After a lackluster fourth season, NBC decided to cancel My Name is Earl, a show that started off great and gradually fell flat on its face. To fill the Thursday comedy slot alongside The Office, and eventually 30 Rock in October, NBC added Community. Community focuses on Jeff Winger, played by Joel McHale, a lawyer whose license is suspended after the State Bar Association discovered that his degree was less than legitimate. Now, Jeff is off to community college to get an authentic degree.
You can definitely tell that Jeff is a lawyer as he starts lying right away. To spend time with Britta, a hot blond played by Gillian Jacobs, Jeff tells her he’s a board certified Spanish tutor and that she should join his study group. Soon, his plan for some alone time with Britta goes awry, as more and more Spanish students are invited to the group. It is in this group that Jeff finally realizes his old lying and cheating ways won’t help him in his new community. This eclectic mix of community college students is where the show really shines.
Comedic genius Chevy Chase plays Pierce Hawthorne, a hilarious old-timer, “and yes that is Hawthorne as in Hawthorne Wipes, the award-winning moist towelettes;” Abed, a fast-talking movie buff of Middle Eastern descent, is played by Danny Pudi; Donald Glover, of Derrick Comedy, takes on the role of Troy, a lazy jock/prom-king; and the diversity of roles goes on and on. The assortment of veteran, experienced, and rookie talent seems extraordinarily beneficial to the show at this point.
The episode starts off slow, which is normal for a pilot, and it felt like they were trying too hard to point out everyone’s role. The jokes at the beginning are hit and miss, but they improve as the episode goes on. You have to give the writers credit for being able to introduce a pretty hefty cast, as well as incorporate many funny moments. Like I said before, the group scenes produce multiple laugh out loud moments. My only fear is that the scenes outside of the study group sessions or class time will disappoint.
All skepticism aside, I truly believe that Community has tremendous potential. Pilot episodes are not usually outstanding, but this showed what we can expect in the episodes to come, and it has left me anticipating more. I would definitely recommend that any comedy lovers follow this season. I give the pilot episode of Community a 3.5 out of 5.
Jordan is a high school student and aspiring journalist. He loves playing/watching and writing about video games, television, and movies. 
