Secret Second Series of Cult Sitcom Most Fans Missed & Loved

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Initially having difficulty appealing to a broad audience during its initial broadcast, it has since transformed into a beloved cult phenomenon over the past ten years. This sitcom employs a variety of eccentric themes to portray the everyday lives of six students at Greendale Community College. Consequently, this sitcom not only elicits laughter from viewers but also fosters a deeper connection with its primary cast of characters.

It’s surprising how many fans overlook the fact that “Community” produced a web series during its first season. These brief clips are quite varied and either delve deeper into an earlier episode or offer a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes. Although “Community” didn’t invent this format, it skillfully utilized these videos to provide fans with additional content to explore further.

Community Webisodes Were a Fantastic Addition to Some of the Series’ Best Episodes

In the past, web series were extremely popular between the late 2000s and early 2010s, even if they might seem a bit old-fashioned today. Before television shows could flood social media with endless content, they would produce short videos to keep viewers engaged until the next episode was released. However, this niche was highly competitive because many popular shows like “The Walking Dead” and “The Office” were also venturing into web series. Unsurprisingly, “Community” chose not to embrace this trend as closely as others did, instead using these web episodes to deepen the characters’ storylines a bit more.

Sometimes, these clips were expansions of longer episodes, like “Six Candles,” which was the complete version of the short movie that Abed created in “Introduction to Film.” It’s noteworthy that the production team took the effort to create a full-length version of this film. What makes it even more remarkable is that it offers a heartwarming insight into Abed’s inner world. As fans may recall from the entire episode, Abed’s short film appears amateurish as he merely overlays images of his parents onto footage of Britta and Jeff.

Although the entire movie is incredibly sad, it not only depicts Abed’s feelings towards his father but also emphasizes his status as an outsider. In other words, while “Introduction to Film” is both entertaining and clever, its accompanying webisode underscores how Community delves deeply into themes of identity and emotional depth.

Besides enhancing viewers’ grasp of past events, these brief films serve double duty as clever spoofs. In “Abed and the Dean Ride in a Honda,” Abed drives a car while a lyrical narration describes his actions. At first glance, this video appears to be just another one of Abed’s quirky stunts. However, this webisode is actually an accurate spoof of a 2014 Lincoln MKC commercial, where Matthew McConaughey employs similar self-indulgent dialogue to advertise the vehicle, demonstrating that Abed’s impersonation was spot on. Fans are no strangers to this show’s creative flair, as evidenced by its numerous paintball episodes. Nevertheless, even in a short video like this one, the cast is showing viewers that they consistently stay one step ahead of the curve in the entertainment industry.

Community’s Webisodes Weren’t Afraid to Break the Show’s Canon

It’s possible to contend that web series are primarily designed to reinforce a show’s continuity. Yet, the TV series “Community” appears to challenge this notion by coming close to violating the fourth wall. In an episode titled “Community Emmy Party,” the cast plays their characters while attending the Emmys. Consequently, Yvette Nicole Brown portrays Shirley and provides themed treats for her colleagues. Chevy Chase continues his role as Pierce and ridicules the musical sitcom “Glee.

While some viewers might find this episode slightly uncomfortable, others think the actors deserve applause for skillfully breaking the fourth wall without creating an overly awkward situation. In other words, the characters appear more like ordinary community college students than high-profile actors when crammed into Jeff’s ostentatious Lexus. Furthermore, despite being an advertisement, it doesn’t come across as a typical, in-your-face promotional piece. Ultimately, this webisode serves as a strong demonstration of how understated humor tends to be the most impactful.

Enthusiasts of the series will recognize that the sitcom is brimming with Easter eggs and subtle references, embedded in everything from the catchphrase “Six Seasons and a Movie,” displayed everywhere on campus, to Beetlejuice’s appearances in the background following his name being said thrice. These jokes are what set Community apart from other shows. However, if viewers aren’t privy to these references, the humor can seem less effective. To help with this, one of the webisodes, titled “Community Cheat Sheet,” makes these jokes more noticeable. While it slightly reduces the illusion, this webisode offers a glimpse into the extensive effort put into creating this show. Although it may not be as visually stylish as some other webisodes, it provides a deeper understanding of the production process, which is the main goal behind producing such content.

Community Needs to Do This Again for Its Upcoming Movie

Sadly, the series “Community” concluded on a somewhat somber note. Despite attempts to secure a home for its sixth season, the show was ultimately canceled by Yahoo! Screen. At the time, Yahoo! Screen seemed like a lesser version of streaming giants such as Netflix or Amazon Prime. Consequently, in a single season, “Community” transitioned from a significant multi-episode series to a more modest sitcom. It’s worth noting that the final season of “Community” was not poor quality, but it didn’t meet its previous high standards. However, in 2021, the show’s creator, Dan Harmon, announced that “Community” would be making a comeback with a full-length movie.

Currently, details about the upcoming movie are scant, with only the confirmation that it will air on Peacock. Nevertheless, anticipation among fans is sky-high as they eagerly wait to catch up with their beloved study group, who last appeared together in 2015. It’s speculated that the production team has some exciting plans for promotion, but many viewers are hoping for a revival of the webisodes from Community. Adapting these for modern platforms like social media and streaming sites would certainly be necessary, yet there remains significant potential in this previously released content.

2012 saw a creative move by releasing an animated webisode titled “Abed’s Master Key” as a means to revive interest in the upcoming season following a long break. This three-part episode finds Abed assuming the role of Dean’s assistant, effectively gaining control over Greendale. At first glance, it may appear as nothing more than a humorous animated skit. However, for dedicated fans, there lies a rich tapestry of unresolved plot points cleverly addressed and characters reintroduced in an engaging manner. For instance, Annie, the outdoor-dwelling student, is seen being as weak as ever. Pierce’s attempts to bribe Abed with gifts suggest that his questionable morals remain intact. Essentially, this brief animated series serves as a refresher for fans without requiring them to endure summaries or recaps – making it an ideal precursor to the eventual movie.

It’s entirely possible for the Community TV series to generate a wealth of similar content for its upcoming movie. The show continues to maintain a significant online presence through social media, with official accounts frequently sharing compilations and memes on multiple platforms. Moreover, based on interviews, it appears that many cast members are eagerly involved in this project, suggesting they wouldn’t mind producing additional videos. Overall, the Community webisodes aren’t just amusing; they carry meaning. Unlike other shows that used online content primarily to boost viewership, Community utilized this format to shape how viewers engaged with each episode.

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2025-05-12 02:47