I didn't like the pilot the first time I watched it. But I watched the series in one go and fell in love with the characters. Now I'm rewatching it all again and I can say it's amazing on second viewing!
11 Reviews
Better the second time
maarten-db3 May 2020
very cohesive initial effort...
lilpuppychow200320 September 2009
How exciting! A pilot that doesn't throw away the first episode methodically introducing characters but rather jumps into an amusing story that gives us credit for being able to figure it out a little. It reminded me a little of the tone of Arrested Development's pilot in the sense that we are injected into the environment in a less forced way. Actually, it might be the best comedy pilot I've seen since AD. Even the soundtrack evokes the spirit of that classic.
I admit that using such a strategy creates the desire for more story and background immediately, but we must be patient. I would definitely encourage people to watch the episode. For those who love 30 Rock and The Office, I'm almost certain you'll enjoy it. Even if you're not used to "no laugh track" comedies, this will be a great opportunity to open up to the genre. It keeps the show moving at a very pleasant, snappy clip.
I admit that using such a strategy creates the desire for more story and background immediately, but we must be patient. I would definitely encourage people to watch the episode. For those who love 30 Rock and The Office, I'm almost certain you'll enjoy it. Even if you're not used to "no laugh track" comedies, this will be a great opportunity to open up to the genre. It keeps the show moving at a very pleasant, snappy clip.
In honor of "Community", a review of every episode. (S1;E01- "Pilot")
TedStixonAKAMaximumMadness9 May 2014
(Edit: As of June 30, 2014, "Community" has been renewed for a sixth season on Yahoo!'s video-streaming service! Leading to much joy from fans such as myself! This ongoing series of reviews will continue as I have time to write them, however.)
Today, May 9th, 2014, marked a very sad day for fans of the cult NBC TV- show "Community"- it is the day the series has been officially canceled after 5 seasons.
"Community" has been a big part of my life during the past few years. Its beautiful writing and wonderful humor have gotten me through some hard times. And it does very-much hurt to see it go. But I am planning on going back and re-watching the entire series start-to-finish again. And in honor of the series- possibly my favorite sitcom of all time- I have decided to have some fun by writing short reviews for each and every episode, one- by-one. (Although I will warn people- I tend to hold controversial views with some episodes- I love some episodes that others hate, and I somewhat dislike a few episodes that fans otherwise hold in high regard.)
Who knows how long this will take? Maybe it'll be done within a few months... maybe a few years. But I will finish it eventually. (Plus, I've always thought it would be fun to review every episode of a show, so this presents a good opportunity to do so.)
The appropriately-named pilot episode... erm... "Pilot", is a really good establishment for the series. We follow disbarred lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), as he enrolls in the seemingly-underwhelming Greendale Community College as part of a deal to get his license back. During the first week of classes, he meets a rather gorgeous fellow student named Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs), and feigns being a tutor as a way to be able to get close to her. His ruse is to start a fictitious study-group and only invite her, so they will be forced to spend time together. However, this plan backfires when Britta invites five other students to join them- Troy Barnes (Donald Glover), Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi), Annie Edison (Alison Brie), Shirley Bennet (Yvette Nicole Brown) and Pierce Hawthorne. (Chevy Chase)
Now I would be lying if I said this was a perfect episode. It falls into many of the tropes that pilots must unfortunately go through in order to establish tone and characters. And as a result, it emerges as one of the less-humorous episodes of the season, because so much time has to be spent setting things up. Something about pilot-episodes, especially for comedies and sitcoms just makes them stand out as slightly less organic than subsequent episodes.
That being said, I do think this is a fundamentally good episode. The cast meshes well here in their introductions to one-another. Jeff and Britta shine in particular, and it was this episode that started my secret hopes and shameless "shipping" of them them. They just seemed perfect together to me, even when others disagree. The humor is also quite solid. Particularly amusing are some of the silly quips passed back and forth between Troy and Pierce during while the group is seated at the study-table. And the episode does just drip of style... even though it's slightly darker and more restrained than the episodes that come after it. It has a very cinematic feel to it. Which I really admired.
For a pilot episode, this is surprisingly solid. And it set up for what I feel is one of the best sitcoms to grace our screens in the past 10 years.
"Pilot" for me gets a very-good 8 out of 10.
Today, May 9th, 2014, marked a very sad day for fans of the cult NBC TV- show "Community"- it is the day the series has been officially canceled after 5 seasons.
"Community" has been a big part of my life during the past few years. Its beautiful writing and wonderful humor have gotten me through some hard times. And it does very-much hurt to see it go. But I am planning on going back and re-watching the entire series start-to-finish again. And in honor of the series- possibly my favorite sitcom of all time- I have decided to have some fun by writing short reviews for each and every episode, one- by-one. (Although I will warn people- I tend to hold controversial views with some episodes- I love some episodes that others hate, and I somewhat dislike a few episodes that fans otherwise hold in high regard.)
Who knows how long this will take? Maybe it'll be done within a few months... maybe a few years. But I will finish it eventually. (Plus, I've always thought it would be fun to review every episode of a show, so this presents a good opportunity to do so.)
The appropriately-named pilot episode... erm... "Pilot", is a really good establishment for the series. We follow disbarred lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), as he enrolls in the seemingly-underwhelming Greendale Community College as part of a deal to get his license back. During the first week of classes, he meets a rather gorgeous fellow student named Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs), and feigns being a tutor as a way to be able to get close to her. His ruse is to start a fictitious study-group and only invite her, so they will be forced to spend time together. However, this plan backfires when Britta invites five other students to join them- Troy Barnes (Donald Glover), Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi), Annie Edison (Alison Brie), Shirley Bennet (Yvette Nicole Brown) and Pierce Hawthorne. (Chevy Chase)
Now I would be lying if I said this was a perfect episode. It falls into many of the tropes that pilots must unfortunately go through in order to establish tone and characters. And as a result, it emerges as one of the less-humorous episodes of the season, because so much time has to be spent setting things up. Something about pilot-episodes, especially for comedies and sitcoms just makes them stand out as slightly less organic than subsequent episodes.
That being said, I do think this is a fundamentally good episode. The cast meshes well here in their introductions to one-another. Jeff and Britta shine in particular, and it was this episode that started my secret hopes and shameless "shipping" of them them. They just seemed perfect together to me, even when others disagree. The humor is also quite solid. Particularly amusing are some of the silly quips passed back and forth between Troy and Pierce during while the group is seated at the study-table. And the episode does just drip of style... even though it's slightly darker and more restrained than the episodes that come after it. It has a very cinematic feel to it. Which I really admired.
For a pilot episode, this is surprisingly solid. And it set up for what I feel is one of the best sitcoms to grace our screens in the past 10 years.
"Pilot" for me gets a very-good 8 out of 10.
I like that word, "untutorable".
Hey_Sweden23 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
The very first episode of this series gets things off to a good start. Joel McHale stars as Jeff Winger, a lawyer who's lost his licence. He now must go back to school to improve his credentials, so he enrols in Greendale Community College. Seeking to earn the favour of his lovely fellow student Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs), he starts a study group for Spanish class. All he really wants is to "study" with her privately, so he deliberately sabotages the first group meeting, only to have to save the day using his skills of persuasion and motivation.
This is a good, solid episode that firmly establishes a tone, and a style. This viewer appreciated the general sense of irreverence and the witty repartee. This dialogue (script by series creator Dan Harmon) is pretty rapid fire, and this talented cast gives the story energy. McHale is an engaging lead, doing a fun job of creating a character with a certain degree of both charm and smarm. Jacobs is appealing as the girl he covets, and the rest of the actors are equally likable. The exchanges between Jeff and his old friend / professor (John Oliver) are particularly delicious, as Jeff schemes to get test answers for a semester. Of course, he's going to find that cheating his way through school is not going to be an option.
Danny Pudi (as Abed), Yvette Nicole Brown (as Shirley), Alison Brie (as Annie), Donald Glover (as Troy), and comedy veteran Chevy Chase (as Pierce), round out this gang of characters, who all get introduced in fine fashion.
I now look forward to continuing with the series.
Eight out of 10.
This is a good, solid episode that firmly establishes a tone, and a style. This viewer appreciated the general sense of irreverence and the witty repartee. This dialogue (script by series creator Dan Harmon) is pretty rapid fire, and this talented cast gives the story energy. McHale is an engaging lead, doing a fun job of creating a character with a certain degree of both charm and smarm. Jacobs is appealing as the girl he covets, and the rest of the actors are equally likable. The exchanges between Jeff and his old friend / professor (John Oliver) are particularly delicious, as Jeff schemes to get test answers for a semester. Of course, he's going to find that cheating his way through school is not going to be an option.
Danny Pudi (as Abed), Yvette Nicole Brown (as Shirley), Alison Brie (as Annie), Donald Glover (as Troy), and comedy veteran Chevy Chase (as Pierce), round out this gang of characters, who all get introduced in fine fashion.
I now look forward to continuing with the series.
Eight out of 10.
A great Comedy Pilot...
Red_Identity19 June 2011
I have noticed that a lot of my favorite comedies have started off with weak Pilots (Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation) although some have been incredible since their first episode (Pushing Daises, Modern Family). This is in the latter group, and I am happy to say it.
The Pilot was pretty fantastic. It was funny, charming, and all in all, very likable. The entire cast is pretty wonderful. The writing is top- notch and very tightly written. All in all, this is one to watch. Chevy Chase and Alison Brie are the stand-outs here, although it's hard to choose.
The Pilot was pretty fantastic. It was funny, charming, and all in all, very likable. The entire cast is pretty wonderful. The writing is top- notch and very tightly written. All in all, this is one to watch. Chevy Chase and Alison Brie are the stand-outs here, although it's hard to choose.
Good pilot
TheFirst013 June 2020
Pilot
Prismark1023 November 2019
Created by Dan Harmon, the pilot was brought to life by the Russo brothers as directors.
Community is an ensemble piece set in a community college with various misfits and that includes the Dean of the college.
The lead is Jeff Winger (Joel McHale.) A lawyer whose licence has been revoked as his law degree was from Columbia. The country not the university and the certificate was an attachment in an email.
Jeff has to attend community college to get his degree, he hopes to get it this time by cheating as he knows the professor. When he sees student Britta he forms a study group to be close to her but she turns up with a disparate group.
The pilot has to set up the sitcom and establish the characters which really happens late on when the study group is convened. Jeff though has some sharp lines and he establishes a rapport with old friend Professor Ian Duncan (John Oliver.)
Community is an ensemble piece set in a community college with various misfits and that includes the Dean of the college.
The lead is Jeff Winger (Joel McHale.) A lawyer whose licence has been revoked as his law degree was from Columbia. The country not the university and the certificate was an attachment in an email.
Jeff has to attend community college to get his degree, he hopes to get it this time by cheating as he knows the professor. When he sees student Britta he forms a study group to be close to her but she turns up with a disparate group.
The pilot has to set up the sitcom and establish the characters which really happens late on when the study group is convened. Jeff though has some sharp lines and he establishes a rapport with old friend Professor Ian Duncan (John Oliver.)
Super late to the party... but then, that's how the whole thing gets started.
GraXXoR18 February 2022
OK, as Britta said, honesty: I admit I only found out about this show yesterday because I was investigating Rick and Morty's Harmon's background.
There! I said it! Rick and Morty...
OK, getting that off my chest.
I had absolutely no idea what to expect, which is the way I love to enter a new show. No trailers, no previews....
I absolutely saw the potential in the first episode and laughed quite a few times.
As with Ricky Gervais programs, I suffer from cringe aversion, so there were a few Harmon moments when I felt the urge to press fast forward, but I made a promise to myself to resist and I managed to.
Between the post #MeToo shenanigans and Abed's spurious movie references, and the obvious spear-fishing tropes used to grab the audience in as short a time as possible, I will admit I was immediately hooked.
They were obvious, but no less charming for their desire to set up the stereotypes upon which I'm sure some great characters and relationships are going to be built..
AND.... What made my day were the seedy AF Chevy Chase and downtrodden John Oliver!!! ... OMW!
There! I said it! Rick and Morty...
OK, getting that off my chest.
I had absolutely no idea what to expect, which is the way I love to enter a new show. No trailers, no previews....
I absolutely saw the potential in the first episode and laughed quite a few times.
As with Ricky Gervais programs, I suffer from cringe aversion, so there were a few Harmon moments when I felt the urge to press fast forward, but I made a promise to myself to resist and I managed to.
Between the post #MeToo shenanigans and Abed's spurious movie references, and the obvious spear-fishing tropes used to grab the audience in as short a time as possible, I will admit I was immediately hooked.
They were obvious, but no less charming for their desire to set up the stereotypes upon which I'm sure some great characters and relationships are going to be built..
AND.... What made my day were the seedy AF Chevy Chase and downtrodden John Oliver!!! ... OMW!
Too convoluted
anarchistica17 August 2022
Pilot episodes are supposed to introduce the characters and establish the setting. In case of comedies they're supposed to set the tone in terms of humor. This one spends so much time on the clumsy setup to be funny or properly set up the characters.
Best pilot in a long time
jellyneckr19 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I pretty much have given up on watching network television. Between the unwatchable reality trash, the stale sitcoms, and the rare quality shows that get prematurely axed, there is little reason for anyone to dedicate their time to network programming anymore. However, there was something about "Community" that made it hard not to tune in for the premiere episode. Whether it was the casting of Joel McHale in the lead role or the vaguely original premise, the previews made the series look enticing. Luckily, the pilot itself did not disappoint. It is fairly common for pilots to have a sloppy feel, be it from last minute re-shoots or from rushed pacing that introduces too many characters and story points in too little time. The first episode of "Community" suffers from none of these problems. In fact, the only real problem with "Community" so far is that it should be longer. Although the characters were introduced in satisfactory ways, there could have been more time devoted to getting a sense of what the college itself is like in terms of the campus and its surroundings. Since the students themselves, the community of the title, are at least partially developed, the lack of attention to the overall college is at least somewhat forgivable. In terms of acting, the entire cast playing these students of various ages is terrific. Joel McHale is obviously the standout, but every other cast member manages to be memorable as well. Chevy Chase has finally found a character that is somewhat clueless yet lovable that isn't Clark Griswold and has fun chemistry with Donald Glover as a cocky jock. Gillian Jacobs plays an interesting woman who is able to see through lies, instead of a love interest who easily puts up with male egotism. Danny Pudi pulls off playing a quirky character on a network comedy that doesn't come off as annoying or too overly written. Alison Brie and Yvette Nicole Brown's characters need future episodes to grow, but the scenes with the two of them fighting are hysterical. Together, "Community" has a terrific ensemble without a single person miscast.
What makes "Community" work is that there doesn't seem to be a formula that the show will have to fall back on every week. The characters, while not completely defined yet, aren't the live-action cartoons that are often seen on network comedies. Hopefully the writers will continue to make the show about the characters and not about a formulaic pattern. With any luck, "Community" won't be pulled off the air before its time. It's easily the most promising new show of the season. 9/10
What makes "Community" work is that there doesn't seem to be a formula that the show will have to fall back on every week. The characters, while not completely defined yet, aren't the live-action cartoons that are often seen on network comedies. Hopefully the writers will continue to make the show about the characters and not about a formulaic pattern. With any luck, "Community" won't be pulled off the air before its time. It's easily the most promising new show of the season. 9/10
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