Community

The term "hyperreality", as defined by wikipedia "characterizes the inabilty of consciousness to distinguish reality from fantasy". This term seems to be the key ingredient in entertaining television today. With reality TV being a prime example of hyperreality, how do the writers fight back? Presenting Community, a brand new comedy on NBC about life at a Community College. The plot centers around seven characters from very different backgrounds and the odd situations which inevitably draw them together. The characters are as follows:
We have Jeff who is a formal attorney who apparently had fudged his degree and after having been found out is forced to go back to college and earn it. He always tries to find the easy way out of situations but somehow manages to have the moral fortitude to, at the last minute, turn selfless for the sake of people who, at all other times, he seems to loathe. He is the main focus of the seven, sarcastic and supposedly charming, he is played by Joel McHale, host of The Soup on the E! channel.
Playing his love interest Britta, a blunt, strong willed, young woman, is Gillian Jacobs. Britta seems to be the conscience of the group. She constantly denies Jeffs advances but of course occasionally displays symptoms of hidden attraction(although sometimes they don't seem to fit the character but a needed stimulant to keep the viewers hopes for a future relationship afloat).
Then we have Pierce, played by Chevy Chase. Pierce is old, self absorbed, fickle, ignorant and a slew of other adjectives that perhaps also relate to the star himself. Pierce strives for acceptance in the group but mainly acceptance from Jeff. In multiple episodes it's been more than hinted at that Pierce only really cares about Jeff, screaming in one episode after having a nervous breakdown, "Is Jeff out there? He's the only one who can help!"
Then we have Abed who is the oddest character(if such things can be measured) played by Danny Pudi. Abed's biggest gimmick is breaking the fourth wall. Already in the first season he himself referenced his own characters gimmick as getting old and needing a rest for an episode. His gimmick, however seems to be what the show is heavily leaning on.
Next we have Troy played by Donald Glover. Troy is a dumb Jock with dilusions of granduer about his high school days. although his character has some very funny moments (an end-of-the-show riff between him and Danny is a running gag) he seems to be one of the weaker characters on the show which is a shame to anyone who has ever seen any of his work for Derrick Comedy, a sketch comedy group whose videos can be easily found on youtube.
Then there is the Shirley Bennett, played by Yvette Nicole Brown. Shirley is a often giddy, christian, sweet older woman who loves things such as gossip, making her constantly ease drop on others conversations. Best episode: When her and Jeff become close over talking behind the back of Brittas new interest(if you don't laugh at the small nipples you must be dead inside).
And finally we have Alispn Brie who plays Annie. Annie gradutated from the same school as Troy and is secretely in love with him. She was a good student until an incident which gave her the nickname "little Annie Adderall" took her out of school for a while and now she must fight it out in community college.
Community seems to be the answer to this hyperreality boom. While reality tv thrusts in your face the oxymoronical idea of watching reality on television, Community constantly reminds you that you are watching characters on a show. The latest installement centers around the gang finding out that Abed has been making films about the group based on their characteristics, dictating their futures with the best part of this joke in the first three minutes of the episode while watching the character based on him, Pierce, after chuckling at his stupidity, asks "Who's that old guy?" and somehow the joke works. The show manages to make you laugh at it as it's watching and laughing at itself. Community, in spite of all assumptions about students who go to community college, works. How's that for a hyperreality check.