GGR Reviews Community — “Basic Intergluteal Numismatics”

From Geek Goes Rogue TV Editor Zach W. Lorton, as told to by the change jug on his shelf, which now gives me the cold shivers every time I look at it…

Before I go into my review of Season5/Episode3 of Community, I have to warn you that some of the language found here is not what I normally use, but it’s unavoidable, given the topic.  Let’s jump in, shall we?

“I am the Ass Crack Bandit.  Humans make better banks than piggies.  Whenever I get more change at the store, I can’t wait to drop it down your butts.”

If you found out nothing else about Thursday night’s episode, that’s really all you need to know.  Actually, I’m ahead of myself.  It’s also a parody of David Fincher films, Law and Order, and crime melodrama.  Oh, and Ben Folds shows up, and for not nearly long enough.

One of my favorite things about this show is the risks it takes with concepts, such as the bottle episode (“Cooperative Calligraphy”), the zombie episode (“Epidemiology”), and the epic-action paintball episode in Season 1 (“Modern Warfare”), which was an example of the best Community has to offer.  This particular concept works because the idea that any college anywhere would be so overcome by a prankster like this is so ludicrous.  The joke, the prank, becomes the focus, and everyone gets in on it.  No single person ever takes the high road and places themselves above the joke.  The joke is the reality, and that’s what truly makes these high-concept episodes (or low-concept, as it were) shine.

“…What is this?”
“It’s platonic shoulder holding.”

Perhaps one of the best indicators that the glory days of Community are back is that executive producer Dan Harmon’s touch is firmly on the pulse of what made this show great in the first place, can be summed up in the cold open before the credits.  Shirley is opening her brand-new sandwich shop on campus, and her two boys help with the celebration by singing an acapella version of Radiohead’s “Creep”, by which the first ass cracking of the episode is documented.

Okay, I have to admit, it’s hard to wax intelligent about a show like this, but it’s so much fun that it deserves to be lauded over.  NBC’s misuse of the show hasn’t helped it find a wider audience, but that has done nothing but intensified the fanbase that remains.  I was excited about the potential season 5 would hold after watching the premiere episode and its follow-up last week, and this most recent episode is delivering on that promise.

Zach W. Lorton is a media producer and professional DJ/MC by trade, and a comedian, actor, and musician by default.  His debut music project is set to begin recording in 2014, and will likely take the world by storm, possibly in the form of a Sharknado.