Community

We're gonna come out and say it.  We love Community but we dislike Senor Chang the most of the entire Community cast.  That's a shame because Ken Jeong has been fantastic in the movies he's been in.

This week's episode, "Environmental Science," focused on Senor Chang and his past as the A story.  We really do appreciate understanding why Chang acts the way he does, but he's just too one dimensional and forced compared to the rest of the cast.  Which is strange to say for a show that love announcing its archetypes for its characters.

Luckily, despite a few lows from some of the scenes with Chang, the episode still proved to be one of the better ones.  There were moments during the montage that had us cringing from cheesiness, but, heck, we even loved that part.   Some great highlights from the episode:

• Naming the rat "Fivel" and singing "Somewhere Out There?"  We loved the reference to one of our favorite childhood movies, An American Tail.
• Troy and Abed are unbelievable together.  Giving them their own storyline?  Amazing.  Then giving them the credits and letting Pierce pop in for a good joke?  Perfection.
• Sure the tough guy afraid of rats has been done before, but never hearing the popular guy claim it's because the rats are unpopular.
• Finally Pierce gives some helpful advice to someone.  We were wondering how this guy was so successful in business before school.
• After Chang gave out the assignments, Annie popping up in the window asking "This Monday?" was one of our favorite, most subtle parts of the episode.
• Pierce sitting in Jeff's chair convinced that's the source of his power?  Then calling out Jeff at the end?

Man we love Community.  Even Chang can't bring it down for his.  Check out our favorite Community quotes after the jump.

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Patrick Dempsey might have a great head of hair, but Joel McHale has a message his fellow TV star:

You don't have Lauren Stamille!

Stamille played Derek's love interest on Grey's Anatomy for a few episodes. But the (Mc)dreamy one eventually chose Meredith over her character, leaving the beautiful actress free to get with McHale's Jeff on Community.

"So eat that, Patrick Dempsey!" McHale said.

In January, Stamille will reprise her role as Michelle, a teacher at Greendale. Turns out, she and Jeff have been secretly sleeping together for awhile.

"There's a strict policy about students dating teachers for legal reasons, as the dean describes it," McHale told E!, adding that Jeff and Michelle will have to report their dalliances after Pierce Tweets about their relationship.

Does this mean Britta is no longer a potential mate? Said McHale:

"Britta is obviously not wanting any part of me, so I have moved on - and I have found a woman who is a lot taller than her. In your face, Britta!"

Man, Community can't help itself when it comes to the meta jokes, can they?  Even the episode's title, "Debate 109," had to throw one in there when it named the class of the ninth episode of the first season, Debate 109.  Clever.

The main meta joke of this episode was Abed's films for his class were all predicting the future of the show?  How?  Because all of the characters were so predictable, Abed was able to figure out what they were doing.

Meanwhile, in A-plot news, Jeff agreed to join the debate team with Annie for a parking space.  After being thoroughly humiliated, he had a sexually-charged study session with Annie to come back and win the competition and a kiss from Annie.

How's Britta gonna feel about that?  Well she was too busy getting creepy hypnotherapy from Pierce to weigh in.  Altogether, it was a great episode with Abed's plotline tying in nicely with the other two plotlines.

The episode also marked the return of John Michael Higgins as Professor Whitman.  We love that this show reuses its guest stars for the professors and teachers around the school, really fleshing out the campus.

Oh and did we mention the episode finished with our favorite moments, Abed and Troy acting goofy together?  Look for the obligatory Community quotes from the episode after the jump.

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On this week's Community, Abed (Danny Pudi) has proved what we've though all season, he's definitely the breakout star of the show.  That's definitely an impressive task considering Community also stars Joel McHale and Chevy Chase.

During last night's episode, "Home Economics," the gang learned that Jeff was living out of his Lexus and Abed invited him to live in his dorm room.  The two of them together was like watching comedic bliss.

Meanwhile, Annie went a little crazier than usual as she tried to express her feelings for Troy, while Pierce joined Vaughn's band.  The end result?  Another fantastic episode.

Really our only complaint with the half hour was actually after the credits.  Usually our favorite part of each episode is actually after the episode when they feature a clip of Abed and Troy goofing around.  Instead we get Pierce and some dude rapping?  Not cool.

Now for our favorite Community quotes from the breakfast club:

Jeff: The next person that offers me pity will be mentioned by name in my suicide note | permalink

Pierce: Before AIDS, sex was like shaking hands.
Abed: Hence AIDS | permalink

Britta: Are you okay? It looks like you have actual bedhead this morning.
Jeff: In fashion, I'm what's known as a taste-maker.
Britta: And you missed an entire side of your face shaving.
Jeff: And next month, so will Gwen Stefani | permalink

Jeff: TV's the best dad there is. TV never came home drunk. TV never forgot me at the zoo. TV never abused and insulted me... unless you count Cop Rock | permalink

Community has often, hilariously compared itself to The Breakfast Club.

Now, in an inspired bit of casting, one of the stars from that iconic film will guest star on the NBC sitcom.

TV Guide Magazine confirms that Anthony Michael Hall will appear on a the December 10 episode. His character will brawl with Joel McHale's Jeff Winger.

“We all freaked out when Hall’s casting was announced. I blushed profusely," said Alison Brie (Annie). "I couldn’t help but let him know that I’ve been a big fan. It’s funny, because Annie’s the nerdy character, and we referenced The Breakfast Club in the pilot and in episodes.

Over two decades ago, Hall also appeared with Community's Chevy Chase in the comedy Vacation.

After this week's somewhat disappointing episode of Modern Family, it was nice to know Community had an episode lined up to make up for it.  Similar to the rest of network television, Community had a Halloween-themed episode in the clever veil of a "Dias de los Muertos" party.

The party was put on by Annie for extra credit for the first time in Glendale history.  So what made the episode so fantastic?  Was it Jeff pursuing his Statistics professor?  Pierce running around in a Beast Master costume on a bad trip?  Shirley dressed up as Harry Potter exacting revenge?

As funny as those plot lines were (and you can read all about them in our "Introduction to Statistics" recap), it was actually Abed dressed as Batman in the background that won us over.  Abed did a Christian Bale deep voice as he lurked in the shadows until he came in and saved the day and then delivered the best monologue.. ever.

Now for the rest of the characters great Community quotes from the episode:

Shirley: My husband's been gone for six months, I think it's time I start embracing being single
Pierce: Message received | permalink

Jeff: I'm barely a student. I'm older than you, I drive a Lexus, I saw Ghost Busters in the theater, and look, my gums are receding | permalink

Jeff: Are you trying to get formidable on me?
Annie: It worked on pierce
Jeff: Infomercials work in pierce | permalink

Jeff: In the last two months you've doubled the national average for the amount lived per life time
Pierce: Well I do have a young African American friend
Jeff: But more importantly you're dressed like a gladiator in a desk fort you built during a bad trip | permalink

Now that Community has officially been picked up for a full season, its stars can dish on what's in store for the next few weeks.

Let's start with Alison Brie, who shines as innocent, overly eager Annie. She told E! News:

"I throw a little Halloween party, and it's a rager - well, it's Annie's type of raging-hot party. It may be on campus, and alcohol may be involved - it's BYOB at Annie's party."

As for her character's crush on Troy:

"It's more of a one-sided romance. Annie had a thing for Troy in high school, and that's carried over. They have a chance to discover a friendship, but Annie would like it to be more."

Yvette Nicole Brown, who plays Shirley, said her character will soon take a walk on the dark side.

"So far, Shirley's been this mother-earth-type—a sweet, kind person. But we're going to find out a couple of Shirley's flaws. There's some emotional stuff coming up for her when the seriousness and the finality of the marriage hits her."

Finally, what about Jeff and Britta? Gillian Jacobs (Britta) compares their relationship to an iconic Cheers couple.

"There is no rush on the writers' part to throw the two of us together. If something were ever to develop, it wouldn't be in the short term. They've given us a really classic Sam-and-Diane relationship."

For those that wonder what all the (hilarious) fuss is about, check out a few choice Community quotes now.

It be lagging way behind the other networks in ratings, but NBC has a few hits on its hands.

The network picked up three shows this week for full season runs: Community, Parks and Recreation and Mercy.

The first two comedies are two of the funniest sitcoms on TV; while Mercy isn't the most original hospital drama around, but it doesn't suck.

NBC's Community has always had an amazing cast, but previously the show focused mostly on leading man, Joel McHale's character.   Don't get us wrong, McHale proved with the Soup he could carry a show entirely by himself for thirty minutes no problem.

However, taking advantage of the rest of this amazing cast proves the show can be just as funny and lead to more unique plotlines.  This episode, Troy took the lead, as the Dean tried to convince him to join the football team, while Jeff was more of a supporting character.

Also helping move the plot line along was Annie as she fought against Jeff to keep Troy out of football.  Meanwhle, Britta and Shirley bonded in the girls' bathroom while the Dean and Pierce attempted to design a new mascot.  Find out how successful they all were in our "Football, Feminism and You" recap.

Hilariously enough, Abed, who always breaks the fourth wall and talks about the show, decided he would lay low this episode.  That's a shame cause he's normally responsible for the best Community quotes.  Here's what the rest of the cast was able to produce:

Dean Pelton: Well look at this group having some of meeting and being so diverse. There is just, boy! There is just one of every kind of you, isn't there?
Pierce: Well, we are missing a pipsqueak, but we don't want one, so beat it!
Britta: Ah, Pierce, that's the dean | permalink

Britta: I'm willing to try some more mainstream feminine stuff.
Jeff: Well, then you should know that nothing says "I'm a woman" like... doing it with me.
Britta: Nothing says "I'm a pig" like you | permalink

Annie: I've been following you, how did you get Troy to play football?
Jeff: I'm not having a conversation with someone that emerged from a bush
Annie: Because I'm right?
Jeff: No, because I'm not in a commercial for a breakfast cereal | permalink

Jeff: I'm sure Troy will sign up for football if and when some accident damages the part of his brain that feels pride
| permalink

On last night's Community, we got to see Jeff in action as his true lawyer self.  When Senor Chang caught a student cheating, he threatened to give the whole class a 0 unless the culprit came forward.

Luckily for everyone's sake, Britta came clean and Jeff got to defend her in front of the tribunal next to the pool.  Only at Glendale.

Meanwhile, Pierce and Annie composed a new school song, while Abed attempted to mess with Troy.  Find out how Abed did and if Britta got off in our "Advanced Criminal Law" recap.

Now for some great Community quotes from the episode:

Jeff: So I guess the cell phone number you put on the study group contact sheet was fake, which I just learned in the awkward conclusion of a month long text message affair with a dude from boulder
Britta: Sorry
Jeff: That's okay, just give me your real number and I'll cleanse my pallet while Kevin rethinks his marriage | permalink

Professor Duncan: Good morning. How is student life, my dry-witted friend?
Jeff: Probably the same as teacher life, but less tragic, because I get to leave.
Professor Duncan: Very dry. Very witty. Not a great friend | permalink

Britta: You're just doing all this because you want to have sex with me, you don't even want to be my friend
Jeff: Wait a minute. Is that what you thought I meant? Britta, look at me
Britta: I am
Jeff: No, look how handsome my face is. If all I wanted was sex, I could get it from plenty of women without having to go through all this crap. I'm here because I like you and I'd be psyched to be your friend. I just didn't want to take sex off the table without doing my due diligence | permalink

Jeff: If I'm gonna cheat, I'm not gonna write information from a book on a piece of paper, that's practically learning for God's sake | permalink