Community is one of the finest television comedies created by Dan Harmon who is currently working on the animated series, Rick and Morty. The series ran for six seasons which part of the Abed prediction in season two’s “Paradigms of Human Memory” (2011) with only a movie left to fulfill it. The show survived the loss of Harmon in season four, then, his return, and also cancellation to get the last season on Yahoo. Basically, the group of six students who end up in Greendale Community College are slices of ourselves, go through mishaps, but ultimately have unexpected, human conclusions. The show featured executive producers Anthony and Joe Russo, who of course moved from Community to the MCU. The show is streaming on Netflix which is the occasion to bring cast and crew to talk about the show on interviews like Ken Jeong and Joel McHale’s “The Darkest Timeline” podcast.
The chosen episode, “Cooperative Polygraphy” (2014), is from season five written by Alex Rubens. Sony Pictures TV streamed the special on it’s Community YouTube page. The return of most of the cast members is to help COVID-19 charities including Frontline Foods and World Central Kitchen from chef José Andrés. Check out their page at: wck.org/community. Dan Harmon acts as the host introducing the actors, it is great to see them, especially smiling happy to call from their homes. Pedro Pascal, it is mentioned serveal times that he is from The Mandalorian, takes the part of Walter Goggins, Mr. Stone. The cast claps for him and Harmon asks if he is a Baby Yoda, very funny. Next, he introduces the writer of the theme song, “At Least It Was Here”, Keith Slettedahl from The 88. Jim Rash also fills in for Mara who was played by Lesley Tsina in the episode. She had a funny deadpan delivery to all of the character responses.
Harmon reads the script’s opening, we also have the crazy quilt of all of the actors on screen, he describes that Troy (Danny Glover) and Abed (Danny Pudi) entering wearing blue robes and cone hats (in the episode) of Pierce’s strange cult, Reformed Neo Buddhism. Pierce is the character played by Chevy Chase. Troy has brought in what looks like a purple lava lamp. Troy and Abed are the fun loving boys, Troy wants to be a man, and Abed is the stoic observer. They take off the robes and hats around their usual seats at the study group table. Jeff (Joel McHale) says that the afternoon was weird. Jeff is the charismatic leader, but self-absorbed. Annie (Alison Brie) remarks about the beeping at the funeral, but Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) tries to be non-judgmental. Annie is the hard working people pleaser. Shirley is the kind, mother-type, who can get angry. Then, Annie asks about Abed since he was spending some time by the casket. The duo sings “Troy and Abed are in mourning”, the reference to their faux morning show, which annoys Jeff. Annie is upset they sang it for the eulogy. It’s playful, but funny.
Annie is confused about the Energon Pod that contains Pierce, but really is the lava lamp. Then, Chang (Ken Jeong) walks in asking about the funeral, and he says that they hated Pierce. Chang is of course the wild man, just pure chaos. The group protests, it is funny to see all of the reactions of the actors. Chang is always blunt bringing up topics, but this is at the heart of the episode. The study group says that they didn’t like Pierce when he was living, but respect him now. Entering the room is Mr. Stone who is serious as the executor of Pierce’s will. He is there to determine is anyone in the group murdered Pierce. Gasps. Mara and an assistant bring in the polygraph machine, in the episode it has a screen with all of the readings of the group, including Chang. Troy is touching the Energon Pod and it starts venting steam so he tries to breathe it in! Keith Slettedahl starts singing the theme song playing his guitar which is great with the actors dancing to it! Harmon adds some lyrics to the song. Then, Danny Glover jokes that he has to leave. The polygraph wrist cuffs are attached to the group. Mr. Stone asks questions to the first member, Britta (Gillian Jacobs), who answers Pierce’s creepy questions. Britta is the crusader causing the group to groan at all of her remarks. It's the best cast that loves the characters and the jokes.
The funny one is Shirley asked if she is honest, “She thinks that’s true”, which makes her angry. Another response has Britta upset, but Jeff tries to calm them down knowing that Pierce is manipulating them. Troy says that he wanted to say his name was “Butts Carlton” which is true. Glover gets some goofy lines. Next, he gets a question about an escape plan for a zombie apocalypse with Abed. Without the rest of the group. It is interesting to see the truth come out from all of the study group. Chang’s first question has him walking out of the room. The laughs of the cast is funny. Abed gets questions and then answers about using Jeff’s Netflix account. Annie is very funny trying to be innocent, but gets caught in her lies. She is asked about overcharging the rent for Troy and Abed. I’m not certain how Pierce would find out all of these secrets. The group never trusted him. This of course upsets Troy and Abed. Mr. Stone breaks up their arguments and says that if they go through the questioning, the group will get his last gifts from his $20 million estate. There are of course secrets that test friendships in all of the study group. I love Pascal cracking up at the end of the episode. The interesting part of the episode that it is centered around death and brings Pierce into focus on what he added to the study group.
Five Energon Pods out of Five!
#CommunityTableRead, #DanHarmon, #JoelMcHale, #DannyGlover, #DannyPudi, #AlisonBrie, #YvetteNicoleBrown, #GillianJacobs, #KenJeong, #JimRash.
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