Pajiba

Also from the Office, I feel that Kelly summed the Olyphant up nicely: "Fuck me"

Community was not unwatchable. It was not the best episode ever, but let's not drown in hyperbole over here. It was annoying to have to watch an after-school special equating christianity with good taste, but even if you only take the Abed lines, you still beat The Office's tired bullshit easily.

Community was brilliant. I'm a new convert but holy crap, if you know your early church history and the gnostic writings, they nailed the "Judas as an instrument of God" debate. Not sure they even knew that but to this theology geek, I was in hysterics.

Also, Abed with long flowing locks, leather pants and an open shirt?? HOTT.

Community's "religion episode" > Glee's "religion episode"

By about a million.

(I know that this wasn't "billed" as a religion episode, but my golly, it talked about the diverse belief systems in the study group and how they feel about a higher power without preaching or saccharine sweet moments that make me gag. I guess Community does most things better than other shows. Because it's amazing.)

By far my favorite line of last night was from Jenna:

"You have a good heart. I hope you get into a car accident someday so I can have it."

I watched some of The Office last night, for the first time in probably a year. It was astoundingly terrible. I can't believe they're even bothering to continue that after Steve Carrell leaves.

I saw a little of Outsourced, too. Even more terrible. I can't believe that lasted longer than one minute on the air.

I would have to agree that Community was far from unwatchable, though it wasn't my favorite episode either.

The Office wasn't great but it was better than any of the other episodes this season. I liked when Kevin said that Olyphant looked like a better looking Andy and Andy gave an embarrassed and flattered "Thanks Kevin". I loved the Andy/Darryl Weight Watchers points exchange as well.

I liked it when Olyphant got all intense Seth/Raylan on Michael and said he was going to punch him in the face and Michael's eyes widened and Olyphant immediately softened and said "I'm sorry. I'm not going to do that. But I'm very mad right not."

I'm so amazed at the Community backlash. It was a great episode, it was just less pop culture related and more...life culture, I dunno. I'm kinda shocked how poorly people react to an episode that deals with religion, especially considering the way it was done. I love seeing Shirley get mad and watching Jeff be dad to Pierce is pretty funny. Abed goes without saying.

Dustin, you missed, "Those aren't thumbs . . ." The map conversations had me dying.

This Community episode was one of Shirley's strongest. Between the Kaufman quote and the Muslim crack, she was working it. Actually she was pretty great a few weeks ago during the Abed-delivers-a-baby-in-the-background episode, too.

I have enjoyed every episode of this show, and I think it has set the bar so high that simple disappointment can explode into "SHITTIEST FUCKING EPISODE OF ANY SHIT EVER!!!!!" territory very quickly. And religion in any context can turn people off instantly.

None of this really matters as long as you keep watching for the love of christ!!!!!!

I'm going to have to turn in my card for this, but when I'm at home, alone and drunk on a Thursday night, Outsourced is... comforting.

*Slinks away into the night*

Everything Kballs said. You keep using that word (unwatchable). I do not think it means what you think it means.

Remember the Cavemen show? That was unwatchable (I assume; I never actually watched it. Point proven!)

Remember 1 and 3/4 Men and a Knife Wielding Maniac? Unwatchable.

Remember Toddlers and Tiaras? Unwatchable, and should be open to prosecution.

But last night's episode of Community? Maybe a little lazy, relying on the "hey, they're not just a a study group but a FAMILY!" trope a little too much, but hardly unwatchable. Saying you wanted to turn it off to play Dead Rising 2 for a few minutes before The Office is like saying you got tired of watching porn and settled for a quick beej instead.

"ALMOST unwatchable". Those were the words I used. Meaning I NEARLY turned it off. I got what they were doing and found it unfunny and really tedious. The only thing that kept the episode from being a total disaster was Chevy Chase was given more to do than usual. On the flip side, Jeff was strangely absent and the show suffered.

Look, it's an opinion. On a message board. On the internet. On PAJIBA for fucks sake. I'm allowed to be hyperbolic and bitchy.

Glad y'all liked it, but I just don't think this season is working. And THIS episode was the worst the show has aired IN MY OPINION. Yes, it's probably better than the other crap out there but there is a reason I don't watch that crap. Therefore my scale of "Great to Godawful" is rather short especially for a show that I usually love. Hey, it happens. I still love the Office but last season there was one so horrible I thought it was an experiment by the writers to see how bad a script they could write and still get people to watch.

For the record, the watercooler chat about the Community episode today was not favorable and I'm not the only one thinking something is off about the show. One buddy emailed to say he's off the show completely now with last night being the last straw. I won't go that far, I tend to be loyal to shows even when they are falling apart (cough THE X-FILES cough) so I'll be back on my couch at 8pm next Thursday hoping they smack it out of the park.

To sum up: WORST. EPISODE. EVER. (for Community)

I'd just like a little more understanding of what "wasn't working" on last night's Community. I liked it a lot, it wasn't my favorite, and it wasn't nearly as funny as most episodes, but I really dug the way the show saw the Abed/Shirley storyline through to its logical, necessary, heartwarming conclusion. "You humble me." Loved that. "Open your books, Abed broke the internet." Loved that, too, and it's something this show does perfectly.

I was apprehensive at first, as I often am in the first act of this show, but by the end I really liked it, as I often do by the time the credits roll. Then again, I'm also a religious history buff, and the Gnostic take on Judas gets my motor running like it does meh's. So, it worked for me.

That said, I will agree/admit that I thought 30 Rock and The Office were both funnier last night. But, Community still wins for its bravery, honesty, and Pierce knocking the paperwork off the counter when Jeff told him to wait in the car -- another moment that perfectly undercut the cockle warming seconds earlier.

Oh, and I'd like to add that the phrase "worst episode of Community ever" confounds me. Like, "Yahoo Serious Film Festival." I know what all the words mean, but that sentence doesn't make any sense. I've never hated an episode of the show, so even "worst" to me, would be one I really enjoyed. The pilot, I guess. That's the "worst" episode I can think of...

RobP: I don't know what's wrong. Last night's is recorded for the kids to watch so I'll probably watch it with them to see if I can figure out what irked me so. Maybe I was in a mood, it happens.

The "Fuck me" line was great, doubly so because Mindy wrote the episode.

@TylerDFC, I've come to learn that pretty much every episode written by Mindy Kaling is going to be excellent. I didn't know she wrote this one, but now it all makes sense.

@meh, maybe after I get out of this office and get a few drinks in me. Commenting on movies and politics is easy, historicity is hard. Though, I've always liked that it sounded like a Police album. In short: The older source the better, right?

Olyphant looks like Josh Duhamel???
He TOTALLY looks like Taylor Kitsch, don't you see it?

I'll settle this. I freakin' love Community. Guess what? Last night's episode. Didn't watch it. Won't watch it. Ever.

What does that mean class?

It was unwatchable. To me. Yes. Unwatchable. I'm tired of shows unabashedly mocking religion and using the "but you can believe in whatever you want" excuse to say they were being fair. A joke here or there I can take. But an entire episode? No. Sorry. You lose my support there. I'll tune in next week.

As for The Office, it was incredible. I wish The Office haters would just go away. Let me enjoy my show in peace.

@LittleJon: It wasn't really like that. Maybe in assorted bursts from Britta, but she she didn't factor into the episode in a big way and she gets taken down by Shirley when she does that. It's a Shirley and Abed-centric episode, but it's told from Shirley's point of view and it's sympathetic to her.

This was the first time I actually made it through an entire episode of The Office this season. It was pretty good, but I wouldn't have bothered if not for Olyphant. Kelly's "Fuck me" line was the best.

I loved Community. Especially when Britta said, "I don't even believe in God, but I love me some Abed." My feelings exactly.

Are they grooming Olyphant to eventually replace Carell?

I haven't enjoyed "Community" one bit this season. Abed and Troy are the only likable characters. Shirley's pursed-lips, judgmental attitude all disguised under a girlie voice and constant head-nods are getting old. Bring us more "skinny bitches" lines. Britta and Annie's dialogue and chalkboard-grating cattiness hurt my teeth.

"30 Rock" was top-notch. Tina Fey has literally struck a chord playing a real woman. She's brilliant. Alec Baldwin blows me away every single episode. And Jane Krakowski gets more hilarious each season.

And by damn, I miss "Parks and Recreation"; the majority of the characters are likable AND funny...Except for Ansari's character, Tom. He's rarely amusing and ALWAYS annoying. I need my Ron Swanson fix. Pronto!

I find Olyphant's overbite disarming, charming, and oddly punchable.