Community, the tv show

note: it is supposedly a "darker", "edgier", "sexier" reboot for our modern times. prime remake material!

well at least it's not a Ryan Murphy reboot of the Munsters

I think the world's been clamoring for a sexier Herman Munster. Generations of people who've been unsuccessfully trying to use pictures of Fred Gwynne as j.o. fodder will be relieved.

the world is just not ready for lingering shots of Herman Munster's bare ass

I think the world's been clamoring for a sexier Herman Munster. Generations of people who've been unsuccessfully trying to use pictures of Fred Gwynne as j.o. fodder will be relieved.

http://slog.thestranger.com/files/2008/09/this%20ain%27t%20the%20munsters%20box%20cover.jpg

*de-tumesces*

*pours denatured alcohol into eyes*

take it to the 50 Shades of Grey thread

I'd watch if Herman had Fred Gwynne's accent from _Pet Sematary_

http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=77&threadid=64424

Re: Simpsons show-runners

Whoever mentioned them, have you listened to the commentaries for the years it started to get bad? Do they think it is awesome? I presume they try to forget how much the episodes suck and instead spend 20 minutes talking about how they got Tony Hawk or Billy Joel to star in that episode.

I didn't post about the Simpsons showrunners, but I've listened to a few commentaries from the craptacular seasons. They were all filled with long, awkward silences, occasionally broken by "Oh, I remember this." Nothing remotely like the exciting and informative Mirkin commentaries.

so SOLELY due to the urging of a few ILXORS i finally tried community again last night: the 8-bit episode which might as well have been made for me as much as it tried to hit my sweet spot of interest
and nothing. I find the sensibility to be like a trying-but-failing Better Off Ted... which, admittedly I love. But the acid and zip in BOT is missing and this wallows instead in Family Guy style "hey everybody i'm making a joke! look at the joke i'm making! Look, I made it! >>quick cut to next scene<<" or (even worse) the office brand of making jokes that are less about being funny and more about your awareness of what a character would or wouldn't do and isn't it funny to see Dwight doing a crossword puzzle with a quill? i also think it's the lead writer's sensibility just not jibing with my sense of quality and humor; i made the mistake of looking at that guy's blog and he's an idiot.
It seems better than outsourced or whatever that other fucking thing was that started at the same time and that I always assumed was basically the same show. it's even better than most current network sitcoms. but i'm not entirely sure i get the overwhelming nerd love.
allison brie can get it tho

8-bit episode = "Digital Estate Planning", where they play a video game to win Pierce's inheritance? If you didn't like that, you should probably avoid the show altogether.

i didn't like that and i should probably avoid the show altogether.

but i DID like the unspoken joke that the childish gambino character goes everywhere in the game by endlessly jumping rather than ever walking.
that was about the best bit for me.
otherwise they even wasted giancarlo esposito which i didn't know you could do

disagree w/ Sund4r, that episode was not representative or one of its best at all

that's like the absolute last episode I would show to someone to try to convince them to like Community except maybe for the chaos theory episode

IMO you'd have been better served with the billiard episode from season 1, and even that would be a stretch

not that the comedy universe of forksclovetofu is something i can claim to understand (xpost)

otherwise they even wasted giancarlo esposito which i didn't know you could do

can't really argue with that, but better him wasted here than wearing a genie costume on once upon a time

haha was gonna say the same thing

Whoever mentioned them, have you listened to the commentaries for the years it started to get bad? Do they think it is awesome? I presume they try to forget how much the episodes suck and instead spend 20 minutes talking about how they got Tony Hawk or Billy Joel to star in that episode.

i've only gone as far as season 10 with the dvds, but yeah, in the mirkin / oakley & weinstein years you get lots of earnest discussion of the thought processes behind episodes, the kind of debates they had about what was and wasn't right for the show, while in the scully years you get barely related chat, awkward silences, etc etc. the closest you generally get to the earlier meta-commentary is when they're sheepishly regretting individual jokes (less often than they should) or noting how they were concerned about something being too outlandish or stupid... before they went for it anyway.

that's like the absolute last episode I would show to someone to try to convince them to like Community except maybe for the chaos theory episode

Huh, I've only seen like three or four episodes of Community, but I thought "Chaos Theory" was brilliant and made me want to watch more.

better him wasted here than wearing a genie costume on once upon a time

Wait, what? This actually happened?

forks, i have no stake in convincing you to like this show but plz watch the dungeons and dragons episode which i think is accessible, hilarious and that you will enjoy.

also, the 8-bit inheritance game they played reminded me of dwarf fortress

that's like the absolute last episode I would show to someone to try to convince them to like Community except maybe for the chaos theory episode

Really? You'd sooner show them "Virtual Systems Analysis" or "Curriculum Unavailable"? "Digital Estate Planning" can be understood without having seen previous episodes, was creative, contains much of what Community fans look for, and imo was a good episode as far as the third season goes.

I would probably also think that "Remedial Chaos Theory" is a decent episode to start with, at least for s3!

But yeah, I love "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons". S2 is all-time.

http://i48.tinypic.com/2w2pr1l.jpg

:(

I really like pretty much all of s1 too, btw. I just thought that one of the more normal sitcom episodes might not convince someone of why people get fanatical about the show but who knows? The earliest episodes were so fun that they hooked me, after all.

basically, my Community fandom was sparked by the first paintball episode, but the trampoline/mean girls episode really convinced me to investigate further; going back to season 1 retroactively, my biggest lols were the billiard game and the April Fool's episode

i sort of thought the 8-bit episode was very insular for someone not familiar with community.

definitely. i don't think it would be as good without having seen the previous episode with pierce's father at all

billiards would probably be my choice as introductory episode as well, most of s1 is actually quite accessible, even the greater ones in the second half

i don't think forks would dig this show in any case, tbh

Oh, the April Fool's one is one of my all-time favourites! I love the subplot about Abed in the nude billiards ep. Maybe you guys are right. I'm not always that good at picking the right episode or song to introduce someone to something.

xpost Oh yeah, I forgot that you needed to know about Pierce's father.

Well, that's the thing though. If someone didn't like the video game ep at all, do you think they would love "Science of Illusion"?

d&d was the one that pulled me in

16-bit dudes. SIXTEEN

I think they had me hooked by the episode where Vaughan and Pierce form a band. I actually wouldn't mind a return to more episodes like that as long as they're done well.

Gettin' rid of Britta

Well, that's the thing though. If someone didn't like the video game ep at all, do you think they would love "Science of Illusion"?

I think it's much more likely, given that you see much more of the actors talking to and interacting with each other rather than pseudo 8-bit avatars with heavy-handed game jokes. Plus, the Annie/Shirley competition in it is amazing/hilarious.

I shotgunned the first few eps, didn't really spark my interest until the krumping stinger.

Also, it bears repeating that the pop-culture ref jokes here are doing decidedly more than random cutaways Family Guy-style.

Fair points, DJP. I like Abed's police chief impression in that ep too.

I may be alone but "Introduction to Film" is one of my favourites. The 'seize the day' accounting class was hilarious imo and Abed using his film to communicate to his Dad was actually kind of touching for me. I also liked how he manipulated Jeff and Britta into becoming frustrated with him like his actual parents had.

Maybe I'll watch "Science of Illusion" now.

Ha, I forgot that Pierce's Level 6 Laser Lotus robes were in this episode. There may have been more jokes in some of these earlier ones.

I think they had me hooked by the episode where Vaughan and Pierce form a band. I actually wouldn't mind a return to more episodes like that as long as they're done well.

― Homosexual Satan Wasp (Matt DC), Tuesday, May 22, 2012 4:32 PM (39 minutes ago) Bookmark

yeah one of my all-time favorites, and it was only like the 8th episode

actually I think the real reason I like this show so much is because I think all seven of the lead characters are equally hilarious; every time I sit down and try to pick a favorite, I end up shrugging and giving up because they've all really had their moments to shine

my favorite joke is still "Bring it in for a breast bump, ladies! No...? We'll get there" tho

Was that in "Aerodynamics of Gender"?

yes, probably my favorite non-pastiche episode

Also, it bears repeating that the pop-culture ref jokes here are doing decidedly more than random cutaways Family Guy-style.

It really only bears repeating for people who haven't seen much of the show and are way too quick about dismissing it. Which I might classify as "deaf ears", so probably not anything that really bears repeating.

Dan Harmon in the writer's room:

http://cdn.wg.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/south-park-manatee.jpg

LOL

just watched last three episodes, rip to one of the weirdest shows network tv will ever see