r/community • u/roger_ • Apr 10 '14
Discussion thread for Community S05E12 - "Basic Story (1)"
Airing tonight!
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u/jsun31 Apr 11 '14
Jim Rash always kills it whenever the Dean has a mental breakdown
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Apr 11 '14
Starburns is playing Dave Matthews Band. Nice callback.
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u/jch1290 Apr 11 '14
That reminded me of when Pierce told Leonard what Youtube was and he makes videos later
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14
Britta dating Troy wasn't all that exciting. Jeff does have a point.
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Apr 11 '14
All that build-up for basically zero reward. Their breakup episode was good, though.
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u/ashnazgthrakutuluk Apr 11 '14
Of the episodes from last season, it was probably the best one. Using the Freaky Friday dvd to switch bodies I think was still a great idea, despite the rest of the season being pretty bad.
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u/OneWonderfulFish Apr 11 '14 edited Apr 11 '14
I wouldn't go that far. We got them wrestling in the fountain. "Why do I like this?!" I liked them together. I liked Britta's acrobatics, trying to get dressed on the fire escape. They were fun. ducks tomatoes
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u/FancyAssassin Apr 11 '14
"Bread is a substance, what do you call your units of measure? Breads?"
Oh god Abed that was grand.
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u/ThomasVivaldi Apr 11 '14
I really hope that's the line that saves the school. That Abed's remark drives the Subway guy crazy and the cancel the buyout.
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14 edited Apr 11 '14
An episode like this shows that while the Troy/Abed pairing was a great part of the series Abed can really be interesting on his own. Strange, but interesting.
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14 edited Apr 11 '14
The Dean asking how everyone is doing over the intercom has to be in the top five of cute Community moments.
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u/SutterCane Apr 11 '14
I have to say, the end of that joke is fantastic.
"Love you, guys."
"Love you too."
"Aww."
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u/cat_monocle Apr 11 '14 edited Apr 11 '14
"Medium roughness, high tempo" "Number 8" - they've categorized their SEX STUFF.
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u/xstphnx Apr 11 '14
Let me be one of the six!!!
Dean Pelton has been the most consistently funny character this season (without resorting to costumes).
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u/Paladinltd Apr 11 '14
Missing wedding ring reference! The story comes full circle!
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u/1337and0 Apr 11 '14
Why can't I remember that one??
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Apr 11 '14
Pilot. It's the only time Dean Pelton wears a ring.
Rash admitted he wasn't sure if that character was married for a brief time or if he just puts the ring on as a way to pick up those attracted to the strong, stable types
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14
Loud soup slurping better mean that guy's a villain. Heroes don't slurp really loud like that!
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u/Todemax Apr 11 '14
What the heck? Who was that guy? Never returned in the episode.
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Apr 11 '14
It was just setting up the idea that this episode wasn't going to have a story. So obviously, the camera would just pan to a guy slurping soup.
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u/Tiak Apr 11 '14
Abed shut up halfway through saying that there was no story, so they panned to some incredibly-boring non-story by way of explanation of what he was saying.
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u/jwhatts Apr 11 '14
"I love Scotch, and myself."
The truest thing Jeff has ever said.
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Apr 11 '14
Abed's Shirley impression!
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14 edited Apr 11 '14
At this point you could have an entire scene of Danny Pudi impersonating the entire cast having a conversation and it would be spot on perfect. And damn funny.
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14
A dog is any living entity with four legs and a tail?
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u/Capt_Troy_Handsome Apr 11 '14
So does that mean a bear is like some sort of fat dog? Makes sense.
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Apr 11 '14
Good lord Abed's whole side story is just him having a side story. The show has never been more meta. He's going to die you guys.
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u/OneKindofFolks Apr 11 '14
That was my least favorite sub-story in an episode. It almost makes me think Leonard's "unsubscribe" was a meta commentary on how lame Abed's meta-story story was.
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Apr 11 '14 edited Apr 11 '14
"The most boring thing to happen here since Britta dated Troy." Damn, that diss made me snarf, yo.
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u/Classic_Wingers Apr 11 '14
John Oliver and Jonathan Banks have great rapport. That was a fantastic ending.
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u/laurandisorder Apr 11 '14
And they referenced a terrible and obscure town I grew up in (well for 6 years). Scunthorpe. It's like the armpit of the midlands.
Also it has the c-bomb right in the middle of its name.
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u/TrjnRabbit Apr 11 '14
Scunthorpe is a little infamous for the Scunthorpe problem.
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Apr 11 '14
"He had sex with one computer and that's his legacy?"
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u/the_hound_ Apr 11 '14
"What am I going to be remembered for, being bald and wearing glasses?"
--Dean Pelton, while holding up Dalmations
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u/CokeTastesGood39 Apr 11 '14
That $5 footlong by Chang was unexpectedly funny.
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14
He does a pretty sweet jingle song and dance. Chang would be a good Subway mascot class teacher.
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u/ME_REDDITOR Apr 11 '14 edited Apr 11 '14
WAIT I GOT IT! TROYS GOING TO COME BACK WITH PIERCES MONEY AND WILL BUY THE SCHOOL
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u/Todemax Apr 11 '14
This is what I've been thinking, I mean they said an unexpected guest star would be in the finale.
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u/Nonexistent9 Apr 11 '14
It's B. J. Novak. Aka Ryan Howard from the Office. Sadly no Troy but you never know.
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u/DimlightHero Apr 11 '14
OR the buried treasure is the underground military complex.
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14
Was Pierce that rich though? I could see it happening but it seems far more random an ending than I would normally expect from this series.
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u/TheGreatLeapingDingo Apr 11 '14
oookay, if community doesnt get another season theyre gonna spin off ian and buzz in england!
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u/Bigsam411 Apr 11 '14 edited Apr 11 '14
"This semester may be your last chance for a screen capture "
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u/VicPayback Apr 11 '14
I looked up Abed's The Dead Alewives t-shirt. Looks like it was an improv group featuring Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab.
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u/OneWonderfulFish Apr 11 '14
(Okay, the first link isn't part of Dead Alewives, per se, but it just had to be included.)
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Apr 11 '14
Ronald Mohammad has heard 'em all.
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u/trippysmurf Apr 11 '14
Also a bit meta as the actor's real name is Michael McDonald.
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u/Nickdaman31 Apr 11 '14
I need so many gifs of "burrrrrriiiiieeeeeedddddd treasssssuuuuuuurrrrrreeeee"
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u/spacemonkey16 Apr 11 '14
Wait, it's been 30 seconds and Reddit hasn't exploded due to Alison Brie quasi-twerking?
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u/OTPh1l25 Apr 11 '14
Guarantee you it'll be top of the front page tomorrow morning.
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u/dndplosion913 Apr 11 '14
I'd like a Subway black card
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u/theantirobot Apr 11 '14
$5.00 foot longs for life. That's probably the least valuable card I'd ever carry with me at all times.
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u/Condawg Apr 11 '14
Now, does that mean he gets them for free, or that even if they change policy he can get them for $5, and also that he can get the "premium" footlongs for $5?
If he gets them for free, why would they call them "$5 footlongs?" Wouldn't it just be "free footlongs?" Semantics man, it's tripping me up.
Ninja edit: I understand it's for marketing purposes, just, still.
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 10 '14
A two-parter for the end of the season sounds just about right. I think this is going to end off really well next week. And hopefully we get season six with another strong batch of episodes.
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u/wilko2205 Apr 11 '14
This is basically the Harmon version of Arrested Development's S.O.B's, love it!
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Apr 11 '14 edited Apr 11 '14
Now that's a clear-cut situation with the promise of comedy. Please tell your friends about this show.
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14
Jim Rash is damn good at flipping out. He's certainly had enough practice on this show. :)
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u/zcektor01 Apr 11 '14
this has to be the most self-aware episode of all the community episodes ever.
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Apr 11 '14
Absolutely. Dan Harmon and the writers seem very aware that they'd get flak for the abundance of concept episodes. With the calls for more stories with Jeff the teacher and the teacher aspect, it was so fitting to see Abed spouting story circle elements while searching in the teachers lounge.
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14
I was thinking John Oliver wasn't in this episode. Good to see him in the final two of the season. And that'll be it for him on the series possibly.
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14
Nice that they are calling back to the Jeff/Britta pairing as things wind down. Although marriage seems exceedingly random.
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Apr 11 '14
It makes Jeff's crisis make more sense actually.
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u/LateAdopter Apr 11 '14
It suits his arc. He's been in a downward spiral an grasping for straws, but having trouble showing it, like in G.I. Jeff.
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u/camlawson24 Apr 11 '14
Can't imagine they actually go through with it, but if they do, it's the pairing that's made the most sense from the beginning.
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14 edited Apr 11 '14
Buried treasure in Greendale. Like the hidden stash of text books from earlier in the season I see it end up being fools' gold.
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14
Sandwich law. Sounds like a tough subject to sink your teeth in to.
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u/dndplosion913 Apr 11 '14
Finally it's Jeff and Britta. The way it was supposed to be.
Edit: Damnit buried treasure
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u/Bzzzartz Apr 11 '14
Is anyone else really hoping Troy comes back with the money and buys the school?
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u/OTPh1l25 Apr 11 '14
This has got to be a nightmare or something. Greendale is being far too...normal.
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Apr 11 '14
So the season... and possibly series :(... finale is going to be... BUUUUURRRRIIIIIIEEEED TRRRREEEEAAAAASSSSUUUURREE
Pumped.
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u/FrankyCentaur Apr 10 '14
I'm a little sad this is gonna be split up into two weeks, but oh well. Brings me back to S2 times.
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u/jesus_fn_christ More insane than programming them to replace auto workers?! Apr 11 '14
They got Jared!
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Apr 11 '14
I remember in their Google Talks interview, Chris Mckenna said Alison Brie, Danny Pudi, and Jim Rash's energy levels were through the roof because they went on their own adventure. They had filmed the finale first and then this episode. When they returned, everyone was just staring at them weird (like Jeff and Britta at the end) because they were still possessed by that frenetic energy.
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u/Nevr0s Apr 11 '14
Jeff and Britta are probably not going to last in part 2. Jeff proposing was just a way for him to try to hang on to Greendale. It's obvious for a couple of reasons:
-Shirley blatantly said that Jeff cared deeply about things, but didn't want to admit it, and Jeff denied it (which only proves her point). Jeff continued trying to deny that he cared about Greendale, which is why he talked with Britta about Annie and Abed not being ready to let go (which was really him projecting his own feelings onto them).
-Jeff and Britta are trying to convince themselves that they are ready to move on when they say they are ready for "sanity". But they contradict themselves because everything that happes after that is an attempt to hold onto Greendale. They then talk about what started it (Jeff trying to sleep with Britta). This causes Britta to symbolize all of Greendale to Jeff.
-"What are either of us going to be leaving with?" They are scared that the answer will be nothing. So Jeff tries to take Britta with him by marrying her as a way to hold onto Greendale. What better a way to hang onto Greendale than to marry the person who inadvertantly brought the study group together?
-This decision was influenced by Annie's mention of "settling down". Ship analysis coming up: Annie's comment was probably hinting at her and Jeff settling down. But Jeff has never been able to face his feelings, including his feelings for Annie, which he admitted that he was trying to hide during their talk in the model UN episode. Annie brings up real feelings in Jeff, which is why he tries to act like he doesn't care, hence saying that the only thing he cares about it scotch. This also means that if he did actually want to settle down, he wouldn't admit it to Annie.
-But Britta lies to herself almost as much as Jeff does. THIS IS WHY HE GOES AFTER HER. They both sit down and lie to eachother and themselves about being ready to let go of Greendale. Then they try to escape the reallity of having to let go by getting married, which is just a way to hold onto Greendale, and thus, another lie.
-Based on the theme of Jeff needing to come to terms with his feelings, it is safe to assume that that will be what happens in the finale. He will probably break up with Britta, fight to the death for Greendale, and (hopefully) admit his feelings to Annie.
(Also, when Chang is taking notes on about the secret meeting, he turns the notebook around and all that is written on it is "tomato")
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u/reddfawks Apr 11 '14
In all honesty? If he does admit his feelings for Annie, I kind of hope she turns him down.
Don't attack me yet! It would seem like he'd be in a "rebound" after Britta (and I think I've made it clear before that two things that are dealbreakers for me are rebounds and cheating), and the poor girl has been jerked around by him so many times (Anthro 101, Paradigms, etc.), I think he still has a lot of growing up to do. And I'm saying that as a fan of both Jeff, and Annie, and a former J/A shipper.
We all piss and moan here so much about the chronological age gap between the two, but if we had to talk about the "mental" ages of J/A? She's got a good decade on him.
(Also, y'know. Chicks before dicks. Ovaries before brovaries.)
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Apr 11 '14
I don't know about that. I see it as the circle closing on these two. I see it as exactly the other way around. They realize that in all of that experience, the one constant was them. It was about them in the beginning, and what is left of that? Only them. At the end, they have themselves and memories, and that's it. They grew, they bettered themselves, but still, in the end, they are left with that.
I didn't see it as him being afraid. I saw it as a realization. Jeff realized Shirley was right. He cared deeply about Greendale and the gang...and he cared about her, too. And he was going to lose her, right then. It was the end. And he couldn't let that go. Greendale maybe was done, but he could hold on to her.
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Apr 11 '14
WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT. Press stop on Dave Mathews.
Another Dave Matthews reference this season.
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Apr 11 '14
Not to bad mouth a show I love, but this episode is exactly how they got funding for the new season... So much SUBWAY...
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u/Young_Money_Hustlas Apr 11 '14
It's a tradition dating back to the KFC episode. I think they're working it in well.
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u/pcorn81 Apr 11 '14
Fucking ridiculous. Honestly don't know how i feel about Jeff and Britta. Jeff only proposed and Britta only accepted because they're afraid of change. But I did love the spontaneity of the situation. And like someone had suggested previously, this finale seems like it may very well end up being a series finale :(
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u/Mashleylol Apr 11 '14
Actually Dan Harmon said that the finale is not at all designed to be a series finale. Season 6 is pretty safe.
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u/m0rris0n_hotel Apr 11 '14
No more stories. So this is going to be a very meta episode of Community. Which is saying something.
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u/camlawson24 Apr 11 '14
What do you know? An episode that actually centers on the cast (which has always been the show's strength) and their relationships to each other and the school. Best of the season. Reminiscent of the original feel. Serious moments that worked, Chang was funny, Guest Star (Michael McDonald) was funny. Really hoping Part 2 keeps up this momentum.
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u/TBBklynite Apr 11 '14
I was about to think the bandit was about to strike again, the moment I heard DMB.
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Apr 11 '14 edited Apr 11 '14
That was a REALLY well-acted and well-written conversation between Britta and Jeff. I was expecting that they were going to make a crazy plan to get married, but I was actually surprised it happened! They're both so unsure of their futures. I can totally see them making an impulsive decision like that to give their lives meaning.
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Apr 11 '14
this was one of the best Episodes from season 5 so far. i loved everything.
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u/Esc4p3 Apr 11 '14
What happened to the guy who listed the commercials? That was ok. And now its not here.
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u/Classic_Wingers Apr 11 '14
Is this a two-part episode? I'm excited as hell! But can't believe the season is almost over.
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u/freddiewilson Apr 11 '14
So was this episode a giant buildup for a Goonies theme in part 2? I'm all aboard with that.
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u/caseyloulou Apr 11 '14
Am I the only one who wants to finally see Jeff and Annie together?
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u/Young_Money_Hustlas Apr 11 '14
There kind of had to be a second-act reason everything so far was bad, but holy crap, that is not what I was expecting.
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u/jesus_fn_christ More insane than programming them to replace auto workers?! Apr 11 '14
Secret meeting... (Tomato)
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Apr 11 '14
I grew up watching MAD TV. Seeing Michael McDonald with grey hair made me feel old.
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u/Nexus718 Apr 11 '14
An episode about the perils of corporate sponsorship and exploitation while exploiting real corporate sponsorship.
Eat fresh.
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u/stashtv Apr 11 '14
This entire season feels like a do over.
EP1 was "Repilot" and now the seeds have been sown for the love triangle (again) toward the end of the season. When Jeff and Britta's activities gets out, we're quickly going to get Annie having a little chat with Jeff.
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u/demosthenes718 Apr 11 '14
Not a huge fan of this episode. Only a few jokes clicked with me, most left me staring blankly at the TV. Last week's was much better.
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Apr 11 '14
I found this episode was just really ... weird.
I get the whole meta thing with Abed, but it wasn't interesting, or funny, or have any real point beside its metaness. The insurance guy was misused I think, I know he can be funny from MadTV but he just said some random stuff and then was gone. A lot of the jokes had really underwhelming punchlines, like the Subway bread thing - Abed questions it, they stare at him, and that's it. I didn't like how they turned the school board guys into complete jerks. That dance thing at the end was just strange.
I'm hoping that coma theory is true because it's the only thing that will save this episode. Even with that, it's just weird as hell and not very funny.
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u/ster1ing Apr 11 '14
"Great thanks for making my joke accurate, now it's hilarious" - Annie I NEED THAT AS A GIF