Community, the tv show

I quite enjoyed this actually, although I didn't really laugh. It's weird in that there doesn't seem to be any major change in approach but the lines just aren't as funny and the characters feel like they're impersonating themselves.

― Matt DC, Saturday, February 16, 2013 12:00 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

That last point is OTM. The first thing I thought of was what Richard Pryor said about post-burn work, that he felt like he was doing an impression of Richard Pryor.

I still don't think this is that much worse than the first few episodes of S3, which were really bad.

^^oh yeah, I agree. I didn't hate the premiere, to be honest

where i'm at too, basically

2nd episode of ssn 3 was much funnier than this

I'll rep for eps 2-10 (maybe 11) of s3.

And, actually, the remainder of s3 except "Contemporary Impressionists", "Virtual Systems Analysis", and everything that happened after Starburns died and Chang took over the school. (Might make an exception for "Digital Estate Planning".)

I did laugh at Annie's "can't appreciate the homage/I hate reference humour" comments. I enjoyed these two episodes well enough when they were on, in the way that I would appreciate a sitcom that I would never care to rewatch or think about again.

something felt really off about the direction too, or the post-production--or whatever process they put shows through to make them not terrible

Harmon used to spend all-night shifts in the editing bay apparently

Shapeero is a returning S3 director, wonder if any others will show up again - Russos obviously gone forever, Justin Lim won't have time ever, but Jay Chandrasekhar seems happy to work on p much anything -- though presumably the Russos brought him in via Arrested Development history

Not bad, but FotC & 30 Rock did that Nigeria joke better.

This is much much better than last week so far

otm. Nearly on par with season 2.

reading the rageful dislike on AV Club (although the comments seem evenly split) really makes me wonder if half of the people who were into this show were actually just into Dan Harmon

it was an OK episode IMO, not one of their strongest but nothing i've seen so far this year really disappoints me

I really disliked the Annie storyline because it did seem like she had matured past behaving as childishly as she did in this episode, but otherwise it wasn't as bad as I had I feared.

Annie's storyline was childish but fed into her gonzo obsessive streak and opened up the hilarious drink-throwing scene and Jeff's concern about his hairline

djp probably otm. There's a slight drop in quality in these new eps but really nothing major.

The more you say the new eps sucks, the more it feeds the "DH is TV Jesus and died for our sins" narrative.

Compared to how much negative stuff I'd seen written about this episode, I was quite satisfied. The Annie-stuff was a bit dumb, but it was quite fun, and I liked Abed Wingering it. Also, honestly, I was happy to see Annie having a story of her own.

I thought this episode was great, I'm mystified by all the critics who thought it was emblematic of the show's decline. Good material for Troy and Annie in particular, who are my favorites when the writing allows them to have fun. Also sexy Britta fleeing Troy's room should've garnered more critical goodwill, surely.

I think the short answer is "anything that makes fun of nerdy fandom will make modern critics feel badly about themselves"

Also sexy Britta fleeing Troy's room should've garnered more critical goodwill, surely.

It took me a while to get to this point because of age difference bias but I now like that they've taken the expected initial parings of Jeff/Britta and Troy/Annie and swapped them

Also do you guys remember the viral video of my buddy the Washington state representative making a speech about how his deep-felt Christianity compelled him to vote to legalize gay marriage? Apparently he went to high school with Joel McHale, who showed up at one of his fundraisers last year. </threedegreesofseparationfromannieandbritta>

I dunno, I think I honestly preferred last week's episode. (I was never fond of Inspector Spacetime, admittedly). This felt a bit like a Big Bang Theory episode or something.

What is FotC?

Flight of the Conchords I think?

Fellowship of the Cockfarmers

hee hee

would watch

xposts

Ah.

I really disliked the Annie storyline because it did seem like she had matured past behaving as childishly as she did in this episode, but otherwise it wasn't as bad as I had I feared.

Definitely liked last week's "I'm sure as stuff not your sexy little ring girl" Annie.

xposts. They had a gag where Murray the manager responded to one of those Nigerian emails, and the Nigerian finance minister came to see him.

Yeah, I remember that. It was a good one. I just didn't recognize what "FotC" meant at first.

I was kinda hoping the Annie/Jeff story last night would blossom into more of a Certified Copy parody/homage, which would have been really next-level.

I also said it felt like a big bang theory episode! After Britta's sexy escape

Don't think is is an absolute disaster that AV Club/Dorks On Twitter think it is, despite a bit of a decline in awesome jokes.

Blowing off the whole 'Abed is going to freak out about them fucking' with his relevation that he has been taking advantage of morning donuts was great btw.

I also said it felt like a big bang theory episode!

I thought this as well. But at least it doesn't have the laugh track!

winger's admirer was a nice bit of casting

Six is still bangin'

okay you guys talked all DAY about this and no-one mentioned Luke Perry + Jenny Garth!? Ugh. Nerds.

Not bad! Didnt like the Annie storyline at all but otherwise it was ok & had some funny moments. The Thoraxis bow-down made me lol

i did not recognize jenny garth

Her face looks a little weird but it's totes KELLY

after three episodes, the pacing still seems off... a little too fast? but it's not bad at all.

weird, i did not recognize her at all

Luke Perry was on Raising Hope this week too--odd timing, since this Community was supposed to air in November or something.

Yeah, I didn't mention it bc I felt like I'd already seen enough of Mr. Perry this week.

as expected the qualm with the "so there's 50 years of this, huh" line was totally bonkers

Yeah OTM, it made total sense in context.

Hogan's Villans.

bottle episode callbacks a nice touch too.

Caught up on the first three eps of the season. Laughed plenty. I don't think any particular ep went next-level like the show could, but none of the shows were as bleah as the "wine-tasting" one.

At this point, the show is enjoyable and doesn't make me want to end humanity like most other tv, so it's fine.

Didn't like this one at all. I laughed once or twice, but everything seemed slapdash and inconsistent. I sort of liked the reversal -- that the study group is actually hated by everyone -- but it didn't make any logical sense, given how many times they saved the school and were able to rally everyone around them (paintballs, Chang dealie, etc). Also, they played D&D on a Saturday when (presumably) no one else would want or need to use the study room.