Community

COMMUNITY. It's the funniest comedy on TV right now. Perfect for geeks, of which this forum has many. Returns Chevy Chase to "hilarious" status. Why are we not talking about this?

Never heard of it. Spread the word.

Is it as good as THE BIG BANG THEORY?

Sharky wrote:

Is it as good as THE BIG BANG THEORY?

Better.

Much better than BIG BANG THEORY. Much less formulaic.

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

Much better than BIG BANG THEORY. Much less formulaic.

I don't have a problem with formula. If the writing, acting and general farce is of a high standard - like with FRASIER or THE BIG BANG THEORY, then it's just a framework to lean on.

I guess what I mean is that Community is more anarchic, less predictable, and generally funnier.

Admittedly, COMMUNITY can end up a bit messy because it doesn't depend on a strict formula. COMMUNITY is always trying out new, ambitious ideas, some of which don't deliver (there's a spoof episode on meta-filmmaking in the second season which is a bit too clever for its own good). But, like the other really good comedy on TV these days, PARKS AND RECREATION, it's got heart and a great cast.

It takes a lot for me to get into a sitcom. Maybe I'll take a peek someday.

My dad has been watching this consistently, never gave it a shot. My sisters got him the first season DVD for father's day, I may take a look someday.

It's a funny show, though the quality difference between episodes can be vast...

Makeshift Python wrote:

My dad has been watching this consistently, never gave it a shot. My sisters got him the first season DVD for father's day, I may take a look someday.

COMMUNITY doesn't really kick into gear until the end of the first season, but then it really gets a-goin'. If you watch any episode as a starter, make it the paintball episode from Season 1. Wonderful stuff.

It's ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT all over again. The show is going on "hiatus," to return at some undetermined future date. I doubt we'll see any new COMMUNITY material again. Shame.

There's an off chance that Sony might shop it to a cable outlet so they can piece together a better syndication package, but as much as I enjoy the show (well, its best episodes) shows like these always form a niche and have a pretty limited shelf-life. The reality is the premature cancellation is probably the best thing that happened to Arrested Development - if it had staggered along for two more half season orders on limp ratings there would be no way they'd be making a film or more episodes.

Love the Dungeons & Dragon's episode though.

COMMUNITY Is actually coming back. Let's hope it does well enough to make it to a fourth season.

I did not realize Allison Brie was in this. I like her a lot in MAD MEN, and she's hot.

I'm actually surprised something as smart and quirky as Community survived this long.

It would be a small miracle if they got a fourth season after the trouble they already had this season just to stay on the air...

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

Much better than BIG BANG THEORY. Much less formulaic.

And much less dependent on a single joke. Most of BIG BANG seems to hinge on Sheldon being awkward in everyday situations, padded out with humour about comic books.

Prisoner Monkeys wrote:

Most of BIG BANG seems to hinge on Sheldon being awkward in everyday situations, padded out with humour about comic books.

They moved on from that after the first season or so, and even then it's only a staple of the first few episodes. Once they established Sheldon's autism, that stopped being the sole gag. Clearly you're blotting out Penny, Amy, Leslie, Raj, Howard, Howard's mother, and so on.

I lost interest in a one-gag comedy before they changed the subject. Now, if ever I try and watch it, I still see the same problems with the show. I shouldn't be surprised - it's from the creators of TWO AND A HALF MEN.

Prisoner Monkeys wrote:

I lost interest in a one-gag comedy before they changed the subject.

Hits too close to home, eh?

^ Beat me to it, Sharkster.

Sorry Prisoner Monkeys, but you come off as Sheldon 2.0.

Watched a random episode of this a couple weeks back. Probably unfair to gauge based solely on that, but I couldn't get into it. I much prefer Parks and Rec.

Maybe I'll give the whole series a shot once I'm done catching up with Modern Family.

EDIT: Though, to be fair, I did enjoy it much more than The Big Bang Theory, and, what's even worse than that, How I Met Your Mother.

Jack Wade wrote:

Watched a random episode of this a couple weeks back. Probably unfair to gauge based solely on that, but I couldn't get into it. I much prefer Parks and Rec.

COMMUNITY is a show you kinda have to invest in as a whole, which is why it has an extremely passionate fanbase but a fairly indifferent general population. It's the least outsider-friendly comedy on television right now, and now that we're in the third season, it's pretty much entirely comprised of COMMUNITY in-jokes. "Modern Warfare," episode 23 of the first season, is probably the best intro for an outsider, and the first time the show really started to come together.