Tag Archives: Community

TV preview: Josh Holloway in ‘Community’

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The man known ’round the world as James “Sawyer” Ford is about to make a visit to Greendale in the upcoming paintball episode of Community. Lost actor Josh Holloway plays Black Rider, “a mysterious stranger who’s thrown a wrench into the paintball game,” as described by show creator Dan Harmon. NBC plans to air the Community finale in two parts. The next paintball epic will begin May 5 in the episode titled “A Fist Full of Paintballs,” and Holloway will make his mark here. Part 2 airs May 12.

In an interview with EW, Harmon details how the two-parter will work. “It’s designed to exist both as one story but also two separate episodes. [The first] one has a Sergio Leone Western motif, so there’s more emphasis on tension, scarcity of ammo, and who might draw on who. But the second one erupts — the Western motif falls away and an out-and-out war happens. There’s a kind of an epic, wartime, band-of-rebels-against-a-larger-force Star Wars feel to the second one … If we only did the Western one, there might have been some people who said, ‘Oh it’s great, but it’s not ‘Modern Warfare.’ And then there’s other people who, if we had only done ‘Modern Warfare,’ would say, ‘Eh, same thing again.’”

Watch the brief but titillating preview featuring Black Rider’s first interaction with Alison Brie’s Annie. Tune into Community Thursday nights at 8PM on NBC.

NBC renews ‘Community’, ‘Parks and Recreation’, ‘The Office’

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Fantastic news everybody: NBC has renewed Community, Parks and Rec, and The Office for a third, fourth, and eighth season, respectively! NBC’s other staple comedy 30 Rock was renewed for a sixth season late last year. It will surely be interesting to see how The Office performs without its star Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) and I’m equally looking forward to the return of the Greendale and Pawnee gangs. These shows have proved time and time again that they’ve found their stride. I am beyond elated that NBC has saved these shows from sitting on the cancellation fence and determined their value residing in the network’s Thursday night comedy lineup.

NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt: “Along with 30 Rock, they represent the best of what the NBC comedy brand stands for in terms of originality, wit, and sophistication. The Office continues to fire on all cylinders on the most competitive night of television; Parks & Recreation has come into its own this season as the rightful companion to The Office; and Community is one of the freshest comedies on any network and a solid foundation for Thursday night.”

Greenblatt has ordered 13 comedy pilots each vying for a spot in this talented lineup. Things are not looking up for Outsourced and midseason player Perfect Couples.

For those of you who follow the ratings game: The Office averages a 4.0 rating/10 share in adults 18-49 and 7.7 million viewers; Parks and Rec sees a 2.8/7 and 5.5 million viewers; Community gets a 2.1/6 and 4.7 million.

[Via Deadline; EW]

‘Community’ is planning a “Modern Warfare” sequel, Lost’s Josh Holloway to cameo?

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Fans of Greendale Community College, listen here! TVLine has learned that NBC’s Community is planning a much-desired sequel to last year’s spectacular “Modern Warfare” paintball episode. According to the site the second inaugural paintball epic will be included in the show’s two-part season finale. But unlike last year’s action flick-esque episode, the game will not dominate the entire hour. An entirely new premise will take hold and “a bigger conspiracy” will reveal itself. It is noted that Alison Brie’s Annie will be central to the story, though the rest of the gang will play their part too. There’s a surprise twist that comes at the end of the finale that’s “just too, too good to spoil.”

In an interview with Vulture, Community directors Joe and Anthony Russo commented on what to expect from the upcoming ep (that has yet to be titled). “The question is, do we go right back at that and try do outdo the original? Or do we do something in the same voice as that, but something different?” asks Joe. “We’ve got a few cards hiding up our sleeves. I think there will be something as interesting and ambitious as “Modern Warfare” hitting the air soon.” Adds Anthony, “The one thing you know we won’t do is literally “Modern Warfare 2.” It will be that plus something else.” I guess the Russo brothers will replace Justin Lin (Fast & Furious) as directors of the MW followup.

Oh, and there’s this. According to EW, Lost‘s Josh Holloway (Sawyer) is interested in making a cameo in the finale. They say his “character will emerge as a mysterious figure who shows up on campus during another game of paintball.” Community‘s second season will surely end on a high note.

Community airs Thursdays at 8PM on NBC.

[Via TVLine; Vulture; EW]

Preview Community’s upcoming stop motion animated Christmas episode

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Community series creator Dan Harmon spilled the beans that this season’s Christmas episode is going to be “wall-to-wall stop motion animat[ed]” back in late September.  And here’s proof that the man was not lying!  In the episode preview above you can clearly see that the entire Greendale gang has received the Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer treatment just in time for the Christmas special.  According to Harmon the episode will deal with “Abed’s search for the meaning of Christmas.”  The episode “looks into what makes him different from other people.”  He says, “Everything that happens on this episode is part of the actual show and will change the characters, and yet there are wonderful, fantastic holiday things happening in it.”  Can’t wait!  Thus far Community‘s holiday episodes have been the most memorable; there’s no denying that “Epidemiology” (the Halloween zombie episode) kicked major ass.  The stop motion Christmas ep will surely impress.  Speaking of which… be sure to look in the gallery below to get a closer look at Shirley, Jeff, Britta, Abed, and the rest of the gang in animated form.  Senior student Chang is an Asian snowman!

Community airs Thursday nights at 8PM on NBC.  “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas” is penned in for a 12/9 air date.

Update: Head over to EW if you want to see some more Community stop motion goodness.  In addition to some sneak peeks you’ll also find a couple behind-the-scenes videos that show how much effort goes into making a claymation special.  It’s intensive work!

[Via EW; Facebook]

Community is going animated for the Christmas special [Update: “Twittersode” to precede the premiere]

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Series creator Dan Harmon is ready to take Community to a whole ‘nother level, quite literally in fact.  Season 2’s Chistmas episode is going to be entirely stop motion animated, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer-style.  Earlier this summer Harmon shared his excitement over the possibily of making such a unique episode.  “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do but, I never anticipated having the ability to do it,” he told NYMag.  “Jeff Gaspin at NBC woke up one morning and thought Community should do an animated episode.  I was like, ‘Well, that’s weird, because that’s the kind of stuff I’m usually suggesting and guys like him veto.”

Upon hearing news of the holiday surprise, a number of the cast members also couldn’t contain their enthusiasm for it.  “It is so hard for me not to tell everybody I know about it,” says Danny Pudi (Abed). “The minute we read that script, I was over-the-moon excited.  It’s like that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special that you see every Christmas. But in true Community fashion, it’s also a little subversive and a little dark.”  Alison Brie (Annie) said, “When I found out, I fell in love with the show all over again!”  Star Joel McHale (Jeff) revealed, “I can confirm that we are not yellow [ie. The Simpsons], and we do not have a talking dog [ie. Family Guy] in the episode.  But all your favorite Greendalians will be going animated.”

Can you imagine an animated Senor Chang and Starburns?  It’s going to be great.  In related news, you should know that Community also has planned a top-secret, big budget Halloween special featuring–you guessed it–zombies!  “Knowing too much about this particular plot would ruin it, but I promise it’s an awesome, one-off crazy conceptual episode with plot points and effects that are more familiar to horror film fans than our show’s fans,” says Harmon.

Community returns Thursday (9/23) at 8PM on NBC.

Update: Starting at 7PM ET (one hour prior to the season premiere) the main characters of the show will communicate with one another in a conversation using Twitter.  This “Twittersode” is being described as a “prequel” scene to the premiere ep.  According to EW,  “they’ll make arrangements for their first meet-up of the year, as well as preparations for their first class, Anthropology 101.”  A class we all know will be led by the one and only Betty White.  You have two options to watch the prequel convo go down: (1) Head over to www.nbc.com/CommunityTwittersode or (2) follow the Community gang on Twitter and watch it happen live in your Twitter feed.  Hop after the break to find all the characters’ Twitter handles.  (Mind you these are Twitter accounts for the fictional show characters, not the actual actors’ Twitter names.)  Happy tweeting!

[Via EW, here, here & here] Continue reading Community is going animated for the Christmas special [Update: “Twittersode” to precede the premiere] →

Betty White shines in Community premiere stills

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NBC’s Community returns with a BANG thanks to guest star Betty White.  In “Anthropology 101” White plays a “slightly unhinged anthropology professor” named June Bauer.  Doesn’t she just fit right in with the entire Community gang in that picture up there?  Want to see more stills from the premiere ep?  Look in the gallery below to find more Betty White plus images of fearless leader Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), Hawthorne Wipes’ Pierce Hawthorne (Chevy Chase), Annie Adderall (Alison Brie), Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), dream team Abed & Troy (Danny Pudi & Donald Glover), and Señor Chang (Ken Jeong) as a student!  What, no Britta “Baagels” Perry (Gillian Jacobs)?  She’s above, left.  Oh, and didcha see Starburns?!

Greendale Community College is back in session Thursday, September 23 at 8PM on NBC.

[Via HitFix]

NBC renews Community, The Office & 30 Rock (+ Parks & Rec cast welcomes Lowe, Scott)

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Great news for fans of NBC Thursday night comedy!  In addition to giving Parks & Rec the go-ahead for a third season, NBC has decided to renew the rest of its Thursday night lineup, including freshman comedy Community and old staples like The Office and 30 Rock.

While we’re on the subject of NBC comedies, it’s be let known that two new characters are joining the already-strong cast of Parks & Recreation.  Actor Rob Lowe will be leaving his current post at ABC’s Brothers & Sisters and will join Parks & Rec at the end of this season; series creator Michael Shur hints Lowe will be on board for “a number of episodes stretching into Season 3.”  Funnyman Adam Scott (you know him from Step Brothers; he played Brennen’s brother Derek) will also become a recurring character who will enter the scene towards this season’s end.  Lowe and Scott will likely be welcome additions to Pawnee’s colorful, hilarious cast.

[Via EW-AusielloFiles; IGN]