"Pilot"
Season One, Episode One  ►
Air date	September 17, 2009 on
Written by	Dan Harmon
Directed by	Anthony Russo & Joe Russo

“	What is community college? Well, you've heard all kinds of things. You've heard it's 'loser college' for remedial teens, twenty-something drop-outs, middle-aged divorcees, and old people keeping their minds active as they circle the drain of eternity. That's what you heard, however... I wish you luck!	”
–Dean Pelton

Summary: A smarmy lawyer whose education is deemed void by the bar is forced to attend a local community college with an extremely eclectic staff and student body in order to get a legitimate degree.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Recurring Themes 2.1 Continuity: 2.2 Running Gags 2.3 Pop culture references 2.3.1 Nicknames 3 Guest Cast 4 Quotes 5 Trivia 6 Images 7 Comments

PlotEdit

It's part way through the first week of classes for Greendale Community College's 2009 fall semester. The dean, Craig Pelton, is trying to give an inspirational speech while welcoming the new students but ends up failing miserably. In the distance, Jeff Winger watches the train wreck while trying to ignore another student named Abed Nadir. Abed is in the middle of telling Jeff his life story when he cuts him off. Jeff asks him for information on a female student he saw in the Spanish class they both take. Abed informs him that her name is Britta and immediately begins to rattle off numerous facts about her. Impressed, Jeff thanks Abed before going off to meet an old friend of his, Professor Ian Duncan.

In Duncan's office, Jeff tells Ian why he's at the school: the bar association learned that he faked his law degree, and now he's at Greendale to earn a legitimate one. He asks that Duncan get him the answers to all his class exams for the entire semester. Ian is reluctant at first but agrees to look into it when he's reminded that Jeff saved him from a D.U.I. charge in 2002. Later, Jeff locates Britta in the cafeteria and tries to lay on the charm but is shot down. Switching to another tactic, he insists that his intentions are sincere. Jeff lies about being a board certified Spanish tutor and that he only approached her to invite her to a study group he is forming. She accepts his invitation and meets him later in the library's study room.

He makes a little progress, but his efforts end up being hampered with the arrival of Abed whom Britta had invited. Jeff is unable to get rid of Abed who doesn't understand the hint Jeff sends in a text message. Jeff soon gets a text message himself from Duncan to meet him at the football field. Once there, Ian says it might be possible to get the test answers but questions whether Jeff knows the difference between right and wrong. Jeff smugly says that he learned a long time ago that such concepts are subjective especially when he learned he has the ability to convincingly argue for either side. After a heated exchange, Ian gives in and agrees to help despite being exasperated by Jeff's arrogance.

Jeff returns to the library only to find that Britta is missing, and four more students are seated at the study table, having been invited by Abed. Attempting to sneak away, he leaves the library only to run into Britta who was outside taking a cigarette break. She suggests that they go back and start studying, hinting that they can sneak out and have dinner if the new arrivals prove to be unteachable. When they return, the oldest of the new arrivals, Pierce, attempts to introduce everyone but manages to get most of their names wrong. After Troy, Annie, and Shirley correct him, Jeff decides to exploit the obvious tension between them. He continues to stir the pot until the group members are arguing amongst themselves.

Jeff's manipulation of the group is interrupted by another call from Duncan, who wants to meet up with him in the parking lot. He finds Ian waiting in his tiny smart car with the answers to the exams. Ian extorts Jeff's Lexus as payment, and a desperate Jeff reluctantly agrees. Returning to the study room, he finds Britta waiting for him. She demands that he calm down the still-arguing study group. He says he'll do so only if she agrees to go out with him. She agrees and with a passionate speech, Jeff manages to pacify the study group. He praises each of them by listing their various strengths, and explains that by coming together and putting aside their differences, they are no longer a mere study group but a Community. He then announces he is going to have dinner with Britta.

She responds that she lied and never intended to go out with him. Jeff then takes back what he just said and boasts that he doesn't need them as he now has the test answers. Leaving the library, he opens the packet Duncan gave him but finds that he's been tricked again. He storms back to Duncan's office and gets his car keys back. As he passes by the library, Pierce calls out to him from the front steps. As they talk, the rest of the study group comes outside and admits that studying is boring without him. The group silently convince Britta to invite him to study with them again and everyone returns to the library except Jeff. He hesitates but then decides to follow them back inside.

Recurring ThemesEdit

Continuity:Edit

• First appearance: As this is the first episode, Jeff as well as all the other main characters are introduced.
• This must be the place: A number of eventually recurring set pieces are introduced in this episode including the cafeteria, the library, the study room, and Ian's office.
• Middle Eastern Magic 8 Ball: The basic outline of the show is laid out with Jeff learning to be a better person through his interaction with the study group. The first major story arc is also introduced in the form of the possible budding romance between Jeff and Britta.
• History lesson: We get a brief synopsis of all the main characters' pasts before they came to Greendale and why they are there now.
• A sweet ride: Jeff's Lexus is mentioned in this pilot but not physically seen until the next episode.
• Mad skillz: Jeff's ability to talk his way into and out of situations is demonstrated.
• Winger speech: Jeff gives the first of his many Winger speeches to the group.
• Discontinuity: In this episode the Study Room is shown to be upstairs. but from episode 2 onwards it is ground level.
• Abed says his Mother is American. though in Episode 3 it shows his mother as Arabic, and then again changes her to polish decent.
• Dean Pelton is shown wearing a wedding ring, it is unknown if this is a costume or a change in character from the pilot

Running GagsEdit

• Attention Students!: The series begins with Dean Pelton welcoming all to Greendale over a portable PA system.

• Catchphrase:

“Cool, cool...etc.”— Abed

“That's nice.”— Shirley

“You just wrinkled my brain.”— Troy

• Disney Face: Annie uses her sad eyes to help convince Britta to let Jeff study with them.
• Board certified tutor:
  • Jeff pretends to be a board certified Spanish tutor.

• • Pierce butchers the group introductions despite claiming to be a Toastmaster.

Pop culture referencesEdit

• IMDB:
  • Abed mentions The Breakfast Club several times and quotes a line from the film.
  • Abed briefly quotes Dirty Dancing.
  • Abed says that Jeff Winger is like Bill Murray from Stripes or Meatballs.

• TV Guide:
  • The Cafeteria lady calls Jeff "SeinFIELD." Jeff tells her it is "SeinFELD."
  • Jeff mentions that people can empathize with sharks during Shark Week.

• Name that Tune:
  • "Daylight" by Matt & Kim
  • "Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare" by Matt & Kim
  • Cover version of "Don't You (Forget About Me)". The Original version was recorded by Simple Minds and appeared on the soundtrack to The Breakfast Club.

• Shout out:
  • Both Abed and Jeff state that Britta looks like the actress Elizabeth Shue.
  • Jeff mentions Ben Affleck.
  • Abed compares Jeff to Bill Murray and then Michael Douglas.

NicknamesEdit

• The Cafeteria lady calls Jeff Seinfield.
• Troy calls Jeff Seacrest.
• Troy calls Abed Slumdog Millionaire.
• Troy calls Annie Little 'Annie Adderall'.

Guest CastEdit

• John Oliver as Professor Ian Duncan
• Jim Rash as Dean Craig Pelton
• Patricia Belcher as Cafeteria lady

QuotesEdit

“I still cannot figure out how you got a jury to connect September the 11th with my DUI.”— Ian

“The state bar has suspended my license. They found out my college degree was less than legitimate.”— Jeff

“I thought you had a bachelor's from Columbia?”— Ian

“And now I have to get one from America.”— Jeff

“Jeff, are you familiar with the adage 'cheaters never prosper'?”— Ian

“No, and if I had wanted to learn something, I wouldn't have come to community college.”— Jeff

“You already know Brittles.”— Pierce

“Britta”— Britta

“Abed. Abed the Arab. Is that inappropriate?”— Pierce

“Sure.”— Abed

“Roy. Roy the wonder boy.”— Pierce

“Troy.”— Troy

“Little princess Elizabeth.”— Pierce

“Annie.”— Annie

“And finally, this beautiful creature is named Shirley.”

“Is that even close?”— Jeff

[Shirley nods]

“You have been sexually harassing me since the very first day of class.”— Shirley

“'Sexually harassing'? What? That makes no sense to me. Why would I harass someone who turns me on?”— Pierce

“Saying she turns you on is the harassment, dude.”— Troy

“You know what I got for Christmas? It was a banner year at the Bender family. I got a carton of cigarettes. The old man grabbed me and he said, "Heeeey, smoke up Johnny!" No dad, what about you!”— Abed

“Well, that actually was from the Breakfast Club.”— Jeff

“Nobody puts Baby in the corner.”— Abed

“Dirty Dancing.”— Jeff

“You know what makes humans different from other animals?”— Jeff

“Feet.”— Troy

“No, no, come on. Bears have feet.”— Pierce

“We can sympathize with a pencil. We can forgive a shark, and we can give Ben Affleck an Academy Award for screenwriting.”— Jeff

“Big mistake.”— Pierce

“You've just stopped being a study group. You've become something unstoppable. I hereby pronounce you a community.”— Jeff

“I like you, Jeffrey. You remind me of myself at your age.”— Pierce

“I deserve that.”— Jeff

“Well, the funny thing about being smart is that you can get through most of life without ever having to do any work.”— Jeff

TriviaEdit

• The original script for the pilot had a number of differences from the broadcast version including dialouge, extended scenes and most notably a different last name for Jeff, "Crocker". It can be read here.
• Troy calls Jeff "Seacrest". It is a running gag of Joel McHale's on The Soup to make fun of Ryan Seacrest.
• This episode was in memoriam of director John Hughes.

ImagesEdit

Season One Episodes
1. "Pilot" 2. "Spanish 101" 3. "Introduction to Film" 4. "Social Psychology" 5. "Advanced Criminal Law" 6. "Football, Feminism and You" 7. "Introduction to Statistics" 8. "Home Economics" 9. "Debate 109"	10. "Environmental Science" 11. "The Politics of Human Sexuality" 12. "Comparative Religion" 13. "Investigative Journalism" 14. "Interpretive Dance" 15. "Romantic Expressionism" 16. "Communication Studies" 17. "Physical Education" 18. "Basic Genealogy"	19. "Beginner Pottery" 20. "The Science of Illusion" 21. "Contemporary American Poultry" 22. "The Art of Discourse" 23. "Modern Warfare" 24. "English as a Second Language" 25. "Pascal's Triangle Revisited"
Season One • Season Two • Season Three • Season Four • Season Five

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