best line: “Fine. Go kill John Lennon again, you loser.”
The episode’s other story line, involving Britta’s new hippie boyfriend, Vaughn (Eric Christian Olsen), wasn’t as sharp. However, I did appreciate the budding friendship between Jeff and Shirley, as well as Shirley’s obsession with Vaughn’s microscopic nipples. “My kid’s got hamsters with bigger nips,” she joked. Also, score one point for Jeff’s takedown of Ultimate Frisbee: “What makes Frisbee ultimate?” That game was all the craze way back in high school, but I always failed to see the appeal. Now, Frisbee Golf — that’s a sport one can get behind. (Speaking of sports, and this is totally not the place for this, but go Angels!)
So, PopWatchers, how long do you think you would have survived The Duncan Principle?
Comments (1-15) of 38 Add your comment
Shirley was awesome last night, but I kind of disagree with your selection of the night’s best line. Kidding about someone’s murder – on the eve of the victim’s birthday – just seems a little low, but I can get over it.
Agreed, wholeheartedly.
I wasn’t offended. This was the part of the episode I laughed the loudest at. i think it’s making fun of Mark David Chapman rather than Lennon being dead.
I love the troy and abed credit scene, it literally make my roll on the floor and laugh out loud. Simple things when done right… priceless.
I still couldn’t disagree more, I think Community is fantastic!! It makes me laugh out loud for an entire half-hour, and the jokes couldn’t be more spot-on. I even watch it twice, because then I catch the jokes I missed the first time! Love, love, love this show.
the show has continued to get better – the pilot tried to hard to be liked – but slooowly, its coming together
As soon as they get rid of Britta and put another character into that role, this show would be awesome. IMO, they are trying to hard to have her mimic Tina Fey. She has zero comedic timing. She can’t deliver a line and most importantly she is the only one in the cast with no chemistry with Joel McHale, who is suppose to be his love interest. She is the only weak link.
Couldn’t agree more! Britta is annoying and mean to Jeff. I can’t understand why he likes her. The actress is unfunny and cross-eyed, which drives me crazy. They need to get rid of her or at least make her more of a background character. Jeff can do soooo much better!
Man, I thought that I was the only one who didn’t like Brita. She grates on my nerves!
I don’t NOT like Britta but I feel like they haven’t figured out what to do with her yet other than be Joel McHale’s love interest. I really some moments in previous episodes that highlight the vast gulf between her ideals and her actions. If they could play more with that things might work better for her…
Awww, you all don’t like the pretty girl…how cute.
That’s obnoxious, dude. No one is hating on her because she’s pretty. You can’t deny that she’s the weak link in this cast. The problem is that she’s pretty and nothing else except rude to Joel McHale’s Jeff and condescending to the rest of the group (who all have a lot of chemistry together save for Britta). Alison Brie, who plays Annie, is also very pretty, but no one is complaining about her because she’s very funny and is a good fit with the rest of the cast. You can’t say the same things about Gillian Jacobs’ Britta.
I thought this episode was pretty good. Loved the ending credits, watched them three times!
your comment clued me in to the fact that there are scenes at the ending credits. i just went back via hulu.com and caught up with all of them!!! thanks they are great!
I really like this show, I think it has great potential. However, a few things really irked me about this episode. Just want to point out the fact that I’m English and generally I find it funny when American shows make fun of us. I have no problem with the stereotyping of Brits because we do the same to you guys, but if you’re going to do it, please do it right so it’s actually funny to me. An american size 8 is actually a British 12 not 10 and purse? duffel? No British man I know would use these words. Sorry, rant over.
he was actually rating her an 8 (or a british 10) as in rating her hotness…not commenting on her size.
I think he was saying she’s an 8 on an attractiveness scale of 1-10, which is a 10 on the corresponding British scale. Sort of a knock on your women.
NRox – I think you need to go an study your Benny Hill and Monty Python again – it was obviously a hotness rating – we silly Colonists and our strange sense o’ humor….
I think Community is most excellent.Last night was no exception.I love the little bits…when Pierce first puts in his earnoculars and states it gives the wearer sonic hearing, enter Abed, ‘All hearing is sonic’, Pierce responds,’What’s that?’, while turning his head to hear him. That was only three minutes in…there had already been the Senor Chang moment and the Annie, Dr.Duncan moment. I love Modern Family too but this show is right up there.
This show is definitely getting more consistent and finding its groove. I loved the subtleness of having Chevy Chase floating around in the background of almost every scene, listening with his new sonic device. And the interactions between Jeff and Shirley were priceless. I like that we get to see different characters interacting around campus. I was worried it was just going to be Spanish class and Spanish study group all the time.
i loved when shirley got Vaughn to take off his shirt. Then, she stood behind him mimicking and trying to find his nipples. Hilarious!!!
Also want to chime in on the disagreement, Community is the best new show of the season. One of the funniest on TV right now behind 30 Rock and It’s Always Sunny…
Love the show and it is still head and shoulders above Parks & Wrecks. I really wish they would put it on the air later than 7 (which I know could not have happened last night with an hour Office).
It is nice that they are moving around the show arcs to show more insight into each of the characters. Chevy is a great foil for Joel and Abed is a scene stealer from every one! Senor Chang and Troy have nice moments, and I love the outtakes at the end with Abed and Troy. (Reminds me of Shawn and Gus’ outtakes at the end of Psych!)
I agree completely that it’s lacking something that will put it over the line into the territory of great shows. It’s definitely got some funny moments, but I always feel like it tries to be to smug (especially McHale, who I am a fan of from the Soup) in it’s humor – almost like 30 Rock was early on. It’s that reasonably funny person you know who tries too hard to let you know that they’re funny. I don’t think it’s a throw away show, but it needs to grow going in to Season 2. Also I’m probably jaded because it seems like the media early on decided that this was the show they were going to heap praise on this season, and I’m not sure why yet. It hasn’t done anything overtly groundbreaking or water-cooler worthy ….yet.
I really liked Abed’s comparison of his Annie’s relationship to Phoebe and Chandler’s-they never really did have a story together. Off the top of my head I can only think of the one where Chandler can’t cry and Phoebe tries to seduce Chandler (both funny stories IMO though) I also love all John Oliver so I was thrilled to see him again.
And the best part of this bit was that Abed called Annie “Chandler.”
I think the show is really hitting its stride, and I love all of the characters. It’s fun to watch them all interact in different ways. Shirley was a hoot last night. And I love Abed.
We always wait for Troy & Abed’s shenanigans during end credits.