Community - Pillows and Blankets Episode (Behind The Scenes)

Just having cursory knowledge of the existence of Ken Burns' Civil War documentaries for PBS should have been enough for you to absolutely love the season three episode "Pillows and Blankets." The Burnsian style was given a Community twist and the result was an exceptional conclusion to the Troy and Abed friendship arc.
From the opening shot of the slow-motion feathers filling the hall, and the stirring narration of Keith David (who, yes, was in Abed's beloved The Cape), you knew this was going to be an instantly classic episode. And as the episode progressed, you were never let down. The Civil War-style PBS doc of this great pillow altercation never faltered. It never veered away from the concept, never lost its momentum. From beginning to end, this was a stand-alone production, all while fitting perfectly within the ongoing story. So sit back, relax, and enjoy a behind the scenes look at one of the most ambitious episodes of Community.
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All rights reserved to NBC.

[@LightsCameraActionYT]

Hope you enjoyed the video! Let me know what else you'd like to see! If you have a minute, please check out my store: tee.pub/lic/PenyKYgSz3M

[@milkshakellie]

the fact you didn’t call this “behind the sheets” is one of greatest tragedies in human history

[@DaveB432]

Or Under the Pillow!

[@kelvinyap04]

Truly the darkest timeline...

[@andreaslach691]

Dang you guys have great brains. 😂❤

[@HyperSora80]

That would've been so streets ahead

[@leela8641]

Greendale Human Being history

[@deanvandijk9670]

"This is war, Yvette" is such a funny line lmao

[@Nehu_22]

"Wow that changes everything" the way she says both parts is hilarious

[@bmvthemoviefanatic7282]

How am I only now finding out that Community made a documentary about the making of their documentary about one of the biggest civil wars on Greendale Campus, nay, one of the biggest wars in history?!

[@juliao1255]

I'm wondering the same thing for myself, and then I see you commented just 2 hours ago! Must be something in the algorithm - LOL.

[@caitymarie3975]

@@juliao1255 glad it's not just me

[@prezpolk4ever]

And the last horse finished the race. I’ve always loved this episode and it’s amazing to hear from the cast and crew, and how they put so much love into it… just another perfect episode.

[@gregorylevine1850]

I'm perplexed to only find out tonight, 4 of your Earth months later than your comment!

[@gregorylevine1850]

​@@caitymarie3975 Nay, not just you!

[@veronica.theswamphag]

this is so meta LOL

[@valeriexiang2858]

you'd expect nothing less from this show

[@smarkslowplay3512]

Not for giggles though, it has the big heart behind it

[@deafydeafs]

Seriously!!

[@whothefuckusedmynick]

Meta meta. Cool cool cool

[@prisonmike4971]

Very on brand

[@neo-xy3fr]

I love that even the bts is in documentary form

[@notjoshmerkle]

@@yourwrong9970lol no

[@debrachambers1304]

Well, yeah. Because it's a documentary. I get what you mean though.

[@willk4783]

*LEONARD LIKES THIS POST*

[@anomalousknowname7686]

Shut up Leonard I know all about your butt fungus cream

[@williambaker1003]

I truly believe this is the best line in the entire show

[@JanTheo_]

The guy who played Leonard already died.

[@notcaidensmith]

she britta’d the answer of the pillow vs blanket section.

[@halberggb3124]

Love her to bits.

[@thegamingknight2096]

@@halberggb3124 Love her to britts.

[@zyaicob]

if to britta something means to provide something unexpected but better then sure "When you ask Britta to pass the salt, she gives you a bowl of soup. Because soup is better."

[@zyaicob]

@@thegamingknight2096 love you

[@jmab721]

Typical libra

[@apurdye]

Hearing Alison Brie's voice without the Annie affect is always so jarring (but lovely)

[@jeniferjoseph9200]

It’s a lot closer to her Diane voice

[@gonefing1234]

They thought it was great? They thought the episode was great? It wasnt great. IT WAS MAJESTIC!

[@smarkslowplay3512]

Phenomenal

[@timmyho8978]

It was streets ahead

[@greenrandall143]

@@timmyho8978 “Pierce stop trying to coin that”

[@mik3y448]

@@greenrandall143 Trying? Heh, coined and minted... been there coined that!! Streets ahead of verbal wildfire.

[@AddamSolo]

@@timmyho8978 lmfao

[@FunnyShortsFromTV]

Alison brie is a national treasure, her raps are always on point😂

[@chasbodaniels1744]

She’s a real gem for sure … BUT … it bugged me that she didn’t rhyme the word “nuthin” with “stuffin” at the end of her rap.

[@NotFrogBox]

Where do you think Donald Glover got his inspiration?

[@andreaslach691]

Dang that was a very suprising rap at the end. Great work. Love HipHop. ❤👍🏼

[@kingofpointless]

Her raps always say a lot about our society.

[@walrus2515]

Man, Danny and Alison’s friendship is adorable. The whole cast’s is, in truth. I just love this show.

[@jigneshpatel-gw9fs]

Documentary about a documentary.....so meta

[@Zchannel261]

Abed gets it

[@isabelhoch3713]

yvettes confessionals were SO funny 🤣

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Her “Shirley voice” snuck in a couple of times too! She’s pretty funny.

[@Gibbypastrami]

HOLY CRAP, I just realized it's Keith David who did the narrator voice in this episode, that's Elroy! In season 3! Like how Frankie's actress also played the IT lady lol

[@wesleighl5859]

omg when i was rewatching it i thought it couldve been him hahah

[@koseorhun]

If Keith is good enough to be a VP of USA, I think he can be Ken Burns too :D

[@fusion10sg]

Now this is a man that knows how to narrate!

[@juliao1255]

@@fusion10sg LMAO! Great comment!

[@juliao1255]

OMG - Thank you for pointing that out! I kept trying to place the voice. How did I not realize it was him?! Duh- doy.

[@Dianimations_]

The creativity of Community is so refreshing 14 years later

[@MerelyFlowers]

"Pillows are everywhere, and they carry disease." -Joel McHale

[@chasbodaniels1744]

For that reason. I always travel with my own pillowcases to cover hotel pillows.

[@minnumseerrund]

in America it's the blankets that carry the disease, historically

[@chasbodaniels1744]

@@minnumseerrund Ouch, good one.

[@caydesmith7021]

This was my first episode of community, watched it with my brother many years ago and he kept saying "I swear the whole show isn't like this"

[@tabathaogost4982]

The blanket vs pillow question is absolutely ridiculous, and the seriousness with which they answer it is even more ridiculous.

[@gregorylevine1850]

Thus, more beautiful.

[@thatwarlock7512]

god that chevy chase still while he's talking in the background about how much he hates stills broke me

[@brunhildevalkyrie]

He shouldn't flatter himself, he looks terrible on anything

[@loganshaver1178]

bro this is incredibly revealing about chevy chase's character

[@jesuschristthesecond]

classic narc

[@susiejo237]

I don’t know who is a better rapper. Alison or Donald

[@gabe6475]

Donald

[@tesstucker3311]

Objectively, Donald. But if I had to listen to only one of them for the rest of my life? Alison, hands down.

[@sinabonz8108]

Dean Pelton

[@nah1700]

@@sinabonz8108 BARACK OBAMA IS SCAREEDD OF ME

[@ctons]

Jim Rash actually. Remember the peanut rap?

[@deafydeafs]

Alison Brie a gem

[@kamaliparisa]

this episode was definitely one of the funniest. community's occassional change of medium, editing or writing style is just so fun and allows it to stand out among other sitcoms

[@noahp4261]

I've watched this show for years and never seen this or the deleted scenes!! Thank you very much!

[@borkingborker5567]

This two-parter episode is actually one of my favorites. The first two paintball episodes, and the Hot Lava episode.

[@timisontube]

All great, definitely similar theme/idea. Love the games and events and play-wars.

[@thenothing2786]

I can’t wait until the documentary about this making of a documentary comes out.

[@fabulousmyriad267]

12:42-Annie's rap😂

[@shameekgrimes1921]

MC Adderall

[@max-tz6eu]

"really, on a thursday night, at eight o' clock, on nbc??" is my new favourite thing ever.

[@pandatotoro]

Eyyy that rap in the end

[@zyaicob]

it's always nice to watch the bts of this show and witness the invention of rap by Alison Brie

[@momango2201]

Chevy did not want to be there lol

[@kerim63000]

How did you reach to that conclusion, he acts just like everyone else.

[@momango2201]

@@kerim63000 Chevy chase had an ugly departure from this show. There is a few interviews where he blames Dan Harmon. Also he didn't get along with some of the other cast especially Annie. He was a good actor in here though i loved this show up until after the 4th season.

[@johnjacobjingleheimerschmi6655]

They could have totally just had this as an episode, like immediately after the two parter. I mean it's literally done professionally in the same style with literally the same cast.

[@gregorylevine1850]

Unrelated to your comment, but I noticed that your name is my name, too! (I changed it when I got tired of all the people shouting. Sometimes you just want to go out and think.)

[@lazyautomation3481]

The Dean and Shirley's voice is breaking my brain

[@daniqueneefjes6543]

Breaking your brain, or wrinkling it?

[@chuyvp]

The bags under all their eyes 😩

[@ErenYega747]

It’ll be so funny if in the effort to reduce costs and not be behind schedule, they did everything that was way more expensive and wrote an elaborate script and set design making them be *not* on schedule at all. They chose to do a two parter to use the same stuff in the previous episode, which makes sense. But then for this they had to make multiple pillow forts, pillow rooms, and pillow themed clothing and scenes like with Pierce wrapped in pillows, not to mention the feathers everywhere. They've even made ethnic sections and movie reference sections of pillow rooms. They destroyed the landscape of the school and made a new one that looks so much more expensive and costly to be done than any other episode excluding the paintball ones and lava episodes. I bet everyone knew they were really taking the piss when they were told to stay in budget and on schedule by creating a pillow civil war two parter. If they really wanted to save cost and time they could have done a bottle episode 😅

[@thegloriousmoodman2152]

I love what Harmon said about his actors at the end.

[@equinoxXIII]

Never realized how touchy Alison was with Danny especially during interviews 😁

[@gregorylevine1850]

You can see their best-friendiness in scenes where everyone piles in close, e.g., to watch TV. Very physically comfortable with each other. (The end of the Blade ep. comes to mind.)

[@equinoxXIII]

@@gregorylevine1850 I think they are platonic soulmates if you see how close and in sync they are. They even shared a trailer when the show was airing!

[@neo-xy3fr]

No one: Absolutely no one: Chevy: hello i'm chevy chase... Why does he always do that lol

[@ginusharakelyan8350]

It's from SNL sketches

[@daraeaton3647]

How did Donald Glover end up with a rap career and Alison Brie didn’t

[@KevinZeph]

you could see it in his eyes, that was the moment he committed to becoming Gambino... all to blanket fort the pillow fort of Alison Brie's outro rap. He had to out do it. And DAMN did he ever.

[@gregorylevine1850]

​@@KevinZeph That use of pillows & blankets to craft a metaphor is Thurber Award-level. Or at least, Peabody.

[@ElizabethT45]

@@KevinZeph This analogy is streets ahead.

[@MrCardigansGorliePops]

This group of ppl are geniuses. Period.

[@Drinkyoghurt]

One of the most memorable episodes. I hate how Community never caught on with the general public, but in all fairness the final season really showed it was time to stop.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Really creative and unusual shows are to be treasured for the run they do have. The mass of TV viewers are either too tired, too distracted or too stupid to put up with the artistic challenge of a show like Community.

[@Drinkyoghurt]

@@chasbodaniels1744 It''s always going to be the same with everything though, companies are going to cater to the simple masses rather than critical few. Most popular music? Easy 4 chord progression that's been done to death is more popular than someone/a band doing completely innovative stuff. Video games? Most of them are removing skill ceilings to level out the playing field, making games that are quick to learn but with nothing to really master. I'm just glad that Community made it this far despite a though crowd.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

@@Drinkyoghurt You’ve nailed it my friend. We risk being labeled as elitist, but what you’re saying is absolutely accurate.

[@BookshelfQBattler]

The problem with a sitcom about college is it is near impossible to go past 4 years without being sad. After 4 years you want them being successful, having jobs and living their dreams. If they’re still in college after 4 years (not talking about grad school or part time) it is sad.

[@pimpbisquick7036]

Sure, why would they go beyond six seasons.

[@johnpowerworld]

11:13 i like how she brittas the question

[@awaisraad]

I am here to say that this was the greatest episode of any tv show that I have ever watched.

[@keepperspective]

This is my FAVORITE episode and I rewatch it regularly

[@dustyboialex]

Wow it's crazy alison's is so "good" at rapping but they never really used her except for the Christmas song with Jeff to sing lol and that was a joke

[@Gibbypastrami]

Because Annie wouldn't know how to rap lol

[@atrombonist]

Would be fun to have Annie rapping along Troy and Abed on the outro of the movie. Would close the story arc very well

[@jurgnobs1308]

damn, chevy chase just seems like a real life Pierce

[@TheDarknight90210]

Damn, pillows or blankets can actually be used to describe a personality

[@gregorylevine1850]

Wow. I think you just coined something brilliantly useful.

[@AddamSolo]

Annie is a pretty good freestyler

[@filipinoparadigm]

"I saw mommy kissing Exxon Mobile"

[@nothingposted9056]

Poet by choice, lesbian by birth

[@elifdurmus8243]

That rap at the end was FIRE

[@yuchenwang355]

This is just...wonderfully meta - Community was just so wonderful at its prime

[@jamestolson231]

I am so happy that I found this...

[@allysonhenry2524]

Gillian is so adorable I can't stand it!

[@filipo4114]

Britta was the only one who understood the question... and maby Abed but he gave in to the community surrounding him

[@notParollac]

wow, a documentary about a documentary about pillow fights

[@charlesapeescapemanson7202]

Its funny how much chevy chase is just old Joel McHale

[@ryanansloan2686]

Totally. Different is that Joel McHale has all the self-awareness that Chevy lacks

[@OzymandiasWasRight]

Troy and Abed staring at eachother while holding their armies back is genuinely heartbreaking.

[@lokaler_Albino]

0:23 One of the biggest CHANGelles

[@sunnydtgm5414]

Just wonderful, so glad I came across this, easily two of my favourite episodes. *Props to all involved, you did an absolutely stellar job*

[@gorrium5027]

love that they are just walking towards the camera

[@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460]

One of my favorite episodes of #Community. It was brilliant and hearing Keith David's voice made it all the more wonderful. #SixSeasonsAndAMovie *#AndAMovie**!* 🙏🏽

[@DPMusicStudio]

My god, in EVERY clip I've seen of Chevy Chase behind the scenes, he cannot stop talking about himself or drawing attention to himself. It's actually hard to find a clip where he's not being an insufferable ass. I know this is well-documented, but it's just so hard to believe that it's as bad as they it was... until you realize... wow it really was as bad as they say it was.

[@eldrickzero4885]

he is perfectly casted for pierce

[@NabberDog]

I think he only lasted as long as he did is because the cast grew up idolizing him. There’s a reason he was only on SNL for one season.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Connor, good observation. The first season of SNL Chevy stood out from the rest of the cast in his tone, presence and confidence. He was like a dose of seasoning to a soup that’s unique and tasty at first, but loses its appeal in a second bowlful.

[@jebediahkrimsoncraftleding3012]

Self-deprecating humor about "I'm old and ugly now, shooting this in stills where I have to pose is rough" is arrogant? Some of you care too much.

[@jebediahkrimsoncraftleding3012]

"Blanket, it covers your whole body!" "Damn this insufferable ass." Lmao

[@Lm0956]

Welp, time to rewatch community

[@lawbinson]

Damn, that Briestyle at the end is amazing

[@Jamerton1]

I can't believe this exists.

[@pikselolan2091]

these episodes were goooollldd. they were masterpieces

[@shameekgrimes1921]

One of my favorite season 3 episodes

[@annmorgana2848]

now imma going havta rewatch it. darn.

[@jmab721]

The rap in the end was so cool Lmfao

[@mrpicky1868]

BTW one of the best episodes

[@Abominatrix650]

Perfection.

[@welleedelmobasher4238]

“I don’t even like to look in the mirror to shave” killed me! Everyone hated him but love Chevy

[@ivanpatarcic73]

JIM RASH AND JOEL MCHALE AGREEING

[@OgamiItto70]

I learned so much...

[@owensterba]

A documentary about a documentary

[@seanlaffey3633]

Does anyone know the music that starts at 4:52? It pops up in the show a lot, like when Abed made his first film for his father.

[@jabbawabs]

Look up "Community Medley". Most of the shows background music is on there.

[@joechang7112]

1:26 "they were just gonna do this whole sort of Civil War" *proceeds to appear in Captain America: Civil War*

[@evanhatmaker3087]

Brita would brita the pillow vs blanket question

[@MaryEllenBrown]

Britta*

[@StreetsAhead-yw2tc]

​@@MaryEllenBrown He britta'd Britta..

[@jamis1566]

THEY EVEN DID THE WAR DOCUMENTARY KEN BURNS EFFECT AT 0:36 HAHA

[@jonas3333]

Is that the freaking clown doll head from Poltergeist on the shelf behind them?!? Ahhhhhhghh!

[@doortjemeijer2378]

Did abed create this video?

[@TheidiotAmongUs]

This is streets ahead.

[@william2154]

3:05 Saaaame

[@Higsby100]

leave it to dan a literal walking study group

[@claireb9870]

4:45 thats insane that was one of the BEST EPISODE EVER

[@jmab721]

2:22 lmao Joel is hilarious xD

[@69slutbabyangel]

Yvette’s voice is so pretty wow

[@heliojip]

PLEASE THIS IS SO FUNNY

[@MarquesoDaGoat]

alison with the bars 😮‍💨🔥

[@nah1700]

I feel like Yvette has a way deeper voice than Shirley in the show

[@Gibbypastrami]

Oh yeah definitely she raises it on purpose

[@lilenwasnothere6867]

it's somehow deeper but younger sounding

[@shameekgrimes1921]

Reminds of Stephanie Beatriz deepening her voice in Brooklyn 99

[@TheSaintBigFoot]

That's acting:)

[@alew9457]

the 2 dislikes are from pierce's two accounts and he just gave up after that

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

Let's be honest, he only knows how to use voice command and he's not even good at that.

[@AddamSolo]

@@AlexFarleyMusic Well to be fair, voice command is pretty streets ahead.

[@barshohatovitch4636]

Alison Bree should do stand up comedy

[@ThatJingleJangleFeeling]

Looks like Documentary Now has some royalties to pay.

[@Coryalan2]

Hey, it's Owly!

[@OfficialAstralGamer]

What’s the song that starts at 11:30

[@livk7247]

Green dale is where I belong

[@arkleuss]

Annie rapping

[@jmab721]

11:02 typical libra

[@Diiphot]

What’s the song that starts at 1:40

[@alexbcomedy]

amazing grace

[@mandmgally8245]

5 seconds my first thought is its spencer that is the narrator

[@pauloricardo-wn6ps]

Chevy Chase: i hate still pictures of me *cuts to a still picture of him*