"Community": A Frustratingly Underrated Television Show
By: Erin Huang-Schaffer
When I first saw an episode of Community, I had been bored to the point of channel surfing (which is rare for me), and came upon what might've been a rerun where unfamiliar characters were trapped inside a Kentucky Fried Chicken space-van. I thought, "This is so stupid," and promptly watched the rest of the episode without a clue of what was going on. I decided it was not a good show, and went on with life, forgetting all about it. Then, one night, I came upon a bloopers reel for the show while online. My cheeks hurt from laughter, and I was amazed by the incredible improv I had witnessed and the undeniable chemistry among the ensemble cast. Despite the fact that my Netflix queue was (and still is) an embarrassingly long length, I immediately added it near the top of the list.
I watched the first season. Then the second. Then bought the third season when it came out on DVD. I haven't been this much in love with a show in a long time (for people who may be aware of my past Monk craze).
Let me explain my frustration over the show's very small recognition: shows like Community that have a dangerously low viewership tend to be the more inventive shows on television. Why? When a show gets too widely recognized, the networks unfairly take control of the writing in order to please sponsors. This has happened to many shows that start out strong in the first few seasons, but eventually become less daring and original. If I could explain by using Community's diverse episodes as an example, I would, but I don't think I have the energy. Let's just say the endless pop culture tributes and spoofs, inventive uses of the classic sitcom episode formats such as "clip shows" and "bottle episodes", amazingly witty dialogue, and standout acting (notably, Danny Pudi, and Allison Brie of Mad Men) are just some of the things that make this show so imaginative.
Getting back to how networks ruin television, this is how it seems to go: shows with low viewership get canceled, and shows with high viewership get tampered with and lose their specialness. So, to say exactly what frustrates me, Community is the former. No one has watched it, and with the upcoming fourth season nearing, I'm getting desperate. Flashes of Firefly's cancellation come to mind.
I know four seasons is pretty good for a show that not many people are even aware of, but I can't help feeling a twist in my gut. It's a cult show that has not yet been widely recognized, nor may it ever be. Community season 4 was originally scheduled to premiere October 19, but was delayed by NBC. It was announced that the new season is scheduled to premiere Thursday, February 7, 8:00 pm on NBC channel 4.
I watched the first season. Then the second. Then bought the third season when it came out on DVD. I haven't been this much in love with a show in a long time (for people who may be aware of my past Monk craze).
Let me explain my frustration over the show's very small recognition: shows like Community that have a dangerously low viewership tend to be the more inventive shows on television. Why? When a show gets too widely recognized, the networks unfairly take control of the writing in order to please sponsors. This has happened to many shows that start out strong in the first few seasons, but eventually become less daring and original. If I could explain by using Community's diverse episodes as an example, I would, but I don't think I have the energy. Let's just say the endless pop culture tributes and spoofs, inventive uses of the classic sitcom episode formats such as "clip shows" and "bottle episodes", amazingly witty dialogue, and standout acting (notably, Danny Pudi, and Allison Brie of Mad Men) are just some of the things that make this show so imaginative.
Getting back to how networks ruin television, this is how it seems to go: shows with low viewership get canceled, and shows with high viewership get tampered with and lose their specialness. So, to say exactly what frustrates me, Community is the former. No one has watched it, and with the upcoming fourth season nearing, I'm getting desperate. Flashes of Firefly's cancellation come to mind.
I know four seasons is pretty good for a show that not many people are even aware of, but I can't help feeling a twist in my gut. It's a cult show that has not yet been widely recognized, nor may it ever be. Community season 4 was originally scheduled to premiere October 19, but was delayed by NBC. It was announced that the new season is scheduled to premiere Thursday, February 7, 8:00 pm on NBC channel 4.