Review: Joel McHale and Chevy Chase in ‘Community’
Well, thus far the new teevee season has brought at least one pleasant surprise.
Generally speaking, I don’t care much for sitcoms. They’re predictable, they’re sophomoric even by my standards, and they’re usually are littered with obnoxious children. But I checked out the pilot to NBC’s [[[Community]]] because I really like Joel McHale and John Oliver, and I’ll admit to having some morbid curiosity about Chevy Chase.
The pilot wasn’t bad, with a few truly funny moments and
some great performances. McHale and Oliver didn’t disappoint me in the least.
But here’s what surprised me.
Chevy Chase turned in a first-rate performance, worthy of the reputation he gathered in the earliest days of SNL. He plays an aging businessman with the same sort of bewildering lack of reality he exhibited in Caddyshack. After a lot of redundant lame movies, this is classic Chevy Chase.
I think Community’s performers will hold the show together long enough to give the writing a chance to improve. Then again, it could go the way of most sit-coms and sink in the sea of predictable puerility. Community is worth checking out. Thursday, September 17, 9:30 PM EDT/PDT on NBC.
I was watching THE SOUP on E! the other day and Joel McHale (the show's host) ran a clip of the pilot. I think I was supposed to laugh at some point, but I must have missed the clue. Unfortunately, the Weather Channel may be doing the local forecast at that time of night, so I may miss the premiere. Chevy Chase?? Has he been funny since the National Lampoon Vacation films?
I'll give it a chance. I hope it fairs better than Amy Poehler's dull "Parks and Recreation" which is a pathetic Office clone. I am personally sad to see My Name is Earl chucked outta this lineup… and for the record, let me say: Jay Leno is as relevant and funny he was in 96. Of course, no one told him it's 2009.
Leno-boring!Letterman-funny as everFerguson-brillant!!
I'm rarely up for Ferguson, but when I am I enjoy the show. I probably should record it and watch, at least his brilliant opening monologues when I have a chance.
We at Community NBC are very excited about the show that airs tonight!
Looking foward to the next episode. I really like Joel McHale and as Mike says Chevy was terrific in the episode we saw. I like sit-coms a little more than he does so I maybe a little easier to please but this is a really fine cast. Love love love John Oliver and hope he is a regular.
Just watched the premier myself. I was entertained. I think the show has promise and look forward (assuming it continues) to what comes next.
I just finished the pilot for the second time tonight and even after the rewatch it still continues to be funny. The show gives off a lot of promising vibes and even though I was at first skeptical (Considering this show wasn't exactly hyped) it kept me thoroughly entertained the entire time, with even a few laugh out loud moments; and I highly anticipate a (Hopefully) successful season. With quick witty dialogue, a quirky cast of loveable characters, and a sexy male lead, how can this show go wrong?
If you liked Joel on The Soup, you'll love Pointless Planet, a satirical blog which pokes fun at TV commercials: http://www.pointlessplanet.com
I really want to like this show…but I don't. I don't really think it's funny. I feel like all the sarcasm from all of the characters is kind of playing of the 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' idea, which I think it a waaaay funnier show. There's still a chance though, it's early.