Primetime: Community Review - S1E18 'Basic Genealogy'

For me, after ABC's Modern Family, the best new comedy of the season is Community, NBC's offbeat sitcom from creator Dan Harmon. Like Modern Family, Community has a fantastic ensemble. Over the coming weeks I will be reviewing the final episodes of this first season, and then again when the show returns next fall, as NBC has already announced its renewal!

COWD's reviews will contain spoilers, obviously... Click to read the review.

"I'll give Jeff a shoulder to cry on and you boys go put a dead bird in that bitch's glove compartment." -Shirley

Opening quickly, they dispatched Jeff's relationship with Professor Slater in the pre-credits sequence. The scene itself was really well done, and the way she let him know was just classic and heartless. What did we expect from her? Seems Jeff fell a bit more for her than they'd agreed going in... I wonder if this will play out going forward? The writers of this series seem to be quite good with callbacks, so we can hope.

Once Slater had pulled the rug from under Jeff's feet he put on a brave face for the group and figured a little romp with a hottie wouldn't hurt either! Enter this week's guest star, Katharine McPhee of American Idol fame as Amber. The only catch? Amber is Pierce's daughter... well, step-daughter... okay, okay, ex-step-daughter.

I never watched her season of American Idol, so I was totally unfamiliar with her. I thought she did a fine and seemless performance. With some high profile guest stars, particularly those not primarily known for acting, they can stick out. To her credit, she wasn't out of place and I can see her having a future in acting if she wants it.

"Hey, Phantom Menace, how's the trade embargo with the Naboo?" - Señor Chang

Although the setup of a family day at the college level stretches credibility, this is an outrageous place from top to bottom, so it fit for me. Ken Jeong's performance as Señor Chang only gets better, a scene stealer every second he appears, he was in rare form tonight. The zingers toward Starburns and the other students was great. He plays bitter so well, and was a highlight in this episode, particularly the Star Wars reference got me.

That reference was to Abed's cousin as she sat in class wearing a burkha. Abed's family has been the focus before and his dad retured this week in another funny turn. It was nice to see Shirley rewarded with the realization that it was her boys who had hatched the plan to let Abed's cousin have some fun.

"And I may just be a simple cop, but people need to know this isn't gonna stop until Pictionary bans the word windmill." -Police Officer

The interaction between Pierce and Amber was as strained and amusing as you can imagine. This really is a dream part for Chevy Chase, it plays up the clueless character with a hidden heart that he's played for years. But now, with him trying to play the aged hipster, it works better than ever. Even as clueless as he is, you had to feel bad for him that he's so alone that he had to trick Amber to come. If only he weren't so completely daft! Though he's apparently pretty well off to just drop $25k on a girl he knew was scamming him. As he said, she earned it...

Britta also earned what she got! Wow, talk about putting your foot in your mouth. From the moment she encountered Troy's grandmother, she was in trouble. This story had the most punch for me this week. When she asked for Britta to get her a switch and she was confused by what one was?!? Yikes, you could see the comedy coming, but the payoff was pitch perfect, down to Troy being just as upset as Britta was during her punishment. Too funny.

"We always used to watch the shows she wanted to watch... I hate Glee... I hate it. I don't understand the appeal at all." -Jeff

It's good that Jeff is back on the market, it offers up more comedy potential than if he's stuck in a relationship. It was also nice to see that he wouldn't stab Pierce in the back for a piece... Well, a second piece...

"Troy?"
"I think I hit G13..." Abed & Troy

Community has some of the best end sequences I have ever seen. They are definitely part of the episodes I look forward to most. This week with Abed and Troy in the vending machine, a mirror to Shirley's boy from earlier, was great again. It didn't have the same impact as the Bert and Ernie sketch from a few weeks ago, but it still made me laugh out loud, and that's what this whole episode did... another solid entry for the freshman season.

4/5 wizards