You’ll Ruin It: Community at Paley Fest 2011

As one of two returning for a second time at PaleyFest, the event for NBC’s Community entertained the fans as it had the year before this year with almost all of the cast present. Co-stars Alison Brie and Donald Glover were unable to attend due to other commitments, but the panel didn’t suffer without them.

The audience was treated to an early screening of “Custody Law and Eastern European Diplomacy” which featured Nice Girls favorite Enver Gjokaj as Luca, a new friend of Troy and Abed’s.

Following the episode, the cast, along with executive producer Dan Harmon, directors Joe and Anthony Russo and two other producers, detailed the show without repeating information from the previous event.

Much of the panel focused on the storylines for this season—Shirley’s baby (and the uncertainty of who the baby’s father is) along with the show’s focus on Pierce as this season’s nemesis and the evolution of Britta from last season to this season. Unlike last time, Harmon was less keen on spilling spoilers for the rest of the season, but did give the room a few pieces to whet everyone’s appetite. The rest of the season will feature Abed’s Pulp Fiction birthday party, a clip show with seventy-five never before seen clips and the finale, a continuation of last year’s “Modern Warfare” but this time in the style of a spaghetti Western.

With respect to Shirley’s bundle of joy, it was revealed that the baby will be born at some point before the end of season, and it will also be clear who the father is. Yvette Nicole Brown, who plays Shirley, spoke at length about why Shirley would prefer Andre (Malcolm Jaamal Warner) to be the father instead of Chang, mostly because Chang is crazy and what woman would want a crazy man for a father (this girl agrees no questions asked).

While discussing the next iteration of “Modern Warfare”, the cast had nothing but lovely things to say about guest-star for the episode, Josh Halloway. In a cast and crew filled with Losties, it was clear that everyone enjoyed those hours on set.

In between the vague comments about the rest of the season, the cast and crew all joked with each other—and unlike last year, it was clear that Chevy Chase was not as outlandish as before. Only once during the panel did he draw attention to himself, with a larger handkerchief that he used as moment when executive producer Dan Harmon said something. Gillian Jacobs did, articulately, explain why Pierce had taken on such an antagonistic role this year, but only because Chang was no longer the enemy. Instead of an external enemy, the group now has one from within, she summarized.

Community airs on Thursday nights at 8/7 Central on NBC.