Welcome back, class! Hope 2010 (Two thousand and ten, not twenty-ten, right?) has been treating you splendidly so far, which, unfortunately, was not the case with Community‘s first mid-season episode. Like the college student who’s returned from winter break and suddenly has to wake up before noon again, the show seemed to be in a bit of a fog. To me, it was going through the motions without complete conviction, and it introduced a comedy tradition that it honestly didn’t need — the big celebrity guest star.
Jack Black frequently straddles the thin line between genius (School of Rock) and annoyance (nearly everything since School of Rock), and as the study group’s newest member, Buddy, he most definitely crossed that line. I would have cherished a Jack Black who played someone other than a Jack Black caricature. Alas, we received exactly what we expected. And then Owen Wilson materialized for 30 seconds (Black and Wilson costarred in Heat Vision and Jack, a 1999 pilot episode written and produced by Community creator Dan Harmon). It was a pleasant surprise to see Wilson — he’s been lying low the last couple of years — as the ringleader of the “cool” Español study group. But the actor was given nothing compelling to do; it was as if the writers thought his mere cameo presence would be enough to get us through the scene.
Yet even at its worst, Community manages to sprinkle in enough jokes to make the whole thing worth consuming. As proof, last night’s best gags are after the jump:
1. While Jack Black himself wasn’t too amusing, his character was responsible for a fantasy sequence that likely caused 95% of Community‘s male audience to salivate: Annie and Britta as bra-less cheerleaders who fall into a pool of shaving cream.
2. I also dug the ingenuity of splicing the show’s title sequence into the middle of Buddy’s speech about rhythm and timing: “I’m sure you guys have a natural rapport and timing, and you’re scared that adding a new member might through everything off of its natural — CUT TO TITLE SEQUENCE — rhythm.”
3. The name of the school paper: Greendale Gazette Journal Mirror.
4. My favorite scene of the episode: Señor Chang’s beyond-the-grave entrance. It began with an unidentified woman announcing Chang’s death to his class. “We should take comfort in the fact that he did not suffer when his moped hit the side of that Arby’s,” she said. Then Chang burst into the classroom with sunglasses on and a boom box resting on his shoulder. “I am a man who can never die!” Chang exclaimed. “And this has been your first taste of Spanish one-oh-dos, the semester I get inside your cabezas,” he continued while taking an imaginary bite out of Annie’s brain, which was apparently so delicious that it resulted in a slight burp. Finally, Chang started his boom box and left the room to the sound of some rap song extolling the greatness of Señor Chang. And really, who could argue with that?
5. Annie explaining to Jeff how someone alerted the campus (via racial profiling) that the Toni Braxton concert had to be rescheduled: “The text message was sent exclusively to black students, and one French kid named LeBron.”
6. Glad to see that Dean Pelton’s Dalmatian fetish is alive and well.
7. Abed and Troy’s little “You go, girl” finger snap.
8. Annie: “If this article breaks out, I can apply for journalism scholarships. Nobody will care about my time in rehab if they think I’m a writer!”
PopWatchers, what was your take on Community‘s big-name guest star ploy? Harmless fun? Or perhaps evidence that NBC lacks confidence in the show’s ability to attract viewers all by itself? Or both?
UGH! Jack Black? There are so many great characters on this show; why do they need to bring in a one trick pony guest star to mess it all up? Isn’t that something you do during the fifth or sixth season?
Agreed! I didn’t care for JB at all. He is the same in “everything” he does, once or twice it’s funny,.. after that, it’s NOT! Community needs no help with guest. They just need to let the cast shine, b’c there are plenty of gems there. I just hope the show sticks around and this guest stars stunt is not a hint that it’s on its way out.
I believe that Black was supposed to be the annoying and pointless guest star that many sit-coms resort to. Look at Kevin McHale on Cheers or Clooney on Friends. 99% of the time, guest stars take you out of the universe of the sit-com. I think the guys at Community realize thsi and did the episode as a commentary on it.
I have to admit, I was disappointed with this episode. The listing of quirks were the good moments. But I also liked the “Hawkeye”/MASH references and how Abed peed his pants a little when he got called Radar.
the MASH references were my favourite part!
Sure, JB was pretty much his usual self, but I found myself laughing so hard I cried when Jeff dragged Buddy out of the room and his pants came down…. And the MASH bits with Abed and the song at the end credits were great. An enjoyable episode for me!
I thought the Owen Wilson cameo was great. I was happy enough just to see him alive and well lol.
Abed and Troy’s scenes are *always* my favorite. Glad to see their ‘rap’ again!
Love this show. It gets me through the tedious and uncomfortable Parks & Rec and into the Office (when NBC decides to air it) quite nicely.
Jack Black was wholly unnecessary. Though he did manage to channel my 4 yr old quite nicely when being drug out of the study room.
I thought JB was very funny. When he was dragged out of the room by Jeff, kicking and screaming and completely devoid of dignity, I laughed long and hard. I don’t think Jack gets enough credit for his particular brand of comic energy.
Jack Black is responsible for the 2 of the best scenes EVER in community. Annie-Britta foam match and being dragged out of the room.
I think John is looking at Jack Black’s cameo as an excuse to create controversy where there isn’t any. How did he feel about the celebrity cameos on Parks and Rec or 30 Rock? Last night’s Community was very, very funny. Bottom line.
John tends to be a bit of a buzzkill with his reviews… I didn’t see Jack Black or Owen Wilson as stunt casting, especially since 8 out of 10 times, Jack Black is just being Jack Black. Owen was a cool surprise to me.
I’m so confused about EW’s take on community – obviously they like it because they run this recap every week, but they seem to pick it apart unnecessarily. I honestly feel that this is the strongest new comedy this year. I kill myself laughing each week at the little quirks that each character has taken on (though I think chevy is the absolute worst). I thought Jack was hilarious and if anything, maybe his appearance on the show would bring needed new viewership.
btw – this show is WAY funnier than modern family, I also don’t get why everyone is so nuts about the show, it’s funny, but in a cheesy way
I agree. It’s annoying. To say it’s at its worst and then list 8 great moments? Last nite’s ep had me laughing all throughout. The jokes were fast paced and snappy. I love that group. And El Tigre is my hero.
I think they need to get someone else to review it. It’s like John Young was stuck with it. Either you love this show, or you don’t get its humor. And I think Mr. Young falls into the latter category (he probably fawns over Modern Family). I will say again that The Onion’s AV Club has really great (and smart) reviews of this show. http://www.avclub.com/articles/investigative-journalism,37115/
I’m confused…why can’t I love Community AND Modern Family?
EW does this all the time. The most clear cut example I can recall was when they were champions for Everybody Loves Raymond in Season 3 and Season 4 when no one was watching it. The show became a phenomenon soon after and immediately they started talking about how it had jumped the shark. EW tries to stay ahead of trends by creating them out of whole cloth.
I liked this episode too…sure, the Jack Black character didn’t always work, but the being dragged out of the room part was great…I actually felt really bad for his character, lol. Overall, I really like this show. It has a strong cast that gels well together. Its just still working out some kinks…I mean its still in its first season!
Jack Black was pretty spot on when he spoke of breaking up the natural rhythm of things. I’ve grown from hating to loving the show over the course of the season, due to the great rapport the cast has built. Hopefully future guest stars won’t ruin that as well.
The episode seemed like it had enough to focus on with Jack Black. Is it possible the writers edited the script so as to squeeze him in?
I also agree that Black walks a line between being great and being an awful caricature of himself. Maybe he hasn’t realized that the line narrows not only with age, but with each caricature performance. At this point, the line is razor thin.
He was meant to break the rhythm the show, and that was the over arching joke, basically making fun of the celebrity cameo mandated by NBC.
Not one of there best episodes but still fun to watch. Loved Abed’s constant M*A*S*H references even though I’ve never watched the show (apparently neither has jeff). His line “You made me so happy I peed a little.” got me so off guard lol. Though I did get abit of a kick out of Pierce’s “ironic” shirts, mainy the one that read “I’m Up Here.”
All the parts with Jack Black were way over the top. They don’t really need guest actors on the show. It’s great as it is.
The cameo by Hiromi Oshima…by far.
Am I part of the minority that says “twenty-ten?” Does everyone else say “two thosand and ten?” If so, that doesn’t strike you as inefficient?
Rick, you are not alone. I also say “twenty-ten”
I say “two thousand ten.” I think that “twenty ten” sounds like we’re talking about someone’s vision.
Who even says “two thousand and ten?” As any type of number (year, dollars, plain old number), the proper way to say itis “two thousand ten.”
Logically, since we pronounced years like 1994 as “nineteen ninety-four,” the proper way to pronounce this year is “twenty ten.” If you’re British, you may be inclined to say “two thousand and ten.”
Exactly. It’s not like you pronounce 1999 as one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine, you said nineteen ninety-nine. ‘Nuf said.
I’m not British, and I say “two thousand and ten” for the number. for the year, I use “twenty ten”.
I just got back from Britain and ironically they are using “twenty ten” for the year. I asked a friend there about this and he said this was most likely because the BBC and press were going with that so people picked up on it. I prefer the “two thousand ten” version myself even though I realise it is out of step with the “nineteens” we have just finished.
Saying “two thousand and ten” makes you sound like a jackass.
I say 2010 too. Strangely, in Canada this consensus was kind of reached 7 years ago, when we won our bid to hold the Olympics this year. So people have been hearing ‘Vancouver twenty-ten’ over and over since 2003, especially in Vancouver.
“Man Candy”
Well call me easy, but I really liked last night’s episode. Made me laugh several times over and that’s all I really ask from a sitcom! And if you’re going to fault Jack Black for doing a Jack Black caricature, then you also need to fault Chevy Chase for doing a Chevy Chase caricature every week.
I was a fan of Chevy’s shirts which he called ironic except were all completely accurate
Chevy Chase is “man candy”?