Intro to Political Science
Encyclopedia
"Intro to Political Science" is the 17th episode of the second season
of Community
. It was originally aired on February 24, 2011 on NBC
.
In the episode, Dean Pelton decides to organize an election for campus president to welcome the arrival of Vice President Joe Biden
to Greendale College. Among the candidates are Jeff and Annie, and the race soon becomes personal between the two. Meanwhile, a Secret Service
agent becomes attracted to Abed, and the two pursue an unusual relationship.
The episode, which satirizes American political culture
, was written by Adam Countee and directed by Jay Chandrasekhar
. It received mixed reviews from critics.
Joe Biden
is to visit Greendale Community College as part of his "Biden Time Talking About Teaching" tour later in the day. Dean Pelton (Jim Rash
) has seven hours to elect a student president to meet the VP. Annie (Alison Brie
) plans to run and has plenty of ideas to improve the school. Jeff (Joel McHale
) mocks her idealism and decides to run against her to prove his point.
Nominees are determined by applause from the crowd. Garrett (Erik Charles Nielsen), Vicki (Danielle Kaplowitz), Leonard (Richard Erdman
), Annie, Jeff, Starburns (Dino Stamatopoulos
), Magnitude (Luke Youngblood
), and Pierce (Chevy Chase
) are nominated, but Britta (Gillian Jacobs
) fails miserably to get crowd support.
The Secret Service
has been observing the campus in preparation for the VP visit, which Abed (Danny Pudi
) notices. He attracts the attention of Special Agent Robin Vohlers (Eliza Coupe
). She spot checks his bag and dorm room for bomb-making material and to get closer to him. Abed and Troy (Donald Glover
) also host a political commentary program on Greendale Campus TV (GCTV) to cover the election.
Throughout the debate, Pierce intimidates Vicki with vile threats. Annie is the only candidate with ideas in the debate, but she is constantly shot down by Jeff, who belts out crowd-pleasing slogans. Magnitude only says "Pop-pop!", which the crowd loves. Vicki eventually quits after another attack by Pierce. Pierce follows her out and reveals he only joined to get back at her for not lending him a pencil. Starburns quits as he fears his drug-dealing reputation will be ruined by his political involvement. Annie screens an embarrassing video of Jeff auditioning for MTV
's The Real World
, who quits as the crowd bursts into laughter. Annie feels bad and withdraws too. They make up in a storage room, where they are stumbled upon by a remorseful Pierce, whose face has been stabbed with a pencil by Vicki.
The race is down to Magnitude and Leonard, and the debate becomes a back and forth between "Pop-pop!" and Leonard making a farting sound. In the end, the students vote "South Park
" as the winner. Abed informs Vohlers that Greendale is at "elevated threat level", forcing Biden to cancel his visit.
Vohlers returns to Greendale to under the excuse of investigating the "threat", and spends the night watching a movie with Abed in an unusual date.
, his second directing credit of the show.
Eliza Coupe
guest starred as Special Agent Robin Vohlers.
of American politics
, in particular, election debates
. The final round of the student president debate consisted of two similar candidates, repeating the same phrases and arguing over the same issues over and over again until the audience wonders if it really matters who wins. After being sunk in the debate, Annie launches a smear campaign
against Jeff. In the end, the election was won by South Park
.
Jeff was insistent throughout that popularity is what wins elections, not solid platforms and promises. His opening speech was a dig at charming politicians who pander to voters' need to feel good about themselves. His talk about how "beer should be cold, boots should be dusty, 9-11 was bad and I think freedom is a little better" was a reference to President George W. Bush
's speeches. Annie also borrowed George H. W. Bush
's famous line, "Read my lips...
".
Also featured in the episode was the Secret Service
. One Secret Service agent racially profiled
Abed, who is half Arab, to pursue a relationship with him.
Jeffrey Kirkpatrick of TV Fanatic praised the episode, saying "There were a number of high points, starting with Abed's notching of 'Classic Wingers' into the study desk, with Jeff similarly notching 'ab mentions' and Troy tracking only notches, but when the gang entered the political realm, that's when it really started to 'Pop Pop.'" He gave it a 4.5/5 rating. Alan Sepinwall of HitFix
said there were "some funny moments here and there, and a wonderful Abed subplot, but not one of the season's strongest overall" and the main plot "seemed a bit flat." Kelsea Stahler of Hollywood.com called the episode "average". Todd VanDerWerff called it "a very funny episode that didn't quite stick the landing in the third act," blaming it on the weak Jeff-Annie arc. He gave it a B+ rating.
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...
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...
. It was originally aired on February 24, 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...
.
In the episode, Dean Pelton decides to organize an election for campus president to welcome the arrival of Vice President Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
to Greendale College. Among the candidates are Jeff and Annie, and the race soon becomes personal between the two. Meanwhile, a Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
agent becomes attracted to Abed, and the two pursue an unusual relationship.
The episode, which satirizes American political culture
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
, was written by Adam Countee and directed by Jay Chandrasekhar
Jay Chandrasekhar
Jayanth Jambulingam "Jay" Chandrasekhar is a Tamil American actor, comedian, writer, and film director with the comedy team Broken Lizard.-Life and career:...
. It received mixed reviews from critics.
Plot
Vice PresidentVice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
is to visit Greendale Community College as part of his "Biden Time Talking About Teaching" tour later in the day. Dean Pelton (Jim Rash
Jim Rash
Jim Rash was born in Charlotte, North Carolina and is an American actor, comedian and screenwriter.His most noticeable appearance was when he portrayed Mr Grayson/Stitches, a sidekick to the supervillain 'Royal Pain' in the 2005 film Sky High and as the recurring characters Fenton on That '70s Show...
) has seven hours to elect a student president to meet the VP. Annie (Alison Brie
Alison Brie
-External links:...
) plans to run and has plenty of ideas to improve the school. Jeff (Joel McHale
Joel McHale
Joel Edward McHale is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, television producer, television personality, and voice artist. He is best known for hosting The Soup and for his role as Jeff Winger on Community....
) mocks her idealism and decides to run against her to prove his point.
Nominees are determined by applause from the crowd. Garrett (Erik Charles Nielsen), Vicki (Danielle Kaplowitz), Leonard (Richard Erdman
Richard Erdman
Richard Erdman is an American film and television actor and director.-Notable roles:...
), Annie, Jeff, Starburns (Dino Stamatopoulos
Dino Stamatopoulos
Dino Stamatopoulos is an American television comedy writer, actor and producer who has worked on Mr. Show, TV Funhouse, Mad TV, The Dana Carvey Show, Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien...
), Magnitude (Luke Youngblood
Luke Youngblood
Luke Youngblood is a British actor, who is best known for playing Ben in The Story of Tracy Beaker and for originating the role of Young Simba in The Lion King in which he appeared in several London venues whilst playing the role...
), and Pierce (Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
) are nominated, but Britta (Gillian Jacobs
Gillian Jacobs
Gillian Jacobs is an American film, theatre and television actress, best known for her role as Britta Perry on the NBC comedy series Community.-Personal life:...
) fails miserably to get crowd support.
The Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
has been observing the campus in preparation for the VP visit, which Abed (Danny Pudi
Danny Pudi
Danny Pudi is an American actor, best known for his role as Abed Nadir on the NBC comedy series Community.-Early years:Pudi, who is of Indian and Polish descent, was born and raised in Chicago and grew up speaking Polish...
) notices. He attracts the attention of Special Agent Robin Vohlers (Eliza Coupe
Eliza Coupe
Eliza Coupe is an American actress best known for her role as Denise "Jo" Mahoney in the medical comedy Scrubs, in which she became a regular for the ninth season. Coupe currently stars as Jane Williams in the ABC comedy series Happy Endings.-Career:Coupe grew up in New Hampshire and graduated...
). She spot checks his bag and dorm room for bomb-making material and to get closer to him. Abed and Troy (Donald Glover
Donald Glover
Donald McKinley Glover is an American actor, writer, comedian, and musician. Glover first came to attention for his work in the sketch group Derrick Comedy, and is best known for his role as community college student Troy Barnes on the NBC comedy series Community...
) also host a political commentary program on Greendale Campus TV (GCTV) to cover the election.
Throughout the debate, Pierce intimidates Vicki with vile threats. Annie is the only candidate with ideas in the debate, but she is constantly shot down by Jeff, who belts out crowd-pleasing slogans. Magnitude only says "Pop-pop!", which the crowd loves. Vicki eventually quits after another attack by Pierce. Pierce follows her out and reveals he only joined to get back at her for not lending him a pencil. Starburns quits as he fears his drug-dealing reputation will be ruined by his political involvement. Annie screens an embarrassing video of Jeff auditioning for MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's The Real World
The Real World
The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the...
, who quits as the crowd bursts into laughter. Annie feels bad and withdraws too. They make up in a storage room, where they are stumbled upon by a remorseful Pierce, whose face has been stabbed with a pencil by Vicki.
The race is down to Magnitude and Leonard, and the debate becomes a back and forth between "Pop-pop!" and Leonard making a farting sound. In the end, the students vote "South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
" as the winner. Abed informs Vohlers that Greendale is at "elevated threat level", forcing Biden to cancel his visit.
Vohlers returns to Greendale to under the excuse of investigating the "threat", and spends the night watching a movie with Abed in an unusual date.
Production
"Intro to Political Science" was written by Adam Countee, his second writing credit of the series. It was directed by Jay ChandrasekharJay Chandrasekhar
Jayanth Jambulingam "Jay" Chandrasekhar is a Tamil American actor, comedian, writer, and film director with the comedy team Broken Lizard.-Life and career:...
, his second directing credit of the show.
Eliza Coupe
Eliza Coupe
Eliza Coupe is an American actress best known for her role as Denise "Jo" Mahoney in the medical comedy Scrubs, in which she became a regular for the ninth season. Coupe currently stars as Jane Williams in the ABC comedy series Happy Endings.-Career:Coupe grew up in New Hampshire and graduated...
guest starred as Special Agent Robin Vohlers.
Cultural references
The episode was a satireSatire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
of American politics
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
, in particular, election debates
United States presidential election debates
During presidential elections in the United States, it has become customary for the main candidates to engage in a debate...
. The final round of the student president debate consisted of two similar candidates, repeating the same phrases and arguing over the same issues over and over again until the audience wonders if it really matters who wins. After being sunk in the debate, Annie launches a smear campaign
Smear campaign
A smear campaign, smear tactic or simply smear is a metaphor for activity that can harm an individual or group's reputation by conflation with a stigmatized group...
against Jeff. In the end, the election was won by South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
.
Jeff was insistent throughout that popularity is what wins elections, not solid platforms and promises. His opening speech was a dig at charming politicians who pander to voters' need to feel good about themselves. His talk about how "beer should be cold, boots should be dusty, 9-11 was bad and I think freedom is a little better" was a reference to President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's speeches. Annie also borrowed George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
's famous line, "Read my lips...
Read my lips: no new taxes
"Read my lips: no new taxes" is a now-famous phrase spoken by then presidential candidate George H. W. Bush at the 1988 Republican National Convention as he accepted the nomination on August 18. Written by speechwriter Peggy Noonan, the line was the most prominent sound bite from the speech...
".
Also featured in the episode was the Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
. One Secret Service agent racially profiled
Racial profiling
Racial profiling refers to the use of an individual’s race or ethnicity by law enforcement personnel as a key factor in deciding whether to engage in enforcement...
Abed, who is half Arab, to pursue a relationship with him.
Ratings
In its original American broadcast on February 24, 2011, the episode was viewed by an estimated 3.79 million people with a Nielsen rating of 1.8 in the 18–49 demographic.Reviews
"Intro to Political Science" received mixed reviews from critics.Jeffrey Kirkpatrick of TV Fanatic praised the episode, saying "There were a number of high points, starting with Abed's notching of 'Classic Wingers' into the study desk, with Jeff similarly notching 'ab mentions' and Troy tracking only notches, but when the gang entered the political realm, that's when it really started to 'Pop Pop.'" He gave it a 4.5/5 rating. Alan Sepinwall of HitFix
HitFix
HitFix, or the HitFix.com is an entertainment news website that launched in December 2008 specializing in breaking entertainment news, insider information and providing reviews and critiques of film, music and television...
said there were "some funny moments here and there, and a wonderful Abed subplot, but not one of the season's strongest overall" and the main plot "seemed a bit flat." Kelsea Stahler of Hollywood.com called the episode "average". Todd VanDerWerff called it "a very funny episode that didn't quite stick the landing in the third act," blaming it on the weak Jeff-Annie arc. He gave it a B+ rating.
External links
- "Intro to Political Science" at NBC.com
- "Intro to Political Science" 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,...