Community
Festive specials are a staple in sitcoms. Community is no different, except for the fact they use their specials to parody and homage. From animated stop-motion to non-stop singing, the festive specials of Community has something for everyone.
Season 1 episode 12 Comparative Religion sees Jeff (Joel McHale) defending Abed’s (Danny Pudi) honor after a bully threatens him. Meanwhile, Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) is pushing Christmas on the study group, even though they believe in other Religions.
In a usual Community meta twist, the bully is actor Anthony Michael Hall. He’s famous for playing the nerdy characters in John Hughes’ classic movies The Breakfast Club and Weird Science.
Season 2 episode 11 Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas is a stop-motion homage to the Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer 1964 special. The plot sees Abed trying to find the meaning of Christmas through a sing-along adventure while looking like clay.
While Community‘s irreverent comedy is what makes it popular, this episode shows a softer side. Without spoiling it, Abed’s reasoning for seeing everything in stop-motion will tug at your heartstrings.
Season 3 episode 10 Regional Holiday Music is my favorite of Community’s festive episodes. As you may guess from the title, it’s a parody of Glee. The show makes no qualms at letting people know how it feels about Glee but it’s this episode that truly shows it.
Even though it’s making fun of Glee, fans of the series will still enjoy it. It brings up some good points about the show. The original songs in this episode are homages to others and they will make you put them on repeat over and over again.
Regional Holiday Music features a special appearance by Taran Killam who plays a character too familiar to Glee fans.
Season 4 episode 10 Intro to Knots pits the study group against their History teacher. While Abed wants to homage Die Hard at Christmas, he ends up watching something more interesting. A real-life kidnapping, of sorts.
Malcolm McDowell’s portrayal of Professor Cornwallace is menacing. In a show of larger than life characters, his stern and commanding presence is a welcome addition. Just wait until the final scene with the college’s Dean and you’ll see why Community is a light in this dark world.
