Let This Mini ‘Group’ Reunion Maintain You Over Till the (Eventual) Film

Community followers have been hoping for “six seasons and a film” ever since that line of dialogue first appeared within the Season 2 episode “Paradigms of Human Reminiscence.” Again then, the quantity was simply in reference to Abed’s obsession with NBC’s The Cape, which he hoped would get six seasons and a film (as a substitute, it lasted solely ten episodes). However, since then, it is change into a dream for Community fans that the present would final that lengthy. The dream is meant to be a actuality in the end, as quickly as schedules align for the solid to finally film the Community movie. However when you can’t wait to see the Group solid collectively once more within the long-awaited film, there’s a extra quick answer. You’ll be able to tide your self over with the ABC sitcom Dr. Ken.

When Group began, Ken Jeong was already a longtime expertise because of the blockbuster The Hangover. On Group, he gave a hilarious efficiency as the study group’s Spanish teacher. Jeong is such a strong comedic performer that the writers discovered causes to maintain his character round lengthy after the examine group accomplished his Spanish course. In between Group and his current gig on the panel of The Masked Singer, Jeong starred in Dr. Ken, which lasted two seasons. The 2015 sequence is a candy household sitcom wherein he performs a health care provider, drawing from his real experience working as a doctor earlier than he pivoted to performing. Jeong’s former Group co-stars make visitor appearances all through the sequence. However, probably the most enjoyable, must-see episode for Group followers is the finale.

In Dr. Ken, Ken Jeong’s character, Dr. Ken Park, decides to get into comedy while still practicing medicine. Within the delightfully meta finale, his life hits a crossroads when his standup will get the eye of a TV producer, performed by none apart from Group creator Dan Harmon as himself. The producer asks him to audition for a visitor spot on his present. From there, the episode solely turns into more familiar to Community fans. Ken auditions alongside Alison Brie, who Community fans recognize as Annie, however on this present, she performs herself. The audition goes poorly till the often mild-mannered Ken will get indignant and begins ranting, taking up the mannerisms of his Group character Ben Chang. He finally ends up being supplied not just the guest spot he tried out for, however a sequence common half.

The ultimate scene of the Dr. Ken finale exhibits Ken performing within the show-within-a-show. A number of beloved recurring Community actors function extras: Erik Charles Nielsen, who performed Garrett; Danielle Kaplowitz, who performed Vicky; Richard Erdman, who performed Leonard; and Luke Youngblood, who performed Magnitude. It’s very enjoyable recognizing all these actors and appreciating how the scene homages Jeong’s very first scene in Group.

Whereas the finale is probably the most overt tribute to Group, Dr. Ken is stuffed with mini-Group reunions. Joel McHale and Danny Pudi each seem within the episode “Dave’s Valentine.” Gillian Jacobs seems in “Ken’s New Intern,” giving a hilarious efficiency as an intern who Ken suspects has a crush on him. Yvette Nicole Brown seems in “A Day within the Life.” Jim Rash seems in “Ken’s An Professional Witness.” Lastly, Jonathan Banks seems in “Ken’s Professor.”

Of those mini-reunions, probably the most price watching is “Dave’s Valentine.” McHale performs Ross Kirkland, Ken’s nemesis. Ross is the same kind of sleazy lawyer that McHale’s Group character, Jeff Winger, was earlier than he was disbarred and got here to Greendale Group School. Ross and Ken are enemies as a result of he is all the time bringing frivolous lawsuits towards medical doctors, however they need to put their feud apart when their youngsters wish to go to the Valentine’s Day dance collectively. McHale and Jeong have an easy comedic chemistry that makes this episode a spotlight of the sequence.

Though Jeong and McHale might be seen collectively when McHale seems as a visitor panelist on The Masked Singer, throughout Jeong’s guest appearance on McHale’s Animal Control, and after they co-host the podcast The Darkest Timeline, there’s nothing like seeing the 2 of them riffing collectively on an precise sitcom once more. As a bonus, Danny Pudi exhibits up as a womanizer who mistreats one in all Jeong’s co-workers, resulting in a Valentine’s Day confrontation between the 2. Whereas it will’ve been good to see Pudi really in scenes together with his former Group co-stars, it is nonetheless enjoyable to see him.

Hopefully, it is not going to be lengthy earlier than the stars align for the Community movie to lastly occur. Till then, Dr. Ken’s finale is a must-watch for Group followers,full of appropriately meta humor. The visitor appearances from Group solid members all through the present’s run are additionally price watching everytime you miss seeing these actors together. The simple chemistry they developed over six years of Group by no means went away and is thrilling to observe, even in a really completely different context.

Dr. Ken is obtainable to observe on Tubi within the U.S.

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