Community's Beetlejuice Joke Took Three Years to Set Up, and It Was Worth It

As a dedicated fan of both Tim Burton’s cinematic masterpieces and the hilarious antics of Dan Harmon’s ingenious mind, I can confidently say that the intricate Beetlejuice joke woven into the fabulous tapestry of Community is a true testament to the show’s genius. The way they stretched the concept of summoning Beetlejuice by weaving it throughout three seasons, each mention building anticipation for the grand finale, is nothing short of genius.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel like I’ve struck gold again! Tim Burton’s long-anticipated “Beetlejuice” sequel isn’t just gracing our cinema screens, it’s ruling the box office! The chant of “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” echoes through the airwaves, as this film raked in almost $150 million worldwide during its debut weekend. That’s twice the lifetime earnings of the original movie! It’s no wonder that Michael Keaton’s iconic demon is the hot topic of conversation these days, making it the perfect time to rewind and enjoy one of the best — and most intricate — Beetlejuice jokes ever aired on TV.

The groundbreaking sitcom “Community,” created by Dan Harmon, was renowned for its intricate pop culture allusions and complex jokes. A notable joke, spanning across three seasons, revolved around the character Beetlejuice, with a climactic punchline that many viewers may have missed.

In the movie “Beetlejuice”, it is shown that invoking an evil spirit by saying his name three times will bring him into our world. Although all three instances should ideally occur within the same timeframe, the TV show “Community” creatively explored this concept, extending it over a span of several years.

In the initial season of Community, Professor Slater (Lauren Stamile) utters “Beetlejuice” while discussing Britta (Gillian Jacobs) with Jeff (Joel McHale). Later in Season 2, when Britta is talking about one of Jeff’s love interests and his striped, turquoise underwear, she playfully calls them “Beetlejuice-like items.” Therefore, the character Beetlejuice is referenced twice across two seasons.

In the Halloween episode of Season 3 titled “Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps,” a clever joke is completed. When Annie (Alison Brie) mentions that Beetlejuice’s soundtrack is one of the few things in Britta’s music collection, immediately after uttering “Beetlejuice,” a man dressed as Beetlejuice strolls by the window behind her, just as promised – appearing when his name is said three times.

Although it seems like the Beetlejuice joke in Community was thought of by Harmon and his team since the show’s first season, the specific payoff for this gag wasn’t conceived until Season 3. In a Reddit AMA, Community writer Megan Ganz shared that an earlier scene included Chang (Ken Jeong) mentioning Beetlejuice casually.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but share this fascinating behind-the-scenes tidbit: When Harmon and his team noticed they were about to utter Beetlejuice’s name for the third time, they cleverly reworked that scene. They decided to reserve the climactic Beetlejuice reference for the Halloween episode, making it more fitting to have a character in a Beetlejuice costume wandering around campus during that spooky season.

2024-09-11 06:39

Community’s Beetlejuice Joke Took Three Years to Set Up, and It Was Worth It

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