I never thought I’d be saying this, but Abed was the best part of last night’s Community. His spot-on Christian Bale-as-Batman impersonation had me chuckling from “There’s a storm building on the horizon” to “Happy Halloween.” Batman seems to be enjoying a little pop-culture resurgence right now, from Modern Family’s mention of the Caped Crusader this week (“Batman doesn’t get picked on because he’s a muscular genius”) to CollegeHumor’s parody of the superhero’s vanishing gimmick. And while it’s true that Bale’s raspy accent is an easy target for laughs, I was nevertheless delighted by how fully Abed embraced Batman’s persona. “Chex Mix, pretzels, baby carrots…predictable but appetizing!” I couldn’t agree more.
This episode also had the distinction of ending the show’s Star Trek number curse, which we discussed last week. While last night’s “Introduction to Statistics” didn’t quite match the prior week’s nonstop creativity, it came close enough. Plus, it was amusing to see all of these (increasingly likable) characters in their various disguises, from Britta as a spunky squirrel to Troy as a Delirious-era Eddie Murphy (I admit I didn’t figure out Troy’s costume until reading colleague Mandi Bierly’s behind-the-scenes look at the episode). And, of course, there was Pierce’s meowing Beastmaster. Last night’s top five moments, after the jump:
1. After saving Jeff and Pierce from a collapsing volcano of chairs, Abed, err, Batman delivered his oh-so-serious farewell monologue: “If I stay, there can be no party. I must be out there in the night, staying vigilant. Wherever a party needs to be saved, I’m there. Wherever there are masks, wherever there’s tomfoolery and joy, I’m there. But sometimes I’m not cause I’m out in the night, staying vigilant. Watching. Lurking. Running. Jumping. Hurtling. Sleeping. No, I can’t sleep. You Sleep. I’m awake. I don’t sleep. I don’t blink. Am I bird? No. I’m a bat. I am Batman. Or am I? Yes, I am Batman. Happy Halloween.” Supremely silly dialogue that’s made sublime by Danny Pudi’s delivery.
2. Annie was in the process or telling her Spanish class about the party she was throwing for the Day of the Dead. “It’s sometimes referred to as Mexican Halloween,” she revealed. Señor Chang chimed in: “Which is actually quite offensive to people familiar with Mexican Halloween as a sexual position.” Cut to Troy proudly nodding as if he actually knew what the heck Chang was talking about.
3. I’ve appreciated Yvette Nicole Brown’s buoyant turn as Shirley throughout the season, but last night she had a minor miracle of a scene. During the episode, Shirley became increasingly furious at Professor Slater (Lauren Stamile), a statistics teacher whom Jeff was attempting to woo. Shirley was convinced that the professor was stealing Jeff away from Britta, even though Britta had stated that she didn’t care, and this culminated in Shirley nearly trashing Slater’s office. Then Shirley realized what was really going on here. “I have a confession to make,” she told Britta. “My ex-husband came by this morning, and he asked for his ring back. It was his mother’s, and he wants to give it to his new girlfriend. Don’t get me wrong. The best thing that ever happened to me was him leaving. I just had always thought he’d come crawling back, and I’d get to tell him, ‘Go to Hell.’ He couldn’t give me that.” There wasn’t a phony syllable in Brown’s heart-tugging performance, and bravo to the Community writers for including such a genuinely moving moment in an otherwise joke-stuffed episode.
4. “Pierce, stop grinding on the Women’s Studies department!”
5. And, as has become customary for Community, Abed and Troy’s (clearly improvised) credits skit was a riot. With both of them donning Batman’s voice, they discussed the tragic possibility of waking up as a delicious food and wanting to eat yourself:
Troy: Candy corn looks like tiny traffic cones.
Abed: Yeah, it sure does.
Troy: And like a candy traffic school. Like a little gingerbread man at the wheel. And he’s drunk.
Abed: Look out!
Troy: You’d be driving, but you keep wanting to eat yourself.
Abed: All day.
Troy: That’s one of my biggest fears. If I ever woke up as a donut…
Abed: You would eat yourself?
Troy: I wouldn’t even question it!
Abed. Hmm, that’d be tasty.
Troy: It’s cool to know other people think about this stuff too.
Abed: Yeah.
PopWatchers, which character’s costume was your favorite? I’m partial to Britta the Squirrel, especially because her tail and acorn were proportionally accurate. It’s all about the details, you know…
Comments (1-30) of 50 Add your comment
I loved it! Danny Pudi’s Abed is (in my opinion, haters) heading into that Jim Parsons-as-Sheldon (Big Bang Theory) territory: how he can play someone so painfully awkward and so well, its just fun to watch.
It took me a second to get Troy’s costume… I was thinking MJ, but the mustache threw me right off the bat. The pants clarified it for me.
I always love the end with Abed & Troy – and Annie’s plea to Jeff was great!
Have to admit, when Abed began his Batman impression, I immediately thought of Sheldon’s.
Same here. I love them both,and their BATMAN IMPRESSIONS.
I agree with the review. I love how this show truly gives all the actors a chance to showcase their characters. The credits skit was my favorite part of last night’s episode. Also, McHale looked hot in that cowboy outfit. Yee-haw!
Yeah McHale looked good! But I have to add that when Abed put on chapstick after he said “Happy Halloween” I nearly had tears running down my face from laughing so hard. I love this show!
P.S: Today is National Candy Corn Day. Ha!
That was a damn good episode. I laughed more times than last week. That batman impression was killer, and the closing scene was maybe the best part.
haha just youtubed it and abed’s pretty spot-on and hilarious!
i loved that they played on brita being caled a squirrel before by giving her that costume. pierce was hilarious. this has been my favorite episode so far.
I have to admit that I never really cared for Chevy Chase as a comedic actor… until Community and last night was his best moments. Nothing beats Pierce dressed as Beastmaster tripping on E. Pure comedy genius.
I laughed a lot with this episode. This is quickly becoming a favorite show. Funny when Senor Chang rode by Jeff and called him a loser (because Jeff wasn’t gonna get lucky after all). Absolutely loved Abed; loved the cape action too.
Community is slowly becoming my favorite show. Loved Batman!!!! And the closing bits with Abed and Troy are genius each time. KEEP COMMUNITY ON THE AIR!
I thought Pierce was the best part of the episode, along with the return of Starburns.
I think the show is finally hitting its stride and getting the right balance. Maybe the writers, producers, whomever finally realized Britta was the weak link and they dialed her back a bit. She has actually become a somewhat favorite character of mine now that she is not the focus anymore, she brings a sarcastic edge to the show but is not forced down our throats.
“what did you give me? My heart is racing and I can’t pee!”
It’s Batman! Pudi is starting to steal every scene that he is in! Loved how Brita snapped off the head of that award the stat prof earned at the end of the scene with Shirley. It would be an awesome love triangle if this story line continues.
Love this show and I really appreciated that it was the only one on NBC last night (I think – it may not have turned up in The Office either, now that I think about it) that didn’t exhibit some kind of fascination with ‘Gay Halloween’
“Pierce, you have a full-on erection.”
Am I wrong or did Starburns say my heart stopped racing and I can’t pee
it was starburns! i hope someone is starburns for halloween.
Ha, ha, ha, he sure did!
MY favorite line of the night! had to rewind a few times!
Anyone else think Jeff was HOT!! dressed as a cowboy?? I laughed so much with this episode. The cast is really gelling and I hope the network realizes what a gem they have on their hands.
Oh yeah, he was totally hot. Yippee ki ay.
Yeah, definitely a Halloween treat. Think they could find a reason for him to be dressed as a cowboy more often?
sexiest. cowboy. ever.
Oh yeah, he’s totally hot. And not just in the cowboy outfit.
there was some line read by Troy where he was totally channelling tracy jordan.
Where’s the Office and 30 rock recaps?
There was no new episode of 30 Rock this week.
A lot of people have been down on Community for not living up to the premiere, but I feel the opposite- I’ve liked it better and better since the pilot. I’m glad the show got a full order, because I really like the theme of a new “class” every week.
Anyway, I thought this episode was a lot of fun. Abed’s batman was kind of genius. Can we nominate him for the Must List?
Preach on Rob, I second your nomination of Abed for the Must List.
Pierce’s trip was magical. I enjoyed every second of it, especially the chair fort.
“Your dressed as a gladiator, in a chair fort you made while you were tripping! You’re a hero!”
I agree Jess! I almost peed my pants laughing at the whole Pierce trip. Chevy Chase rocked that with his face and body language. My husband had to pause it because we just cracked up so much that we missed dialog. Needless to say we rewound that scene multiple times!
Best episode of the season. Abed’s Batman was HI-larious and Pierce accidentally calling his mother via voice command was both funny and heartbreaking. “Are you popular? Has that Jeff fellow stopped picking on you?” So sweet! It was the first time since this show began that I actually got Pierce. Also, Jeff as a sexy cowboy? Yee-haw!
I think Abed is almost always the best part of Community.
Absolutely agree!
Ditto. But I didn’t care much for Chevy Chase.
This episode was by far the best of the season so far. I think Community came in with a bunch of hype, and while it was promising hasn’t always lived up to the hype. This episode absolutely did and it might have even made me laugh harder this week than Modern Family. I’m so pleased to see Community hitting it’s stride. NBC’s Thursday night comedy lineup is killer!
Really liking this show and that was one of the funniest Halloween shows.
I laughed so hard at Community last night. I love this show every week more and more. I keep thinking that each episode is my favorite until another one comes on and then I decide that one is my favorite. So glad it is getting a full season. Abed is the best.
I think the character of Britta is working a little better now as they are making her a little more ridiculous. At first she was just the hot girl of the group, not she is just as off as the rest of them.
Oh, and Mexican Halloween does sound filthy.
Pierce’s mother saying that she saw her dead husband again had me dying. The entire exchange with her on the phone was hilarious. I love Abed. I also love that there is at least a popwatch for this, it doesn’t get the love it deserves on other sites.
Chevy Chase had me crying with laughter last night! Love this show.
I LOVE ABED those male bonding scenes with troy are the highlight of my week.
Abed as Batman was awesome! “I know I’m not Batman, but you don’t have to be a jerk.” And Senor Chang’s irritation that a guy who looks like Jeff would be striking out…