Biology 101
Encyclopedia
"Biology 101" is the first episode of the third season
of Community
. The episode originally aired on September 22, 2011 on NBC
. The episode picks up where the second season
left off, with Pierce out of the group. The study group resumes class at Greendale and decides to enroll in Biology.
The episode was written by Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan
and directed by Anthony Russo
.
Anne hopes they done the right thing with Pierce and believes that he real has changed, but Jeff says he is the same old Pierce and they are better off without him. Abed becomes upset when he learns the Cougar Town has been moved to mid-season. Their professor (Michael K. Williams
) says he has studied 6205 hours, because was only allowed 1 hour per day while serving twenty-five to life. As he begins to tell the class about how he stared at a crack in his cell and a single blade of grass grew out of nothing, Jeff's cell phone goes off and he kicks Jeff out.
Britta tries to help Abed by showing him the British adaptation that Cougar Town was based off of, called "Cougarton Abbey". Jeff tries to find a class the group can take together after being kicked out Biology, when Anne reminds Jeff of his speech about how they are evolve and don't need to take a class together. As he goes to leave Pierce comes in and tells the group how he took Jeff's spot in Biology.
Jeff goes to apologies to Professor Kane but he doesn't except his apology and tells him if he wants to learn about life then he should give up the phone. Jeff thinks he means a bribe but Kane tells him he can't be bought, Jeff begins to retaliate but then spots a picture of Pierce and tries to take it back to the group but Chang steals it wanting to get in the group. He chases Chang trough the vents as security is filling the vents with "monkey gas".
Britta desperate to help Abed shows him a British Sci-fi show that’s been on the air since 1962 called "Inspector Spacetime" which Abed says is the best show he has ever seen in his life. Jeff strung out on "monkey gas" tells the group that Pierce is the reason he was kicked out of Biology and shows they the picture of Pierce and "Kane", but Pierce tells him that the picture is of him and Hawthorne wipes spokesman. Jeff makes things worst when he unknowingly makes a racist comment, Pierce tries to help him but Jeff tells that to Shut up, and leaves and then returns with an ax and tries to destroy the table.
The group finds Jeff and he tells them he lied about wanting the group to evolve and just didn't want Pierce in the group because he hates him. Pierce then tells the group that he to lie about evolving and he paid Kane a few thousand dollars to kick Jeff out. As the group try to vote Peirce out of the group Jeff stops them and says that the table is magic and they need each other. As they leave Jeff ask Pierce how he bribed Professor Kane as he can't be bought Pierce tells him that Jeff has harder time being the bad guy then he does. Anne ask Jeff what he is going to do sine he is still kicked out of Biology, he tells her he isn't worried. Professor Kane is sitting at his desk opening a package with a plant in it grown trough Jeff's phone he then kicks Starburns out of his class after he suggest they do a Braking Bad type of deal.
Meanwhile the Dean talks to the security about the monkey living in the vents (which is really Chang). Vice Dean Laybourne (John Goodman
), the dean of the renowned Air Conditioning Repair Annex, comes in and Dean Pelton talks about school funds being used for personal use in Air Conditioning Repair Annex. Vice Dean Laybourne tells him he is right and tells the Dean to come down to the Annex tomorrow and he'll show him the reason. Dean Pelton meets with Vice Dean Laybourne in his office and questions Dean pelton about where the funds actually went after seeing how big his office. Laybourne tells the Dean that if it weren't for the Air Conditioning Repair Annex then Greendale wouldn't have any money at all. The security guards give the Dean the statement for the gassing, but Dean Pelton tells them he can't pay this or their salary so instead tries to give them vouchers for a class of their choose, two of the guards quit and one takes the voucher. As he leaves Chang falls from the ceiling and tells the Dean that he was living in his vents as he has no home, or job, the Dean then ask if that means he'll work for room and board.
In the tag scene Anne is fixing the table, Troy apologizes to Britta about being over protective of Abed and she says it's fine and finally declares a major in psychology. Chang then appears in a security uniform and tells them to keep it down, Jeff then states that is the year they will all die.
, their first writing credit for the series. It was directed by executive producer Anthony Russo
, his 12th directing credit for the series.
, where Jeff sees himself in Pierce's body while the study table takes control of his life. Jeff frozen over with an axe could be a reference to another Stanley Kubrick film, The Shining.
In order to cheer up Abed, Britta and Annie show him a British science fiction television series that started in 1962 called Inspector Spacetime. The short clip is a direct parody of Doctor Who
, with similar opening credits, a time-traveling phone box, an attack by robots similar to the Daleks
, who say "eradicate" instead of the Daleks' war cry/catchphrase "exterminate," and it started in 1962 instead of 1963. The Inspector is played by Travis Richey.
Britta finds the original British version of Cougar Town
for Abed, which is called Cougarton Abbey, a reference to the British series, Downton Abbey
.
The opening musical sequence is a parody of the musical television series Glee
, a television series Community has referenced previously.
Guest star Michael K. Williams is best known for the role of Omar on The Wire
; the phrase 'you feel me', which is often used on that show, is spoken by several characters in this episode.
In the episode ending Starburns mentions being a drug cooking duo to Michael K. Williams and mentions Breaking Bad
.
Community (season 3)
The third season of the television comedy series Community premiered on September 22, 2011, and airs on NBC Thursdays at 8:00 pm ET as part of the network's "Comedy Night Done Right" programming block.-Starring:*Joel McHale as Jeff Winger...
of Community
Community (TV series)
Community is an American television comedy series created by Dan Harmon that airs on NBC. The series is about a group of students at a community college in the fictional locale of Greendale, Colorado. The series heavily uses meta-humor and pop culture references, often parodying film and television...
. The episode originally aired on September 22, 2011 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. The episode picks up where the second season
Community (season 2)
The second season of the television comedy series Community premiered on September 23, 2010 and concluded on May 12, 2011, on NBC and aired on Thursdays at 8:00 pm ET as part of Comedy Night Done Right.-Starring:*Joel McHale as Jeff Winger...
left off, with Pierce out of the group. The study group resumes class at Greendale and decides to enroll in Biology.
The episode was written by Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan
Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan
Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan are a television writing team who have worked on television comedies Family Guy and Scrubs. Their most recent project was the television pilot Nobody's Watching, which they created and wrote with Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence.The character on Family Guy named Neil...
and directed by Anthony Russo
Russo brothers
Anthony and Joe Russo, known together professionally as the Russo brothers, are Emmy Award-winning American film and television directors. The brothers direct most of their work jointly, and they also occasionally work as producers, actors, and editors. The Russos are from Cleveland, Ohio, and were...
.
Plot
The study group decides to take a Biology class together, but Anne wonders what they are going to do without Pierce. Troy and Abed announce they are living together, Dean Pelton sporting a goatee announces things around here are going to be different. Pierce returns and says that the table has a sort of magic that binds them together and says he is ready to return to the group, but Jeff makes it clear that there are no more seats in the class. Pierce that could take something else and have evolved beyond what class the take together, Jeff says they have evolved even further beyond relying on a group at all and they are friends and that the table just "magically" keeps their books from falling on the floor and tells Pierce they will see him when they see him.Anne hopes they done the right thing with Pierce and believes that he real has changed, but Jeff says he is the same old Pierce and they are better off without him. Abed becomes upset when he learns the Cougar Town has been moved to mid-season. Their professor (Michael K. Williams
Michael K. Williams
Michael Kenneth Williams is an American actor known for his portrayal of Omar Little on the HBO drama series The Wire, and of Albert "Chalky" White on HBO's Boardwalk Empire.-Early life and career:...
) says he has studied 6205 hours, because was only allowed 1 hour per day while serving twenty-five to life. As he begins to tell the class about how he stared at a crack in his cell and a single blade of grass grew out of nothing, Jeff's cell phone goes off and he kicks Jeff out.
Britta tries to help Abed by showing him the British adaptation that Cougar Town was based off of, called "Cougarton Abbey". Jeff tries to find a class the group can take together after being kicked out Biology, when Anne reminds Jeff of his speech about how they are evolve and don't need to take a class together. As he goes to leave Pierce comes in and tells the group how he took Jeff's spot in Biology.
Jeff goes to apologies to Professor Kane but he doesn't except his apology and tells him if he wants to learn about life then he should give up the phone. Jeff thinks he means a bribe but Kane tells him he can't be bought, Jeff begins to retaliate but then spots a picture of Pierce and tries to take it back to the group but Chang steals it wanting to get in the group. He chases Chang trough the vents as security is filling the vents with "monkey gas".
Britta desperate to help Abed shows him a British Sci-fi show that’s been on the air since 1962 called "Inspector Spacetime" which Abed says is the best show he has ever seen in his life. Jeff strung out on "monkey gas" tells the group that Pierce is the reason he was kicked out of Biology and shows they the picture of Pierce and "Kane", but Pierce tells him that the picture is of him and Hawthorne wipes spokesman. Jeff makes things worst when he unknowingly makes a racist comment, Pierce tries to help him but Jeff tells that to Shut up, and leaves and then returns with an ax and tries to destroy the table.
The group finds Jeff and he tells them he lied about wanting the group to evolve and just didn't want Pierce in the group because he hates him. Pierce then tells the group that he to lie about evolving and he paid Kane a few thousand dollars to kick Jeff out. As the group try to vote Peirce out of the group Jeff stops them and says that the table is magic and they need each other. As they leave Jeff ask Pierce how he bribed Professor Kane as he can't be bought Pierce tells him that Jeff has harder time being the bad guy then he does. Anne ask Jeff what he is going to do sine he is still kicked out of Biology, he tells her he isn't worried. Professor Kane is sitting at his desk opening a package with a plant in it grown trough Jeff's phone he then kicks Starburns out of his class after he suggest they do a Braking Bad type of deal.
Meanwhile the Dean talks to the security about the monkey living in the vents (which is really Chang). Vice Dean Laybourne (John Goodman
John Goodman
John Stephen Goodman is an American film, television, and stage actor. He is best known for his role as Dan Conner on the television series Roseanne for which he won a Best Actor Golden Globe Award in 1993, and for appearances in the films of the Coen brothers, with prominent roles in Raising...
), the dean of the renowned Air Conditioning Repair Annex, comes in and Dean Pelton talks about school funds being used for personal use in Air Conditioning Repair Annex. Vice Dean Laybourne tells him he is right and tells the Dean to come down to the Annex tomorrow and he'll show him the reason. Dean Pelton meets with Vice Dean Laybourne in his office and questions Dean pelton about where the funds actually went after seeing how big his office. Laybourne tells the Dean that if it weren't for the Air Conditioning Repair Annex then Greendale wouldn't have any money at all. The security guards give the Dean the statement for the gassing, but Dean Pelton tells them he can't pay this or their salary so instead tries to give them vouchers for a class of their choose, two of the guards quit and one takes the voucher. As he leaves Chang falls from the ceiling and tells the Dean that he was living in his vents as he has no home, or job, the Dean then ask if that means he'll work for room and board.
In the tag scene Anne is fixing the table, Troy apologizes to Britta about being over protective of Abed and she says it's fine and finally declares a major in psychology. Chang then appears in a security uniform and tells them to keep it down, Jeff then states that is the year they will all die.
Production
The episode was written by executive producers Neil Goldman and Garrett DonovanNeil Goldman and Garrett Donovan
Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan are a television writing team who have worked on television comedies Family Guy and Scrubs. Their most recent project was the television pilot Nobody's Watching, which they created and wrote with Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence.The character on Family Guy named Neil...
, their first writing credit for the series. It was directed by executive producer Anthony Russo
Russo brothers
Anthony and Joe Russo, known together professionally as the Russo brothers, are Emmy Award-winning American film and television directors. The brothers direct most of their work jointly, and they also occasionally work as producers, actors, and editors. The Russos are from Cleveland, Ohio, and were...
, his 12th directing credit for the series.
Cultural references
The episode features a scene where Jeff is knocked unconscious by monkey knockout-gas. Jeff drifts into a dream state much like the one seen in 2001: A Space Odyssey2001: A Space Odyssey (film)
2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, and co-written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, partially inspired by Clarke's short story The Sentinel...
, where Jeff sees himself in Pierce's body while the study table takes control of his life. Jeff frozen over with an axe could be a reference to another Stanley Kubrick film, The Shining.
In order to cheer up Abed, Britta and Annie show him a British science fiction television series that started in 1962 called Inspector Spacetime. The short clip is a direct parody of Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, with similar opening credits, a time-traveling phone box, an attack by robots similar to the Daleks
Dalek
The Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
, who say "eradicate" instead of the Daleks' war cry/catchphrase "exterminate," and it started in 1962 instead of 1963. The Inspector is played by Travis Richey.
Britta finds the original British version of Cougar Town
Cougar Town
Cougar Town is an American television sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009. The series focuses on a recently divorced woman in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter, along with her son, ex-husband, and friends who together make...
for Abed, which is called Cougarton Abbey, a reference to the British series, Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey is a British television period drama series, produced by NBC Universal-owned British media company Carnival Films for the ITV network. The series is set during the late Edwardian era and the First World War on the fictional estate of Downton Abbey in Yorkshire, and features an...
.
The opening musical sequence is a parody of the musical television series Glee
Glee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
, a television series Community has referenced previously.
Guest star Michael K. Williams is best known for the role of Omar on The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
; the phrase 'you feel me', which is often used on that show, is spoken by several characters in this episode.
In the episode ending Starburns mentions being a drug cooking duo to Michael K. Williams and mentions Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
.
Ratings
In its original American broadcast on September 22, 2011, "Biology 101" was viewed by an estimated 4.00 million viewers with a Nielsen rating of 1.7 in the 18–49 demographic.External links
- "Biology 101" at NBC.com
- "Biology 101" at TV TropesTV TropesTV Tropes is a wiki which collects and expands on various conventions and devices found within creative works. Since its establishment in 2004, the site has gone from covering only television and film tropes to also covering those in a number of other media such as literature, comics, video-games,...