Community College Just Got Funnier
Also under review: a new sex workers’ blog and Shaq’s latest reality show.
By Katie Andriulli, Kay Steiger, and Drew Seman
September 4, 2009
NBC’s new show, Community (NBC)
Community
NBC
Premieres: Sept. 17, 2009
On paper, NBC’s new fall sitcom Community (you can view the pilot now online via Facebook) has all the makings of a lackluster CW series filled with stereotypes: a cast that includes the awkward guy, the jock, and the hot chick; scenes set in the library or the cafeteria; and dumb plot points while they, like, learn life lessons and stuff. But make the humor less awkward and replace James Van Der Beek with The Soup’s Joel McHale and you’re left with something bordering on awesome.
McHale plays Jeff, a lawyer who is forced to attend Greendale Community College after the state bar discovers that his undergrad degree is from “Colombia … the country.” Let’s be clear about one thing: Jeff is a terrible person. He hatches a plan to get in the pants of fellow student Britta by lying to her about the existence of an after-hours Spanish study group. Much to his chagrin, Jeff is thrust into a post-modern version of The Breakfast Club once word spreads to the other hapless students in his class who also no habla español.
The supporting cast, which includes The Daily Show’s John Oliver (!), Alison Brie, who plays Trudy on Mad Men (!!), and Chevy Chase (!?!), is probably one of the best assembled since Arrested Development. But it’s McHale’s dark charm that makes the snake-like Jeff likeable enough for you to root for him despite his lack of morals. I also give props to McHale for wearing a blazer with track pants—a trend that no other basic cable host could possibly pull off with such aplomb.
8 out of 10 reasons to actually watch network TV this fall.
- Katie Andriulli
These sex workers have something to say.
Harlot’s Parlour
Written and directed by Nora Epheron
harlots-parlour.com
Launched: Aug. 31, 2009
Sex workers are often invisible. They don’t usually make headlines unless they service a certain former New York governor-turned Slate columnist. But rather than looking at sex workers as the root of a scandal or the punchline of a joke, what if we actually gave them a voice? That’s the idea behind Harlot’s Parlour, a new blog written for and by sex workers.
The site manages to include actually useful information, like risk reduction tips for sex workers in addition to dissecting a recent Examiner two-part article on the supposed sudden rise in men’s interest in transsexual women. It’s refreshing to have an actual transsexual sex workers’ opinion on the subject for a change. They have contributors from all over the world.
All too often, sex workers are talked about instead of talked with. This blog is a great and interesting project. Although it’s still in its infancy, I can’t wait to see what kind of fascinating posts they publish next.
7 out of 10 steps toward un-ghettoizing sex workers.
-Kay Steiger
Shaq will lose to you, but he’s still terrifying/awesome/hilarious (ABC)
Shaq Vs.
ABC/hulu
Premiered: Aug. 18, 2009
I should preface this review by saying I’m a huge fan of Shaq’s work. I am one of four people who watched every episode of Shaq’s Big Challenge, a 2007 reality show that featured Shaq helping middle school kids fight obesity.
Now there’s a new and exciting Shaq reality show. The Shaq Vs. concept is pretty simple. Shaq attempts to defeat pro athletes at their own games. Think Throwdown with Bobby Flay meets Pros vs. Joes meets American Gladiators. Yes, it’s just that awesome.
Shaq has an amazing, self-deprecating sense of humor for someone as large and successful as he is. Every episode starts with, “This is Shaquille O’Neal, the greatest athlete ever formed. Look it up. Google it.” In the show’s second episode, Shaq challenges Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh to a game of volleyball. But to start his training, what does Shaq do? Naturally, he goes to Serena Williams house and plays air hockey so he can learn how to compete against women. May-Treanor, Walsh, and Shaq then hold a boxing match-style pre-event press conference, complete with audience Q & A.
What makes Shaq Vs. great is that everyone involved goes out of their way to make the show as preposterous as possible. The ridiculousness has a Colbert Report quality to it—you have no idea what’s going to happen next. The best part of the show is that they actually show full match coverage with dancers/cheerleaders, a few thousand attendees, and commentators who don’t seem to know that it’s not real. Shaq doesn’t make a complete fool out of himself, but still loses pretty badly. After the loss, Shaq must run along the beach in a pink Speedo that says SHAQ on the back. That’s the point of the show: even if he loses, he’s still Shaq.
9 out of 10 random acts of Shaqness.
-Drew Seman
Katie Andriulli is the communications and outreach manager at Campus Progress. Kay Steiger is the editor of Campus Progress. Drew Seman is the online communications associate at Campus Progress.
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