"Community" Season One Talkback (Spoilers)

[The Penguin]

NBC has one new situation comedy premiering this fall and it is Community, starting The Soup's Joel McHale and Chevy Chase. Catch the much-talked about new show tonight at 9:30 ET on NBC. The show is expected to move to 8 p.m. ET on October 8 after SNL: Weekend Update Thursday completes its second run.

From Dan Harmon ("The Sarah Silverman Program") and Emmy Award-winning directors Joe and Anthony Russo ("Arrested Development") comes "Community," a smart comedy series about a band of misfits who attend Greendale Community College. At the center of the group is Jeff Winger (Joel McHale, "The Soup"), a fast-talkin' lawyer whose degree has been revoked. With some help from his fellow classmates, Winger forms a study group who eventually learn more about themselves than their course work.

Also among the series stars who comprise the group are comedy legend Chevy Chase ("Chuck") as Pierce, a man whose life experience has brought him infinite wisdom; Gillian Jacobs ("The Book of Daniel") as Britta, the 28-year old drop out with something to prove; Yvette Nicole Brown ("Rules of Engagement") as Shirley, a sassy middle-aged divorcée; Danny Pudi ("Greek") as Abed, a pop culture junkie; Alison Brie ("Mad Men") as Annie, a high-strung perfectionist; Donald Glover ("30 Rock") as Troy, a former high school football star trying to find his way and Ken Jeong ("The Hangover") as Spanish professor, Señor Chang.

"Community" is a Krasnoff Foster Entertainment, Harmonious Claptrap, Russo Brothers production, Universal Media Studios production in association with Sony Pictures Television. Russ Krasnoff ("The Soloist"), Dan Harmon ("The Sarah Silverman Program"), Joe Russo ("Arrested Development"), Anthony Russo ("Arrested Development"), Garrett Donovan ("Scrubs"), Neil Goldman ("Scrubs") and Gary Foster ("The Soloist") serve as executive producers. Joe and Anthony Russo directed the pilot, written by Harmon.

Tonight's episode...

"Pilot" - Series Premiere
Thursday, September 17, 2009 @ 9:30 p.m. ET/8:30 CT on NBC
A new band of misfits at Greendale Community College, lead by Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), form a study group where they eventually learn more about themselves than the coursework.

NBC.com/Community

[CaptainHero]

There's no possible way this show can fail. Great reviews all around from every critic. Arrested Development alums behind the helm, Joel McHale, Ken Jeong, this looks like it might give Chevy Chase a comeback a la Alec Baldwin's in 30 Rock.

[RonDrakenfan17]

Man oh man I can't wait for this show

[Michael24]

I'm looking forward to this, not because of Arrested Development or Scrubs connections (I never cared for them), but because of one man: Joel McHale. Chevy Chase should be a hoot as well, but I'm excited to see McHale starring in his own series.

[mumbo]

Not only does it have McHale and Chase in it but there's also the wonderful John Oliver as well, so I can't wait. And they're wisely premiering it after The Office to build an audience first.

With this and Glee it's great to see awesome new comedies coming down the pipe.

[The Cartoon]

I'm really excited for this. All of the actors are great, as are the jokes from what I've seen in the previews thus far. I just have a good feeling that it is going to be the next great comedy so I am not missing the premiere.

[Nel]

I liked it. It wasn't overly amazing but it was a good first episode.

[Peter Paltridge]

I enjoyed this, and I will be back for more. Thank goodness. NBC finally picked something because it was funny, not because the premise worked in Australia.

[Michael24]

Well, I thought it was a little on the lackluster side. Some bits made me laugh (the Ben Affleck jab cracked me up), some didn't, but being the premiere I won't hold that against it too much. I liked Joel McHale and Gillian Jacobs ( ), but I get the impression that Danny Pudi's character -- and maybe that English guy, too -- will quickly become the "Annoying One" on the show.

I'll be back next week for the second episode, but I hope it picks up a little more. It's been at least a few years since I've had a comedy in my regular primetime viewing schedule.

[DisneyBoy]

Finally - a companion show to 30 Rock!

I never really got into The Office. So last night's premiere of Community was a big relief to me - a funny show I could follow from day one. I'd hoped Parks and Recreation would have been a good 30 Rock companion, but the first season was pretty flat, and poor Amy P seemed reined-in somehow. Last night, Joel McHale's charisma was in full force, and it's always good to see Chevy Chase, even if he looks like he's aged by a decade or three since last I'd seen him. Not a big fan of the rambly kid, though.

[The Cartoon]

I loved it, I've been looking for a great comedy that I can start following and this may be it. It was very well written and all of the actors are great so far as well. I see a lot of potential out of this show.

[JD08]

I loved it, I've been looking for a great comedy that I can start following and this may be it. It was very well written and all of the actors are great so far as well. I see a lot of potential out of this show.

Yeah I'm looking for a comedy to get into hopefully it doesn't get to up it's anus like some shows not even gonna say let your mind wonder.

[The Penguin]

"What is community college? Well, you've heard all kinds of things. You've heard it's loser college for remedial teens, 20-something drop-outs, middle-age divorcees and old people keeping their minds active as they circle the drain of eternity. That's what you've heard, however ...I wish you luck!"

I thought this show was a lot of fun and I look forward to more. We have a very interesting cast of characters (which the Dean's horrible attempt at a speech helped introduce) and some good writing to back them up.

I didn't notice it the first time I watched it, but Jeff is wearing athletic pants with red stripes down the side with his sports coat and sweater. Not quite the look you would expect (although for Jeff, maybe you should). Joel McHale was great here and I look forward to more from him. The test John Oliver's Ian Duncan tried to give him showed a lot about his character and what he needs to learn about himself in addition to what he learns from class.

The rest of the crew is kind of fun and I look forward to seeing them fleshed out a bit as the season goes on. I like them all so far and I'm excited to have Chevy Chase on the show after his great arc last year on Chuck.

New episode tonight!

[The Man in Black]

This and The Office back to back is a pretty great hour of television.

[The Penguin]

It's the second episode of Community, tonight at 9:30 ET on NBC.

"Spanish 101"
Thursday, September 24, 2009 @ 9:30 p.m. ET/8:30 CT on NBC
Jeff attempts to become Britta's partner in a Spanish class project, and ends up with Pierce.

[Nel]

Chevy Chase's "sausage fest" line was great.

[The Penguin]

Jeff is obviously very charismatic, but I found it almost amazing how quickly he wrapped all the members of the group around his little finger (except of course for Britta). They make a very interesting group though.

I liked seeing Shirley and Annie get some more to do with their protests and Troy and Abed were great at the end of the episode. I have no problem with Ken Jeong, but his "from The Hangover" tagline was worn out for me when he showed up WWE RAW last month. Señor Chang could be fun, but I don't want too much of him.

Pierce trying to be Jeff's friend was interesting to see. It provided some fun scenes and gave us more of an insight into who he is. Their presentation looked to be something else.

[The Man in Black]

I was sad that we had no appearance from Daily Show British guy who's name escapes me at the moment.

[Bloody Marquis]

I was sad that we had no appearance from Daily Show British guy who's name escapes me at the moment.

John Oliver.

[Marvin Tikvah]

Those last 5 minutes of the episode were some of the greatest moments in televison history ever.

This is probably the first show from NBC that I'll be watching on a consistent basis. The characters are just so cluelessly wacky yet endearing, and the dialogue is snappy. Joel McHale is so perfect in this setting.