I’m still completely captivated by Community. It’s easily Dan Harmon’s best work, and honestly, one of the greatest sitcoms of the 2010s. The characters are unforgettable, and the show’s humor is just…unique. It began as a fun take on Harmon’s own time at community college, but it quickly became something much wilder and more imaginative. They weren’t afraid to get completely creative – stop-motion episodes, full-blown musicals, and these amazing parodies every week! I don’t think any show today even tries to do what Community did, and nothing comes close to its brilliance.
Though the TV show Community finished its initial run in 2015, the series remains popular more than a decade later. Fans have been hoping for a follow-up movie ever since season 3, when a running gag about “six seasons and a movie” first appeared. Whether or not that movie ever happens, Community is still considered one of the best sitcoms in terms of creating memorable characters.
Magnitude
Played By: Luke Youngblood
Though Luke Youngblood’s character, Magnitude, was only in 15 episodes of Community, he became a memorable part of Greendale Community College—and pop culture. The show never reveals his full name, or even if ‘Magnitude’ is actually his given name, which perfectly suits a character who feels like a walking, talking running gag.
Magnitude is best known for his simple catchphrase, ‘pop-pop,’ which became a fan favorite on the show Community. Whether it’s during a serious election, a chaotic paintball fight, or just a random scene, his signature move – raising his hands and smiling – always adds a strangely cheerful moment. He’s essentially a parody of sitcom characters with pointless quirks, but Magnitude is funny because that’s all he is, and surprisingly, that’s all he needs to be.
Todd Jacobson
Played By: David Neher
Most sitcoms rely on familiar character types, but the show Community deliberately flips those tropes on their head. Instead of a sensible, down-to-earth character who grounds the others, Todd Jacobson (David Neher) is actually the outsider – people don’t trust him because he’s so normal. The study group, in particular, is very suspicious of his lack of quirkiness.
Many of the show’s most memorable episodes center around Todd being the normal one, and the funny situations that creates. It’s rare to see a level-headed war veteran driven crazy, but actor Neher’s performance, combined with Community‘s clever writing, made the Law & Order parody work perfectly.
Alex “Star-Burns” Osbourne
Played By: Dino Stamatopoulos
Alex Osbourne, better known as Star-Burns (played by Dino Stamatopoulos), began as a funny visual joke on Community, but quickly became a fan favorite as his character developed. He’s one of the most unusual supporting characters in recent television, and remains a bit of a mystery—it’s hard to fully grasp his motivations or understand his actions throughout the show.
Most Community fans recognize Star-Burns for his strange way of speaking, unpleasant personality, and generally shady behavior. However, his most memorable arc happened in season three when he pretended to die. The elaborate memorial and eventual reveal that he was still alive felt like a wonderfully bizarre dream – which, fittingly, sums up his character perfectly.
Britta Perry
Played By: Gillian Jacobs
The characters we meet in the first episode of Community are very different from the endearing group we come to know, and Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs) changed the most. Initially, she’s portrayed as a naturally attractive and quirky woman who sparks Jeff Winger’s (Joel McHale) interest, leading him to create the study group with the intention of forming a hilariously bad romantic pairing.
By the end of the show, Britta becomes a truly unique and eccentric character. While she’s often the butt of jokes because of her over-the-top attempts at activism and unusual personality, this actually makes her more lovable. Whether you find her frustrating or endearing, the show embracing her quirks ultimately rescued her character and made her a fan favorite.
Jeff Winger
Played By: Joel McHale
Jeff, like many at Greendale, initially presents a carefully crafted image – a charming, successful lawyer looking for a fresh start. However, as he spends more time with the study group, that facade quickly falls away. We see his real personality emerge: a mix of arrogance and insecurity, warmth and indifference, and a cool exterior hiding a bit of craziness – qualities he originally tried to conceal.
Jeff’s character feels like someone you’d often see in a classic sitcom, and it’s surprisingly compelling that he’s so clueless about himself. He does eventually become a better person and figure out who his real friends are, but his constant self-deception is what makes him truly engaging.
Annie Edison
Played By: Alison Brie
Alison Brie’s character, Annie Edison, is interesting because she seems to have two sides. Sometimes she’s a very proper, studious character who’s easily shocked by what others do. Other times, she’s more playful and carefree, with a love for things like stuffed animals and glitter, but she’s also willing to cleverly manipulate people to get what she wants.
Annie Edison from Community is a compelling character because the show cleverly highlights the difference between how she acts in public versus how she acts with her friends. The serious, put-together Annie you see at events like Model UN is completely different from the playful, mischievous Annie who’s goofing off with the study group. This contrast is what makes her such an interesting and complex character.
Troy Barnes
Played By: Donald Glover
Troy Barnes, played by Donald Glover, starts out as a frustrated ex-athlete who enjoys putting others down. However, as the show Community progresses, we see a much more lovable side of Troy. The series quickly moves away from portraying him as bitter and instead shows him as somewhat spacey and innocent, which adds a nice balance to the group dynamic.
Troy becomes a truly lovable character on Community when the show moves beyond typical “jock” tropes. While the series sometimes playfully teases him, he’s genuinely kind and incredibly optimistic. And, he’s part of one of the greatest comedy pairings ever seen on television.
Abed Nadir
Played By: Danny Pudi
Abed Nadir, played by Danny Pudi, and Troy form an unforgettable duo, but Abed is a fascinating character even on his own. He’s likely the biggest fan of movies and TV ever, and he’s the reason Community is filled with so many pop culture references and homages to different genres. While he’s incredibly passionate about these things, it always comes across as a positive quality.
The show Community handles the character of Abed with remarkable skill, particularly when it explores how he copes with difficult feelings by immersing himself in movies and TV. But it’s equally enjoyable when the show simply lets Abed be his quirky self, dropping impressions and film references without overexplaining things. Either way – whether showing a glimpse of his inner world or just his playful exterior – Abed is undeniably the most layered and interesting character on Community.
Ben Chang
Played By: Ken Jeong
While Abed is known for his emotional complexity, Ben Chang, played by Ken Jeong, is the most versatile character in terms of storyline. He starts as Señor Chang, a Spanish teacher who isn’t very good at his job and has a quick temper. Then, his story takes unexpected turns – he becomes a campus security guard and eventually even a dictator.
Following a memorable showdown as a sitcom villain, Chang cleverly fakes amnesia – known as “Changnesia” – to start fresh. For the rest of the series, he’s obsessed with joining the study group, going to ridiculous lengths like hiding in bookshelves and vents just to listen to them. Community gives Chang so many different storylines that he feels like ten characters rolled into one, and each version is iconic.
Dean Craig Pelton
Played By: Jim Rash
While the entire cast of Community is great, the show wouldn’t be the same without Dean Craig Pelton (Jim Rash). He starts as a parody of enthusiastic college administrators, but Community quickly allows him to become something much more – a truly unique and boundary-pushing character unlike any other in sitcom history.
| Critical Response To Community | |
|---|---|
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes Score |
| Season 1 | 91% |
| Season 2 | 100% |
| Season 3 | 93% |
| Season 4 | 63% |
| Season 5 | 94% |
| Season 6 | 89% |
Viewers consistently enjoy every scene featuring the dean, whether it’s his elaborate outfits, funny physical humor, or important role in the plot. He quickly becomes a central figure, and audiences soon realize he should have been a main character all along. The dean’s impact on popular culture is a key reason why Community remains so beloved, and he’s the character fans remember most—whether they love him or not.
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2026-05-26 04:43