As pleasant as a midsummer’s breeze, last night’s Community was a soothing affair with a number of cleverly written zingers. If the episode’s story lines didn’t quite work (especially with regard to Britta’s foolhardy determination to please Troy’s grandmother), the show compensated with some mighty fine dialogue — lines that I laughed at initially and then laughed again once I wrote them down. And Katharine McPhee displayed surprising naturalism, despite her dyed-blond hair. The character of Amber, Pierce’s grifting ex-stepdaughter, isn’t somebody your neurons will remember one week from now, but McPhee allowed the character to become more than just a celebrity cameo. There was a believable, if short-lived, spark between Joel McHale and McPhee, and the latter managed to reveal Amber’s crooked personality while hiding behind a mischievous smile, which made her all the more contemptible (as intended).
No, “Basic Genealogy” didn’t match last week’s resplendent display of bare billiards, but it eased this tired mind after a long day of stress, and for that it should be thanked (and in case you haven’t heard, NBC has rewarded Community by picking it up for a second season). Right on cue, the episode’s six best moments:
1. Señor Chang to Abed’s fully shrouded cousin: “Hey, Phantom Menace, how’s the trade embargo with the Naboo?”
2. Jeff to Annie: “Disappointing you is like choking the little mermaid with a bike chain.”
3. Pierce: “I’ve never been called a stepdad.”
Jeff: “I don’t think anyone has.”
4. Pierce’s Pictionary attempt at drawing a windmill quickly turned into a swastika, which ultimately caused Señor Chang to attack Pierce. The episode’s best line, delivered by a local police officer, quickly followed: “I may just be a simple cop, but people need to know. This isn’t going to stop until Pictionary bans the word ‘windmill.’”
5. A sobbing Jeff who’s been dumped by Professor Slater: “We always used to watch the shows she wanted to watch. I hate Glee! I hate it. I don’t understand the appeal at all!”
6. Troy: “I think I hit G13.”
PopWatchers, who else felt ready for a game of Pictionary after Thursday’s episode?
Britta’s face when she was getting whipped with the switch was classic.
Yeah! She has such a big old face when she opens it up, insufferably cute, but that bare-butt whipping was wrong on SO many levels.
I think you missed the best line, which was Rabbi Chang saying to his brother, “Senor Chang? That sounds ridiculous”
Had me on the floor laughing.
I was wondering where the recap was! Thanks!
Was it only a coincidence in an episode where Jeff bashes Glee, Abed’s uncle was played by Iqbal Theba, who plays the principal on that show?
Yeah, that’s what I was wondering!
We know so little about Pricipal Figgins’ home life, so for all we know he could be related to Abed.
They also share a lot of sets with Glee, so I’m sure it’s not a coincidence at all…
fun fact, thanks
That was the reason for the joke. Community & Glee film on the same sets and Community often ends up waiting on Glee to finish. Not a coincidence but also an inside joke.
That’s a cool fun fact I didn’t know… thanks! Love the inside jokes between shows, ie. Abed doing Don Draper from Madmen to seduce Annie who is also on that show…. good creative stuff!
I thought that scene with Troy’s grandmother whuppin’ Britta was hilarious! Yes, it was a bit much but Troy’s crying in sympathy while wailing, “I don’t understand you, Britta!” made me howl in laughter!
“My momma told me there’d be white people like you.”
That line about Glee was fantastic. I thought I was the only person who recognized its mediocrity. This show has officially become a very solid leadoff hitter for NBC’s Thursday night. Really hitting its stride.
LOVED that the Human Being had a girlfriend!!
That was the Human Being’s son/daughter, not a girlfriend.
Didn’t they call “it” Little Being? lmaoo how disturbing what that?!?!
Though not the best episode it was till enjoyable. My favorite line was the Glee line, that was hillarious. And the scene about to Bootynator gave me a great laugh.
“Hand in the air!”
“Homeland Security!”
“Orange Alert!”
LMAO
Community was really good this week. Another solid episode with some great stuff.
Troy through tears: “I don’t understand you Britaaaa!”
Hilarity.
RABBI CHANG TELLING SENOR CHANG THAT IT’S JUST SILLY – puh-lease! HILARIOUS!
A lot of really good one liners that I didn’t catch the first time through. Good thing I taped it so I can watch it again. Chevy had some really fun, hilarious comments.
I thought the funniest was when Sr. Chang’s brother, *Rabbi* Chang, said to him “*Senor* Chang? That’s ridiculous.”
Anyone else think there wasn’t enough Annie?
Annie basically grounded the entire episode by being adorable. You can’t really have everyone acting crazy all the time; she was there to show a normal person’s perspective while both Jeff and Britta were in Crazyplotyztan. She was there for a couple of pivotal scenes and Alison Brie did a fantastic job portraying Annie rapidly switching gears from “ew, I can’t he just said that” and “aw, it’s great that he’s grown a conscience”.
My buddy wrote the episode and I have to say, to this day he is one of the funniest people in person you will ever meet!!!!! three favorite moments were Chang to the abed cousin about the phantom menace! Brita getting whipped and troy crying (one of the best pure comic scenes Ive seen a while) and Jeff’s line about glee since I get what hes saying!! I know people love it but Im confused as to why?
It’s just hype. Mob mentality. They are told to like it so they do. Glee has potential but it’s not realizing it.