Puppets invade tonight’s episode of Community
Community is not quite the same show it was the past few seasons, despite the familiar faces in front of the camera. The energy is more scattered, somehow, in what was already a scattered show.
The action is more frenzied; the one-liners less witty without the show’s original creator, head writer and creative inspiration Dan Harmon, who left at the end of last season.
The new, not-so-improved Community is a reminder that, even though TV is a collaborative effort, an original visionary is hard to replace. Even so, in just eight short weeks, the revamped Community has shown that in this age of tepid TV sitcoms, even a smaller Community goes a long way.
In tonight’s episode, the study group goes on a recreational balloon flight over the nearby mountains, to spend some quality time together. Faster than you can say ‘Is that safe?’ the balloon comes down in a flying heap in the proverbial middle of nowhere, where the gang is befriended by ‘a friendly mountain man,’ played by guest star Jason Alexander.
Wackiness ensues, including an extended bit with the Community characters played by felt puppets. Sound surreal? That’s the idea. Community has always been equal parts silliness and creative inspiration.
The episode, Intro to Felt Surrogacy, is the ninth in a proposed 13-episode fourth season, which will end May 9 with the forebodingly titled Advanced Introduction to Finality.
Parent network NBC unveils its official 2013-14 winter schedule days later, on May 13, and Community is not expected to make the grade. That’s a shame because, in its heyday, Community was one of TV’s smartest, funniest comedies — lively, self-aware and selfreferential in equal measure.
It was always going to be too hip for the room, certainly too hip and insider-y to appeal to a mass audience. Unlike many TV comedies, though, Community made no effort to hide its shortcomings, even as it was tumbling down the ratings rabbit-hole. Community was — and remains — the definition of a cult comedy, in that cult comedies rarely reach out to a wide audience. Community’s fans, though, are as loyal and passionate as any who follow TV.
And while it may not be as sharp and cutting-edge as it used to be, Community is still capable of snapping off the occasional wry one-liner. Yes, there have been times this season when Community suffered from ‘change-nesia’ — an actual Community expression — but it’s still a grade above average, most weeks.
(NBC, Citytv — 9 p.m.)