Inside Television with Alan Sepinwall

Why I miss 'Community': Because we're about to return to the prime timeline

With the return date announced, it's time to celebrate!

By Alan Sepinwall Thursday, Feb 23, 2012 8:00 PM

Troy (Donald Glover) and the rest of the "Community" gang have reason to smile again.

Credit: NBC

We officially have only three of these Why I Miss "Community" posts still to go, now that NBC has announced that the show will be returning to its old timeslot on Thursday, March 15. Not sure what I'll do for the other two yet, but the choice this week seemed obvious, as it's both one of the most celebratory moments(*) in the entire series and one that marks a departure from the Darkest Timeline: the final scene of "Remedial Chaos Theory."

(*) It's not exactly a celebratory moment for Jeff, but we can view him as a stand-in for the NBC executives, who only let the study group really cut loose and have fun when they step out of the way and leave them/the show alone.

As I said in the post about the return date, I expect the show to do poorly in the ratings opposite "American Idol," although they're actually helped in a weird way by returning opposite March Madness, as I suspect there's more overlap between Sheldon and Abed fans than there is between fans of North Carolina and Dean Pelton. (Dean Smith, on the other hand...)

So enjoy, talk about your feelings about the show's return, whether you plan to do anything special for the night of the 15th, and anything else "Community"-related.

Alan Sepinwall
Sr. Editor, What's Alan Watching

Alan Sepinwall has been reviewing television since the mid-'90s, first for Tony Soprano's hometown paper, The Star-Ledger, and now for HitFix. His new book, "The Revolution Was Televised," about the last 15 years of TV drama, is for sale at Amazon. He can be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com

Related Searches: Community, Why I Miss Community

ZacharyTF

I plan on watching basketball all day and recording Community to watch after the games are done.
February 23, 2012 at 9:10PM EST Reply to Comment
- Abed Not good enough. You should be doing it the other way round.
  February 24, 2012 at 1:32AM EST
Lee Harvey

Thrilled that COMMUNITY is back on 3/15, but I am also a March Madness fanatic. Will have to catch the episode in some non-live fashion due to hoops.
February 23, 2012 at 9:18PM EST Reply to Comment
- the minister Yeah, normally I'm all "wtf-ever" w/ sports (on TV), but March Madness is the creme de la creme.
  February 25, 2012 at 1:58PM EST
Girly

I plan on having some friends over and maybe a menu inspired by the show...definitely chicken fingers...cupcakes each with one mini-chocolate chip on top (aka Vaughn's tiny nipples)...hmmm...this will be fun! any other food ideas?

during the show, we are going to try to spot my bro in the background. :)
February 23, 2012 at 9:23PM EST Reply to Comment
Chrissy

My boyfriend's mother will be in town, so I'll probably spend the evening explaining Abed to her.

But in general, I'm putting myself in a general new info blackout. Until the date was announced, I read whatever came my way about guest stars and the like (although didn't seek it out). No more link-clicking for me, now that the end of the end is near.
February 23, 2012 at 9:33PM EST Reply to Comment
Crow3711

One of my favorite Community moments ever. Thanks, Alan. I feel like everyone on Earth has at least one person in that clip they can relate to in some way or another. Encarta it.
February 23, 2012 at 10:05PM EST Reply to Comment
vfefrenzy

Perhaps the lack of overlap between Community and the Tar Holes reflects the fact that Community is an absolute good and UNC is an absolute evil.
February 23, 2012 at 10:20PM EST Reply to Comment
- Col Bat Guano Damn Duke fans.
  February 24, 2012 at 2:52AM EST
- the minister Duke & UNC players should all be required by law to wear felt goatees.
  February 25, 2012 at 2:00PM EST
Crittab

I'll probably curl up with a bottle of wine and a vibrator... oh,you mean when Community comes back? I'll probably just watch it live with the knowledge that my viewership means nothing since I'm not one of the chosen few in the Neilson family.
February 23, 2012 at 10:59PM EST Reply to Comment
War Chief Shake Zula

Anecdotally speaking, there is overlap in my heart between Sheldon and Abed - but due to sheer qualitative mass, I'd choose Abed every time if I didn't have to contend w/ roommates.
February 23, 2012 at 11:08PM EST Reply to Comment
- War Chief Shake Zula This must be added:
  
  To Community, that it might manage better ratings than that craptastic-looking Ashley Judd vehicle ABC is about to stillbirth into the timeslot.
  February 23, 2012 at 11:10PM EST
- the minister Given it was spawned from the toxic filth that is chuck lorre, it's a miracle Big Bang Theory is so watchable.
  
  Perhaps, therefore, Sheldon is worthy of a tiny corner of the vast pillowfort that is community. But, like, not in the Turkish district or anything.
  February 25, 2012 at 2:05PM EST
Rosemary

Love the Dean Smith shout out in a Community post! Community has a lot of support in Chapel Hill btw.
February 23, 2012 at 11:14PM EST Reply to Comment
alex

FWIW, I am a community fan and a basketball fan, but I can't stand the big bang theory.
February 24, 2012 at 12:09AM EST Reply to Comment
CK

Thanks for choosing this scene, Alan, I forgot how happy it makes me. Singing along to "Roxanne," however terribly, has to be one of life's simplest pleasures.
February 24, 2012 at 1:53AM EST Reply to Comment
gco211

Any idea on how they plan on parsing out these episodes. By my count, with twelve episodes to air, that would take us straight through to May 31 at one episode per week. Network television, however, tends to end in mid-May or May 24 at the latest for Community. An episode that far past the upfronts, especially a bubble show like Community, would be unusual. Think a couple of hour long Community blocks are likely Alan?
February 24, 2012 at 2:32AM EST Reply to Comment
Michael G.

Never noticed this before, but Pierce throws away the gift twice. Must be residual effects from creating the separate timelines.
February 24, 2012 at 2:35AM EST Reply to Comment
- War Chief Shake Zula He figured out that Troy could find the gift if it were in the trash-bin and threw it out the window to prevent that.
  February 24, 2012 at 12:47PM EST
pamelajaye

heard my birthday is on Thursday this year. Hate it when that happens! Last time it did, Scrubs was also on Thursday. Maybe ER was too.
Thankfully, not the 15th, though.

This past week I watched 30 Rock and then Big Bang, the Grey's (loved those few nights I would watch Scrubs then Grey's then ER)

I wonder about the size of the Sheldon/Abed overlap.
February 26, 2012 at 4:07PM EST Reply to Comment

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Inside Television with Alan Sepinwall

Why I miss 'Community': Because we're about to return to the prime timeline

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Comments

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

ZacharyTF I plan on watching basketball all day and recording Community to watch after the games are done.

Abed Not good enough. You should be doing it the other way round.

Lee Harvey Thrilled that COMMUNITY is back on 3/15, but I am also a March Madness fanatic. Will have to catch the episode in some non-live fashion due to hoops.

the minister Yeah, normally I'm all "wtf-ever" w/ sports (on TV), but March Madness is the creme de la creme.

Crow3711 One of my favorite Community moments ever. Thanks, Alan. I feel like everyone on Earth has at least one person in that clip they can relate to in some way or another. Encarta it.

vfefrenzy Perhaps the lack of overlap between Community and the Tar Holes reflects the fact that Community is an absolute good and UNC is an absolute evil.

Col Bat Guano Damn Duke fans.

the minister Duke & UNC players should all be required by law to wear felt goatees.

Crittab I'll probably curl up with a bottle of wine and a vibrator... oh,you mean when Community comes back? I'll probably just watch it live with the knowledge that my viewership means nothing since I'm not one of the chosen few in the Neilson family.

War Chief Shake Zula Anecdotally speaking, there is overlap in my heart between Sheldon and Abed - but due to sheer qualitative mass, I'd choose Abed every time if I didn't have to contend w/ roommates.

War Chief Shake Zula This must be added:To Community, that it might manage better ratings than that craptastic-looking Ashley Judd vehicle ABC is about to stillbirth into the timeslot.

the minister Given it was spawned from the toxic filth that is chuck lorre, it's a miracle Big Bang Theory is so watchable.Perhaps, therefore, Sheldon is worthy of a tiny corner of the vast pillowfort that is community. But, like, not in the Turkish district or anything.

Rosemary Love the Dean Smith shout out in a Community post! Community has a lot of support in Chapel Hill btw.

alex FWIW, I am a community fan and a basketball fan, but I can't stand the big bang theory.

CK Thanks for choosing this scene, Alan, I forgot how happy it makes me. Singing along to "Roxanne," however terribly, has to be one of life's simplest pleasures.

Michael G. Never noticed this before, but Pierce throws away the gift twice. Must be residual effects from creating the separate timelines.

War Chief Shake Zula He figured out that Troy could find the gift if it were in the trash-bin and threw it out the window to prevent that.

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ZacharyTF

I plan on watching basketball all day and recording Community to watch after the games are done.

Lee Harvey

Thrilled that COMMUNITY is back on 3/15, but I am also a March Madness fanatic. Will have to catch the episode in some non-live fashion due to hoops.

Crow3711

One of my favorite Community moments ever. Thanks, Alan. I feel like everyone on Earth has at least one person in that clip they can relate to in some way or another. Encarta it.

vfefrenzy

Perhaps the lack of overlap between Community and the Tar Holes reflects the fact that Community is an absolute good and UNC is an absolute evil.

Crittab

I'll probably curl up with a bottle of wine and a vibrator... oh,you mean when Community comes back? I'll probably just watch it live with the knowledge that my viewership means nothing since I'm not one of the chosen few in the Neilson family.

War Chief Shake Zula

Anecdotally speaking, there is overlap in my heart between Sheldon and Abed - but due to sheer qualitative mass, I'd choose Abed every time if I didn't have to contend w/ roommates.

War Chief Shake Zula This must be added:

To Community, that it might manage better ratings than that craptastic-looking Ashley Judd vehicle ABC is about to stillbirth into the timeslot.

the minister Given it was spawned from the toxic filth that is chuck lorre, it's a miracle Big Bang Theory is so watchable.

Perhaps, therefore, Sheldon is worthy of a tiny corner of the vast pillowfort that is community. But, like, not in the Turkish district or anything.

Rosemary

Love the Dean Smith shout out in a Community post! Community has a lot of support in Chapel Hill btw.

alex

FWIW, I am a community fan and a basketball fan, but I can't stand the big bang theory.

CK

Thanks for choosing this scene, Alan, I forgot how happy it makes me. Singing along to "Roxanne," however terribly, has to be one of life's simplest pleasures.

Michael G.

Never noticed this before, but Pierce throws away the gift twice. Must be residual effects from creating the separate timelines.

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