Community (2009–2015)
- Sep 16, 2009
- 2 min read
Community is an American sitcom that became a cult classic of the 2000s and 2010s, celebrated for its clever humor, meta storytelling, and eclectic ensemble. Airing on NBC for five seasons and Yahoo! Screen for its sixth, the show stood out for its genre-bending episodes, pop culture references, and heartfelt depiction of friendship. Its innovative comedy and dedicated fanbase made it a modern television gem.
Created by Dan Harmon, Community was developed with contributions from writers like Chris McKenna and Megan Ganz. The series premiered on September 17, 2009, and its final episode aired on June 2, 2015. Harmon’s vision of a quirky community college setting, blending absurd humor with emotional depth, resonated widely, spawning the rallying cry “Six Seasons and a Movie” among fans.
Plot
Set at the fictional Greendale Community College in Colorado, Community follows a diverse study group led by disbarred lawyer Jeff Winger, who enrolls to earn a legitimate degree. The group—Britta Perry, Abed Nadir, Troy Barnes, Annie Edison, Shirley Bennett, and Pierce Hawthorne—navigates absurd campus antics, from paintball wars to Dungeons & Dragons games, under the watch of eccentric Dean Craig Pelton. The show explores themes of friendship, identity, and redemption, with humor driven by meta gags, parodies, and the group’s dysfunctional yet loyal dynamic.
Cast
Joel McHale as Jeff Winger
Gillian Jacobs as Britta Perry
Danny Pudi as Abed Nadir
Donald Glover as Troy Barnes (seasons 1–4, guest in 5)
Alison Brie as Annie Edison
Yvette Nicole Brown as Shirley Bennett (seasons 1–5, guest in 6)
Chevy Chase as Pierce Hawthorne (seasons 1–4)
Ken Jeong as Ben Chang
Jim Rash as Dean Craig Pelton
Notable guest stars: John Oliver, Jonathan Banks, John Goodman
Seasons and Episodes
Season 1 (2009–2010) – 25 episodes
Season 2 (2010–2011) – 24 episodes
Season 3 (2011–2012) – 22 episodes
Season 4 (2013) – 13 episodes
Season 5 (2014) – 13 episodes
Season 6 (2015) – 13 episodes Total Episodes: 110
Cultural Impact
Community became a cultural phenomenon, with episodes like “Modern Warfare” (paintball) and “Remedial Chaos Theory” (timelines) earning iconic status for their inventive storytelling. Catchphrases like “Pop pop!” (Magnitude) and “Cool. Cool cool cool.” (Abed) entered pop culture, and Troy and Abed’s friendship became a fan favorite. The show’s meta humor and genre parodies influenced comedies like Rick and Morty. Fan campaigns saved it from cancellation, leading to its Yahoo! Screen revival. Streaming on Netflix and Hulu, with syndication on Comedy Central, it remains accessible, with merchandise like Greendale T-shirts and fan conventions fueling its #AndAMovie movement.
Honors and Recognition
Community won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing (Chris McKenna, 2012) and earned four nominations, including for Outstanding Comedy Series. It won a Critics’ Choice Television Award in 2012 for Best Comedy Series. The ensemble, particularly Joel McHale and Danny Pudi, was praised for its chemistry, with Harmon’s bold vision earning critical acclaim.
Conclusion
Community remains a beloved sitcom, celebrated for its inventive humor, heartfelt characters, and genre-defying creativity. Its influence on modern comedy and passionate fanbase ensure its place as a timeless classic that continues to entertain and inspire audiences across generations.
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