Community - Dan Harmon on Jeff Winger's Leadership

Purchase full-length Paley Center DVD of a similar event here: amzn.to/17jEirC. Also on amazon instant video.
Series creator/executive producer Dan Harmon and cast member Joel McHale (Jeff Winger) talk about Jeff's leadership qualities and how his presence affects the study group in the different timelines of "Remedial Chaos Theory."
For more information on this event, please visit www.paleycenter.org/paleyfest2...
ABOUT THE PALEY CENTER:

In an era of rapid change in media and technology, the not-for-profit Paley Center for Media explores the evolving ways in which we create, consume, and connect through media. With locations in New York and Los Angeles, and the foremost public archive of television and radio programming, the Paley Center produces and curates programs, forums, and educational activities that engage the general public, industry professionals, and the creative community in an ongoing conversation about the impact of media on our lives. The Paley Center for Media is a hub of innovation and connection for entrepreneurs, investors, and consumers with its finger on the pulse of the next big thing in media. Go to www.paleycenter.org to learn more.

[@tmakalpha1]

Holy crap Dan Harmon really delved into that leadership role question

[@jmab721]

That's why HE'S THE CREATOR

[@stefan1024]

love how the Dean also touches Jeff in real life

[@jerryseinfeld2.045]

😂

[@OJames1138]

Did you know they loved together for a year during the 3rd season?

[@stefan1024]

@@OJames1138 "loved together" lol, yeah I know, they talked about it in the darkest timline podcast.

[@kenek629]

@@OJames1138 they need to talk more about this! There has to be some hilarious stories that came from this I just know it

[@nickv1212]

When Harmon gets philosophical, I can't help but rethink my entire life.

[@msul78]

Dan Harmon is the heart and soul of Community.

[@Bbbuttersknife]

Actually, Donald Glover is.

[@sechay9328]

Dan's breakdown of the leader role is great, and why I also love the episode where Pierce leaves and suddenly the group needs a new Pierce. Because it turns out every group also needs a villain, a lightning rod to absorb all the excess negativity.

[@jjdubuyou1976]

The strength of these characters is amazing.

[@Despair505]

Man, reading these comments it's like traveling back in time. At that moment no one knew what would happen with the Harmon drama.

[@foxygrin]

yeah and they also didn't know it wouldn't mean the end of the show

[@hpstewart2]

Dan offers some great insight here into the characters and story structure of the show. If you haven't read Campbell's Hero With A Thousand Faces and Volger's The Writers Journey, you should

[@moosengame3254]

I view it like, the group couldn't have formed if it wasn't for Jeff. and early on If Jeff isn't there the group starts to fall apart, like in the chicken finger episode. But the difference between that and remedial chaos theory shows the growth the characters, and now they have grown enough together to the point they don't need his presence anymore. But they couldn't have got to that point without him.

[@tonyeleaglenurmagomedov4550]

Well you know in season 5 Jeff leaves and the group breaks up idk

[@jmab721]

Good interpretation

[@inc3000]

"We Don't Need a President!" - Dan Harmon 2020 : Dan Harmon is a Genius!

[@TheSchemer1]

and I will die protecting his vision

[@mondler107]

LMAO YES

[@mexicanese50]

That ending was just perfect

[@danielmeech2418]

actually, Dan blamed Sony. He claimed that Sony had been trying to superimpose new writers to change the "Style and pacing" of the show. Dan was trying to end the series soon, but Sony thought it was a little to early, and following an argument he was kicked out, along with all other writers invloved from the beginning, and was replaced by a smaller newer team, many of whom didnt even want to be there. The two new lead writers even wrote an apology letter to Dan, explaining there situation

[@strtg3y3r]

I LOVE READING COMMUNITY FAN COMMENTS.... They are just so heart warming to me :)

[@martyhalloway7935]

Stuart Geyer they still are

[@aesthetewithoutacause3981]

Man I never even though of Community as an allegory for how communities function. Damn.

[@gabriel_kyne]

the chemistry of this cast is incredible

[@eduardomunhoz1581]

4:42 don't worry jim, your character will joing the group one day

[@tailsmelv025]

It appears that when Jeff isn't present, they can all progress, because they no longer rely on anyone to tell them what to do. It also appears that when Troy isn't present, everything goes to hell. Ironic, considering what ends up happening in the show. 😂😂😂

[@ch3burashka]

Glad they brought up Remedial Chaos Theory; so funny, yet so sad.

[@maheshunlimited]

2:29 Dean is looking at jeff exactly how Dean would if Jeff was almost opening up

[@dewskie]

Gotta love Jim Rash.

[@TeeJaySmall]

Not sure why exactly I noticed this but it seems like Allison makes a lot of eye contact when someone is speaking and Dan has a really hard time making any eye contact lol

[@donjohnson2003]

It's called aspbergers

[@Defiring]

+Ty Robertson It's called not being an actor and having kind of a hard time in front of a crowd

[@donjohnson2003]

That, and he has gone on record to say that he has aspergers

[@Edited6]

+Ty Robertson The first time he talked about it seriously he simply said he relates to alot of the symptoms of aspergers, which he found out hit close to home when researching for Abed's character. This does not mean he has aspergers. In fact, every other time he brings it up after that he always qualifies it as a self-diagnosis.

[@marcelopedraza7290]

he kinda jokes a lot about having aspbergers, but doesnt really believe it

[@Hedgehog4real]

i want a jim rash in my life,forever

[@wellDamnJamz]

they spread

[@amalasiri]

feels good to know that other people feel the same way as I do while watching this. *group hugs all of us loners out there*

[@InsertSarcasmHere]

It's been confirmed that Dan Harmon was asked back to be part of Community season 5 once again. It was confirmed via his twitter feed after being asked by his followers repeatedly due to a rumor...

[@zhensihop235]

Dont end the show, please. PLEASE.

[@thejademonkey1]

Yeah it needs time for the writers to get in a rhythm so im very happy season 5 is going ahead. Despite season 4 being pretty lack luster, i still love the characters and hope it continues on.

[@erickuizenga]

#SixSeasonsAndAMovie

[@barlovesnoop]

Apparently the Dean is the best character in real life, too!

[@scoobidoo112]

I can relate...

[@viktormon]

I thought it picked up in the later episodes, and every episode had it's moments. But I have to agree, there's something missing, hard to explain. Hopefully they get to improve for the next season :)

[@lukejtmulder]

The Glee club, Pierce's mom, The Air Condition Repair vice Dead.

[@jmab721]

Here after the movie got confirmed 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

[@foxygrin]

Jim Rash is so attractive it's unfair

[@t0mom]

Holy shit Dan is onto some next-level logic

[@flaviolatino9038]

Oh this comment section... SIX SEASONS AND A MOVIE.

[@treize32]

your profile picture is sublime. :)

[@krschu00]

Hang in there bud... You'll find your own community some day.

[@bedheadead]

oh man.

[@JimCullen]

I only started watching the show a month ago, and haven't really been following the behind the scenes until recently. What's this between Chevy and Harmon?

[@DaudrichDima]

Where did Dan say that he wants to end the series soon? And when? Because i see everytime that they want more, and he and the cast are really thinking about 6 seasons and a MOVIE. And i think Dan Harmon will do this if he gets the chance.

[@BitterSweetKana]

If they mean like, just writing about someone dying, Chang fake died in the first season, Pierce's mum died, his did died, Pierce died in the darkest timeline, Starburns fake died. Probably missing someone.

[@DaudrichDima]

SIXSEASONSANDAMOVIE!

[@CibeleDiola]

I wanna be part of the study group so bad!

[@jessechapa5400]

Start your own study group 🙂

[@therealmykag]

4:47 PERIODT!

[@arirhamdar394]

dean's the best

[@thejademonkey1]

The void of Dan no longer being involved in community really shows in season 4 writing.

[@dalianmoya]

monokhem noooo, i googled “why did community change in season 4” and my question was certainly answered. Dan held a lot of weight for this show, and it shows during season 4. it’s like watching characters outside of the show. there’s a familiarity in the characters, but the stories just don’t flow like they did in the first 3 seasons. it just pulled everyone in the wrong directions.

[@dalianmoya]

monokhem okay

[@Uglyknees]

who died in the show? I can only think of two characters (Pierce's dad and Starburns) is there anybody else?

[@sogino]

pierce's mom . also , there's a spoiler thingy about starburns at season three finale if you haven't watched it yet

[@domydishes]

without jeff the group would cannibalize eachother and disperse

[@moeShuaibi]

So Dan is still in the show ?!

[@kliff39]

Pierce's dad (Cornelius Hawthorne)

[@HectorTWE]

Get you a girl that looks at you like Alison looks at Dan at 3:42

[@joonkt90]

Annie is the only other possible leader. Troy was always a hero, and that can be a leader in a way, but only to battle.

[@Watupwitthat1234567]

Where is the full panel? ( for free i mean )

[@blackangel570]

Im just gonna comment incase you get an answer

[@sssophie9292]

+Black Angel haha 😂 me too

[@TwistedPencils]

It wasn't his fault. Chevy was the one who initiated the fight.

[@usernothere900]

Community Easter Eggs and Details: kzbin.info/aero/PLfBt5gG2lF1GuW2bx5Tz08U9ZxKBA5IXo

[@nonameneeded6227]

Its funny how the dean also touches jeff in real life

[@SharpWalkers]

Hardly.

[@lukeshdoesntknow]

Did Jim Rash shine his head?

[@HectorTWE]

That's an Oscar

[@raymondblackhall5796]

Don’t you fucking say that about that legend

[@eiibhline]

awww :)

[@anonym272]

Delta Cubes!

[@RandomPlayIist]

Why?

[@drinkyourtea]

whoa what happened?

[@chinesecabbagefarmer]

whats tron

[@JayMoney1228]

I'd totally watch a show where the Dean is the lead character.

[@chinesecabbagefarmer]

See, this... this is what I want to do. I want to be a writer.

[@jmab721]

Be a writer then. Make excellent stuff like Community.

[@chinesecabbagefarmer]

@@jmab721 But I'm not as good as Dan Harmon.

[@jmab721]

@@chinesecabbagefarmer Keep working hard, and you'll be better than Dan. I know it's a generic boring response, but still it's a good response.

[@chinesecabbagefarmer]

@@jmab721 Even a response is good. Hope you have a good day, man.

[@jmab721]

@@chinesecabbagefarmer And I hope your goal/dream to become a writer works out. All the best.

[@IneffableLifestyle]

That's deeper then i wanna go..

[@drinkyourtea]

I'd hang out with you we could go bowling or play pool or something

[@peterchuvalov]

I just realized something... Jeff is basically Mike Ross from Suits - only like 8 years later, and he probably lost his awesome memory ability, and everyone found out about the fact that he had no law degree... 0_0

[@aliennotion2876]

Question: How do you get a bachelor's degree at a community college?

[@jmab721]

_You don't_

[@tmosh55]

the show has decreased in quality greatly since harmon has left.

[@mymealias]

More like when the group is in trouble they need Jeff. When they just want to have fun, he can be a downer. He's like the dad or the cool older brother that you run to when you're in trouble, but is no fun to play with when you want to just act all childlike and forget about the grownup stuff.

[@djooodie]

5:09 is the epitome of gay panic

[@SmakoSmell]

Chevy Chase is an overgrown man child who is terrible to work with. You can find plenty of articles and videos about people having to work with him and their reactions about it.

[@sontypohnenamen5161]

And that's what Pierce's role was: Chevy Chase playing an alternate version of himself. That's what made him great.

[@jimmydoonz]

Hello you should get some friends okay love you xx

[@swizzbeats1212]

Lmao

[@stephenc9217]

Ok, maybe I'm just drunk, but who "I farted"....

[@thedreamisstilldead]

I love Community, but I wish the show had corrected two things before ending: one, not reaffirm so often Jeff's role as patriarch (as if the others would be lost without him, as suggested in the video above); and two, not be so homophobic. I know the show can't be perfect, and it makes me laugh as it is; however, I've noticed in repeated viewings how often the jokes resort to homophobic gimmicks, and only much later does the show correct itself. Chang's popular shout of "Gaaaaay!" is only undermined in the last scene of the last episode, when Chang admits he is actually gay; and before that, Pierce corrects someone (in Season 3, I think) for using "gay" as a derogatory term. Otherwise, there are running gags involving Chang and Pierce, in particular, who is always saying Jeff is gay and Britta is a lesbian. I still love the show. Just wish it had not relied so frequently on "gay" humor.

[@ciggy_]

I've only seen the first 3 seasons but i feel that the only people that makes gay jokes are the ones that fail to fit in, like pierce and chang, the times where troy makes gay innuendos and then panicking over them i think is part of his character as well, since he comes from this homophobic environment that is sports. I can't really think of anytime the punchline has been that something's funny because "it's wrong to be gay" . You are raising a good point though, if there's something that really plagues american comedy it's the fear of being gay or being associated with it

[@bbbabrock]

thedreamisstilldead. Idk about always. But usually the butt of t gay jokes are the homophobes rather than anyone gay. As such they aren't really even gay jokes

[@atree88]

I think you need to grow a funny bone. You gay. ... haha ... boner

[@samwellboy]

to me Chang shouting "gay" was extremely funny not cause it was homophobic, but because it displayed an extremely dumb (and hilarious) homophobia on Changs part. Same with Pierce: his homophobia is used as a device to make fun of Pierce, not of gay people. Very important distinction, and one that is sometimes ambiguous, but in the case of Community I find it quite clear.

[@staritayo]

What if the show depicts reality, which is patriarchal and homophobic, cause plenty of people are, and then throws at you event to make people reflect on how stupid those constructs are? The show is not homophobic, it doesn't hide the fact that people are, which is way different