Community TV Series: The Hit Television Show

The Community TV Series first aired on 17^th of September 2009 on NBC. It was created by Don Harmon and stars Joel McHale but uses an ensemble cast of Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Chevy Chase and Ken Jeong.

Community is set in the fictional and fantastical Greendale Community College. An unlikely group of students form a study group when Jeff Winger’s (McHale) plan to hit on Britta (Gillian Jacobs) by impersonating a Spanish tutor backfires. Despite their varied ages, circumstance and all being from very different backgrounds, the seven students, Jeff, Britta, Abed (Danny Pudi), Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), Annie (Alison Brie), Troy (Donald Glover) and Pearce (Chevy Chase) become friends. Their shared experiences in the cartoonish world of Greendale and their relationships with each other help broaden their views of the world.

Señor Chang played by Ken Jeong, Dean Pelton played by Jim Rash and Professor Ian Duncan played by John Oliver also feature. There are also a variety of occasional supporting characters and one-off guest stars. Community's setting, Greendale Community College, is filled with crazy scenarios, inspired in no small part by Dean Pelton (Rash). Pelton is constantly trying to legitimize Greendale as a college and elevate its status.

Jeff Winger is the sarcastic but grounded character who tries to point out the ridiculousness of the events happening at Greendale. Jeff is the main focus of the Community TV Series, although the show is largely an ensemble effort. Winger was a lawyer who was disbarred for exaggerating his law degree. He is attending Greendale to get a legitimate law degree. Rather than the University of Columbia, he actually got the degree from Columbia. He describes his degree as "less than legitimate" and "better than real".

Community draws heavily on pop culture references and meta-humour, particularly Abed, the show’s breakout character. Senor Chang is another very popular character, played by the familiar Ken Jeong. At the beginning of the first season of Community, Chang is the study group’s Spanish tutor. However, it turns out his situation is similar to Jeff Winger’s and he had faked his job credentials. In season two he is a student desperate to join the study group.

The Community TV series is sure to gather a cult following due to its unique take on the sitcom genre and it has already been renewed for a third season. Hopefully this hub convinces you to check out the show. I encourage you to stick with it for a few episodes before rushing to judgement, as it takes a little while to find its feet.

Jeff Winger (Joel McHale)

Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs)

Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi)

Shirley Bennett (Yvette Nicole Brown)

Annie Edison (Alison Brie)

Troy Barnes (Donald Glover)

Pierce Hawthorne (Chevy Chase)

Señor Chang (Ken Jeong)

Dean Pelton (Jim Rash)

Professor Michelle Slater (Lauren Stamile)

Professor Ian Duncan (John Oliver)

The Cast of the Community TV Show - Supporting Cast

Star-Burns (Dino Stamatopoulos)

Leonard (Richard Erdman)

Garrett Lambert (Erik Charles Nielsen)

Pavel (Dominik Musiol)

Bill (Bill Parks)

Officer Cackowski (Craig Cackowski)

Vicki (Danielle Kaplowitz)

Vaughn (Eric Christian Olsen)

Fat Neil (Charley Koontz)

Security Guard (Bertrand Roberson Jr.)

Professor Whitman (John Michael Higgins)

Andre (Malcolm-Jamal Warner)

Rich (Greg Cromer)

Dean Spreck (Jordan Black)

The Community Paintball episodes parody action movies of the 80's and the apocalypse films of the last ten years. They are shot in a similar style to action movies. There has been a paintball episode in both season one and two. Hopefully these continue to be a regular fixture on Community.

A soundtrack of the first season was released by Madison Gate Record in 2010. It features the theme song (full and short length),

Track 1. At Least It Was Here (Community Main Title) – Main Title Version by The 88 (0:35)
Track 2. 101 Rap by Donald Glover and Danny Pudi (0:35)
Track 3. Getting Rid of Britta by Chevy Chase, Eric Olsen and Tom Wolfe (2:15)
Track 4. Pierce You Are A B by Eric Olsen, Tom Wolfe and Jacques Slade (2:21)
Track 5. Pierce Raps by Jacques Slade (0:36)
Track 6. Night Cap by Jacques Slade (2:10)
Track 7. The Way It Is by Chevy Chase (0:59)
Track 8. Community Medley by Ludwig Göransson (4:37)
Track 9. Somewhere Out There by Donald Glover and Danny Pudi (2:09)
Track 10. I Never Die by Jacques Slade (1:50)
Track 11. Sensitive Night by Yvette Nicole Brown (1:01)
Track 12. Party Where Your Heart Is by Trevor Armstrong (1:01)
Track 13. Annie's Song by Eric Olsen (1:37)
Track 14. Episode 119 Medley by Ludwig Göransson (3:43)
Track 15. Come, Take a Trip In My Air-Ship by Chevy Chase, Danny Pudi and Joel McHale (0:46)
Track 16. Some Worries by Chevy Chase, Eric Olsen and Tom Wolfe (2:10)
Track 17. If I Die Before You by Ludwig Göransson (2:49)
Track 18. At Least It Was Here (Community Main Title) – Full Length Version by The 88 (2:50)