NBC is still itching to find the next "The Office," having totally failed with the cringe-worthy "Kath & Kim" and come close with the occasionally funny but mostly ho-hum "Parks and Recreation."
Enter "Community," NBC's latest high profile single-cam sitcom, which deserves instant praise for not being shot "mockumentary style." But will third time be the charm for the Peacock's once mighty Thursday night comedy line-up? (Sorry, we've been reading too much Variety.)
The buzz: Yes, that's sardonic "The Soup" host Joel McHale as even more sardonic lawyer Jeff Winger, forced back into college after getting his law degree revoked, and yes, your eyes do not deceive you, that's Chevy Chase playing one of those old dudes you find in every community college class on earth. And while this is not Chevy Chase in prime form, even on comedy autopilot Chase runs circles around the rest of the cast, which is as laughably ethnically diverse as the bus extras in "Speed."
The verdict: We have high hopes for this fledgling comedy—really, we do. Still, the "Community" pilot episode makes several references to the John Hughes classic "The Breakfast Club," a comparison which highlights one major element the series seems to be sorely lacking: a compelling reason for this motley crew to stay confined to their library study group week after week.
Did you know? ...that Chevy Chase once had his own late night talk show? Believe it.
"Community" premieres Thursday, September 17, at 9:30 p.m./8:30c on NBC.
What other people are saying...
Drinky_McGee from Indianapolis - September 22, 2009 at 8:57 AM
I saw the first episode and liked it enough to stay until the end. That puts it head and shoulders above most sitcoms. It's great to see Chevy Ch...
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