Community on NBC

\ A couple of months ago I had some surgery and a friend brought over the first season. I watched the paintball episode...actually about 10 minutes of it before the laughter almost caused me to pop a stitch.\ \ I was hooked, and watched it twice, and then caught the last few episodes of this season- including the amazing PAINTBALL pt 2! I guess it was "My Dinner with Abed" that convinced me the show was genius. A subversive, oddball, trying so hard to be meta that it actually IS meta metashow. The show effortlessly switches between real and fantasy, and the characters usually stay true to their respective roles, unfazed by any of it. I think another round of watching S1 again might elevate it to the level of "Arrested Development".\ \ Well, I just watched the first episode of S2 and it worked on so many levels- poignant politico/social commentary and subverting TV tropes while hewing to them tightly, providing great comedy with both.\ \ Any more fans?

RPT
• I like it but don''t love it. I thought season 1''s paintball episode was overrated but A Fistful of Paintballs was brilliant, the second part not quite as much. I LOVE Jim Rash and think he''s one of the most brilliant comedy actors on any show, he makes any regular line on paper so hilarious with his timing alone ("And what kind of ice cream company DOES THIS?!") The actor who plays Duncan is good too though not as good and very underused.

• I think it almost takes a second viewing of the season, begin to end, to see how sharp they were in setting up the jokes. Many of them don''t work on a casual viewer, but regular watchers think it''s great.\ \ The characters are intentionally cardboard cliches, but given depth by their constant shallowness. \ \ AFfoPballs pt 2 wasn''t as funny, but that night Parks & Recreation was one of the funniest episodes ever. Snake Juice!!!

• I can''t get into this show try as I might because the premise is beyond unrealistic. Since when did community college become 24/7 summer camp?

• The Dungeons & Dragons episode is amazing. I also loved the recent parody of clip show (the part about Glee was brilliant).

• Not a fan of "Alf" either, R3, huh?

• I agree that some episodes reach genius level, OP. I loved the Christmas episode.

• Perfect example, R6\ \ Claymation? Brilliant. It''s strange how far out of the realm of reality this show can go and still be semi-realistic, with a heart at the center.

• Love the show, although I used to only catch an episode here or there. I recently bought the Season 1 DVD set, and it''s funny to see how the tone of the show has changed. In the beginning it seemed to go for more heartfelt moments and relationship arcs (the will they / won''t they romance thing), whereas I think Season 2 threw a lot of that out the window and has gone for more of the parody / meta humor (apparently due to the big response to the first season''s paintball episode), but still taking moments to focus on the characters.%0D\ %0D\ It can be hit or miss - thought the Jesus episode was a bit tiresome - but when it hits, it''s pretty much amazing. Loved the flashback episode and especially the Dungeons & Dragons episode. The "sex" scene in that one had me laughing nonstop.

• Re: "My Dinner with Abed"...\ \ Danny Pudi%E2%80%99s Cougar Town Cameo

  http://warmingglow.uproxx.com/2011/05/watch-abeds-cougar-town-cameo

• Good catch R9!

• Nice comparison, OP - COMMUNITY does remind me of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, only more "out there"...

• The claymation episode was a bit much for my tastes. I loved the first season ''Christmas'' episode though. \ \ I''m getting a little tired of Chang. I don''t think they have anything for him to do now that he''s not teaching so they keep trying to push him into the study group but it''s not working for me. \ \ So what do you think will happen with Pierce next season? I hope they don''t write him back into the group right away. I like that they''re finally at odds and it makes for some good Pierce zingers. "She''s a dance major, Jeff!"

• It''s pretty funny. Plus I have a crush on Joel McHale.

• Funny, while I was watching S1 I saw an old episode of W&G where Joel McHale''s hairline is verrrrrrry different. Good for him- it looks natural. And he is HOT!

  RPT

• I hope that the loss of Dan Harmon doesn't hurt, and the loss of Chevy Chase makes it better!

• It's a brilliant show, though I wonder how much will be lost with the loss of Harmon. And this upcoming fourth season will probably be the last.

• Joel McHale got breast implants to go with his new hairline:

  http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABl6on44Qx8/TE6FvEAgP_I/AAAAAAAAMNs/DndGCDT96v8/s1600/iiJoelMcHale_Community_s1e23_ModernWarfare_20100506_001.jpg