Interview: 'Community' co-star Gillian Jacobs
On oil wrestling, bag-els, and the evolution of Britta
Gillian Jacobs as Britta on "Community."
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As mentioned in the review of tonight's "Community," I was on the set for the filming of the Britta/Annie oil wrestling scene, and even got roped into being an extra.
I got to talking with Gillian Jacobs afterwards while she was waiting for the next scene, and our conversation morphed into a brief interview, which she was sport enough to do while still drenched in oil.
On the career scale, where does this rank among the strangest things you've been asked to do?
This scene ranks. I mean, I've been asked to do some strange things in my career. But we've topped ourselves from last year's kiddie pool wrestling scene. This is about a 9, I would have to say. Definitely.
So bizarre.
(Laughs) How are you going to ask me questions right now? You don't have to make eye contact.
I can totally make eye contact. So let me ask you this: last year, it seemed as if it was taking the writers a little while to find Britta. Was that your feeling, being in it?
I would say that we sort of set up a dynamic in the pilot, we then played out for a few episodes. And then we all collectively - audience, writers, everyone - realized it needed to diversify. It couldn't just be about her correcting Jeff Winger. I was as surprised as anyone week by week when I got the scripts at the table read, and suddenly I'm the butt of all the jokes, and the humorless one and everything. But it was really great for me, because it made the character more complex. And it also made her more sympathetic. She was fallible, and she was trying and failing, and people were making fun of her.
"Bag-el."
Bag-el, buzz kill, throwing dead bodies out of windows.
But I can't think of a character like Britta before, that I've seen.
Yeah, which I think is maybe part of the reason why she may take some adjusting to. Dan Harmon says, "She's like a non-sitcom character in a sitcom." But obviously (pointing to all the oil), we find ways to get her involved in all the absurdity and hijinx in a way that feels right. And I'm there to be a part of all the adventures.
Alan Sepinwall may be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupGreenmantle
October 7, 2010 at 11:23PM EST Reply to CommentTurnin' it into a snake! Gillian Jacobs is wonderful.
I slightly disagree that there are no other characters like Britta around though. She certainly does her own thing, but there's a fair bit of Liz Lemon in the character - butt of all the jokes, tomboyish, a little socially awkward in spite of her looks... she's always wonderful to watch (I'd put myself in Team Annie, it's a tight run) but not the only one of her type on TV.
Greenmantle Meant to say 'I'd put myself in Team Annie, BUT it's a tight run'.
October 7, 2010 at 11:25PM ESTCarter She doesn't resort to constant self-deprecation like Liz Lemon. For my money, self-deprecation is the cheapest form of comedy.
October 8, 2010 at 12:51AM ESTInnuendo I'd certainly put myself in Team Annie
October 8, 2010 at 7:16PM ESTstepliana
October 7, 2010 at 11:23PM EST Reply to CommentThe fact that she took Britta from my favorite character on the show (from the pilot, even) to one of my favorite characters ever created in anything, ever, says something. Gillian Jacobs, you are my hero.
October 8, 2010 at 2:41AM EST Reply to CommentNo one made eye contact with Britta or Annie on tonight's episode.
olaf78
October 8, 2010 at 3:34AM EST Reply to CommentI live in Australia and we don't really get Community but as I love your blog Alan I was intrigued by the show from your writing. The thing that left a real impression was the failure of the Jeff/Britta chemistry and the wonder of Pudi, Glover and especially Brie. Then a few months ago I watched the whole season on the internet. I think going in I already disliked Britta - in my mind she was like Kelly from the original 90210. Self-righteous, judgmental, hot-but-unavailable etc. But I LOVE her. She, for me is the heart of the thing. I think that is really due to Jacobs - she is so vulnerable and she is trying. I love the show, I think it has as much to with family as Cougar Town or Modern Family.
Anyways, thanks for the GJ interview - she rocks!
guest
October 8, 2010 at 1:43PM EST Reply to Comment"I can totally make eye contact."
Alan, you are a better man than I.
Hatfield
October 8, 2010 at 3:45PM EST Reply to CommentNice little interview, Alan. Can you clear something up for me? On one of the DVD Special Features, Dan Harmon keeps pronouncing her name with a hard G, as in fish gills. Is that how it's really pronounced, or is he just being goofy?
LJA I saw an interview with her on Carson Daly. It's a hard G (they discussed it). She also went to Julliard!
October 8, 2010 at 8:41PM ESTsepinwall Yeah, hard G. We discussed it, too. One of my best friends is the only other person I've ever heard of who pronounces it that way.
October 8, 2010 at 8:50PM ESTAlf Gillian Welch is also Gillian with a hard G.
October 9, 2010 at 8:04PM ESTchalmers
October 8, 2010 at 9:38PM EST Reply to CommentThanks for the fun interview, Alan.
I assume you hadn't seen the season opener at the time. (If so, you could have asked her if she's still HIGH on her OWWWNNN DRAAAHHHMAAAA.)
I thought that episode relaunched her character in a way that built on some first-season themes (her need to be liked by women), but in a much stronger, better defined way.
Instead of being a nag to Jeff, she was an equal combatant in his power game. Where the season finale made her look like a sap compared to Annie, she nailed her with the "fry your lips" line.