TV Review: Community 3.12 ‘Contemporary Impressionists’
The study group plays dress-up this week as they have to impersonate celebrities at a Bar Mitzvah to pay off Abed’s debt, but Jeff’s ego might not be able to handle it...
rating: 4
The study group plays dress-up this week as they have to impersonate celebrities at a Bar Mitzvah to pay off Abeds debt, but Jeffs ego might not be able to handle it. The Chang also rises in another strong episode of Community. The group greet each other with a Happy New Year as the episode begins, meaning last weeks episode was probably scheduled for a later date. The shuffling did wonders for the ratings however, which were the highest since season 2s Epidemiology. Much of that credit can be put down to the raging fandom online. Britta announces shes finally going to be able to legitimately diagnose someone as part of her Human Psychology class. Were then introduced to a different sort of Jeff Winger, this time with a Zen-like calm. His new shrink has diagnosed him with medication to reduce his anxiety, Britta reminds him that his self doubt is the only thing keeping his ego in check. Meanwhile Abed is re-enacting movie scenes with lookalikes all over the place, which Troy describes as Unquestionably awesome, the rest of the study group feel otherwise. This culminates in a confused Chang smashing a window with a tranquilizer dart. Dean Pelton is furious, and no amount of Changs Renee Zellweger face can Chang that. Although it was spot on. This marks the beginning of the Chang Rises arc as the Dean allows Chang to enlist students as security interns. The show makes no surprise of this with Changs foreshadowing comment, Thank you Sir. You wont regret this, unless I rise up against you. Britta continues to warn Jeff of his impending ego overload. Jeff disagrees, embracing his new harmony with the world and even withholds an insult at Leonard, even though with Joel McHales voice everything sounds slightly sarcastic. Oscar winning Jim Rash steals the episode with the little screen time he gets this week upon seeing Jeff wearing Aviators by literally dropping to the floor and gyrating everywhere, even finding Jeffs shadow sexy. Im really hoping for another Dean-centric episode this season. French Stewart guest stars as a French Stewart impersonator (could also pass for a Jim Varney double) turned manager of the lookalike agency that Abed owes $3,000 towards for his re-enactments. Stewart bargains with them by asking the group to impersonate celebs at a Bar Mitzvah, with Jeff as Ryan Seacrest, his ego just about manages to handle this. Stewart appoints Annie as Judy Garland (or Anne Hathaway), Shirley as Oprah (her constant outbursts in character were fantastic), Abed as (brown) Jamie Lee-Curtis, Troy & Britta as both versions of Michael Jackson (eerie), and insisted Pierce be fat Marlon Brando, even though he was gunning for Burt Reynolds. This would lead to the episodes least interesting subplot. The group question whether they should even help Abed, Troy is outraged, Abed is a magical elf-like man who makes us more magical by being near us now it gets a little inconvenient and its time to get real? For shame. The group agrees, and Stewart warns Troy of the leg breaking that will happen if the night doesnt go smoothly. Jeff gets his dosage doubled to help with the anxiety, Britta is certain this will only make his ego more susceptible. Pierce isnt let in to the Bar Mitzvah as Burt Reynolds, this whole subplot felt a little too familiar, and just fell flat. An underuse of the genius that is Chevy Chase, we expect this of Hot Tub Time Machine, but not you Community. Troy begins to get impatient of Abed spending his time out of his quadrant and interacting with the other lookalikes. Chang is moonlighting as security for the Bar Mitzvah (his brothers a Rabbi remember!) and we see him begin to recruit for his army, the best part of this was being treated to more Chang-tongue as he daydreams. A barrage of Jewish soccer moms begin doting over Jeff. Britta attempts to deflate his growing ego with insults, the best being You have an unusually high butt crack! But it doesnt work after Jeff hears theyll be handing out awards. However all the awards are just for Howie Schwartz, whos Bar Mitzvah they are working. Jeff doesnt seem to understand this, especially when Oprah (Shirley) goes to award the most handsome. Which of course, goes to Howie Schwartz. Then Jeff reaches boiling point and goes Lou Ferrigno all over the Jewish celebration, his ego bursting in the form of channeling The Hulk. Jeff screams LOOK AT ME as he makes it onto the stage and grabs and kisses Shirley. BINGO, Jeff has made out with every female in the study group now. Chang fires off his minions, teenage Jewish boys, but to no avail, so he sends in the big guns. Well, his tranquilizer gun, leading to Jeff fleeing the party. Howie thanks his Dad for getting The Hulk to appear and Abeds debt is paid. Later Britta finds Jeff, along with a rendition of the famous sad Bruce Banner Hulk music, and he agrees to keep off the meds, Jeffs anxiety is important after all. For what was so far an average episode of the show, the last scenes featuring Troy & Abed were some of the most sincere and touching the show has ever done. Troy returns to the apartment to find Abed hasnt learned his lesson and has hired even more lookalikes. A sweet moment came when Abed referenced the airdate of the episode where they agreed never to lie to each other again, October 15th, 2009. Troy is angry that Abed was ignorant to the fact he was in real danger and did nothing to help or acknowledge that, ending by saying Abed cannot do what he wants to all the time. As always, its hard to read what Abed is emoting, but thats made clear when he wants to play in the Dreamatorium on his own, the sucker punch comes when he leaves Troy hanging on their customary handshake, it was hard to watch. This is a necessary evil for the Troy & Abed friendship to divide for the blanket fort wars two-parter arriving next week. Speaking of evil, we are introduced to the real Evil Abed in the closing scene, which finds Abeds vivid imagination run wild in the Dreamatorium. As expected it was spectacular, we are taken into space on the S.S Abed. Evil Abed is his co-pilot, both on the ship and metaphorically. He even has a real goatee beard. The show manages to squeeze in a little more self-awareness before the scene is out though as Abed states This is really crazy, inaccessible and maybe too dark. Well see Abed indulge in his evil side over the next few weeks. Hot hothothot.
Overall another great episode, which is heavily down to the closing scenes, and set ups the Rise of Chang and divide of Troy & Abed wonderfully. Maybe we are back in the darkest timeline. Annie seemed to be doing even less this week than she was last week, often bouncing around between everyone elses scenarios. Hopefully this will Chang next week, as well as Pierce getting a worthy side story. Also, more Dean please. Community returns next Thursday on NBC with Digital Exploration of Interior Design (Part 1)