They call Community "the
little show that could," so it comes as little surprise that the
cult-favorite series was renewed by NBC for at least 13 episodes in
a fourth season.
The wonderfully surreal situation
comedy – which has made something of a specialty of "theme"
episodes which parody things such as Law & Order, 80s video
games, Dungeons and Dragons and adventure films – has been a
tough contender on NBC's must-see Thursdays, sparking fan adoration
which sadly outranks the show's Nielsen ratings.
Starring Talk Soup star
Joel McHale as a hipster former lawyer forced to return to college,
Community has one of the quirkiest ensembles on TV: Chevy
Chase as crotchety old man Pierce, Gillian Jacobs as neurotic
perfectionist Britta, Donald Glover and Danny Pudi as nerdy man-boys
Troy and Abed, Alison Brie as perky trainwreck Annie, Yvonne Nicole
Brown as aging born-again student Shirley, Ken Jeong as power-mad
security chief Chang and Jim Rash as the sexually ambiguous Dean
Pelton.
Beyond his work on the show, Rash
recently won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing
the George Clooney film The Descendents.
We recently joined in a
conference call with several websites to speak with Jacobs and Rash
about the season finale, the future of Community, Rash's
Oscar win and Jacobs' early typecasting as strippers, drug addicts
and runaways.
Congratulations
to Jim on your Oscar.
Gillian Jacobs: Yeah!
Jim Rash:
Oh, thank you very much. Yeah.
Is there any costume though that we won’t ever see the Dean showing
up in?
Jim Rash:
Never? I don’t know if there’s a never,
because I’ve already worn flesh-colored panties, so unless they
remove those flesh-colored panties that would probably be the only
costume left. (Jim & Gillian laugh) I don’t think the Dean
would ever have any editing when it came to what he wanted to or
what I as an actor was asked to wear.
Gillian Jacobs:
It’s his art.
Jim Rash: I don’t draw lines.
Gillian, for next season is there an interest in having Britta maybe
mature a bit, or do you see her as is always in her head... I don’t
know exactly how to describe her. I mean she’s...
Gillian
Jacobs:
The worst? Well, let’s see. I would say
even though everyone makes fun of her she did make some valid points
in her therapy sessions. I think she actually wasn’t too far off
with some of Jeff Winger’s daddy issues, and she was maybe
accidentally able to help some people. I think you’re going to see a
little bit more of that in Thursday night’s episode. But, I don’t
think that we ever want these characters to figure it all out,
because then it would be a very boring show. So, I hope she
continues to make a lot of mistakes.
Jim Rash: Yeah, if I may, I think one of the
things that’s great about what they’ve been doing with Britta and
Gillian’s performance of it is all these characters sort of evolve
and sort of started one way. It’s not like they completely changed,
but they’re true selves start to shine through. I think Britta had
up a wall and she was supposed to be the smartest person in the
room, or at least she thought herself that way. I thought what’s so
great is that, you know the small things that came out of breaking
that down and seeing this insecurity inside, which I think is played
very well by Gillian?
Gillian Jacobs:
Thank you, Jim.
Jim Rash: You’re welcome.
I love that answer.
Gillian Jacobs: It’s better than mine. I’m adopting
that. Can I get a transcript of this call so I can use Jim’s answer
verbatim in this future, please? (they laugh)
Jim, is there a chance maybe you could convince Clooney to co-star
in
Community?
Jim Rash:
That’s going to be such an easy phone
call. I imagine he can sense as I dial that I’m going to ask him
that, and I’m sure he’ll pick up instantly. And I’m not surprised if
the whole Ocean’s 11 gang has to be on it. (they laugh)
And I’m not surprised if I’m not in Italy right after we wrap. All
those things are possible.
There’s
a seat with your name engraved in it in Lake Como.
Jim Rash: Yes. Oh, yes, George.
Gillian Jacobs:
He’s so over it. It’s so tiresome,
Italy, isn’t it?
Jim Rash: Yes. Our friendship is so tiring.
Gillian, how does it feel to kind of be treading on Pierce ground,
as far as being considered the worst out of the group?
Gillian Jacobs: Well, every group needs the worst, and
so I’m happy to provide that service. (laughs) I think that
it’s like that family dynamic where everybody picks on one member of
the family, but at the end of the day they’re essential and
everybody does love them deep down. I think Britta is a loud mouth a
lot of the times, so she draws attention to herself. But, she’s very
stubborn and she has a surprisingly thick skin, so she may get hurt,
but she doesn’t really seem to be deterred by their scorn. I kind of
admire that about her. I’m far more sensitive. She’s got a thick
skin.
Awesome. And for Jim, it seems like Chang has kind of taken over
Greendale...
Jim Rash:
Yes.
...and since you’re always trying to get in with the group, is this
your chance to finally like get on Jeff’s good side? Is he going to
come rescue you and save the school?
Jim Rash: Well, you’ll definitely see on
Thursday. Obviously the result of the Dean making another horrible
decision to sign over his security detail to Chang, so he has only
himself to blame for the chaos that ensued. I do think this is - as
you will see this Thursday - it’s sort of nice to see as the Dean
gets involved with the study group as we try to reclaim Greendale.
At least this is the closest he has, or least hoped to become one of
the group, but you’ll just have to wait and see.
Congrats
on the announcement of season four. How are you guys feeling about
the schedule and moving to Fridays?
Jim Rash:
Well, first and foremost we have to
celebrate what has been a long, hopeful journey to get to a season
four, so I think with the help of the fans we’ll start there and be
grateful for the fact that we get to say that sentence, “We’re
having a season four.” Then, there’s always something exciting about
some small change. Obviously, we’ve survived little changes and
moves and our fans seem to follow us, so that’s how we’re going to
[proceed]. Just hope they find us again and I’m sure they will.
They’re a very tenacious group.
Gillian Jacobs:
Yes, I think that we have to be so
grateful for all the hard work that they did to make sure that we
came back from hiatus and got this fourth season. We’re just excited
to get to tell 13 more stories and hopefully more down in the
future. We’re the little show that could. You can’t ever really
count us out, so God only knows what will happen.
Jim, when it comes to the finale do you think there’s a certain part
of the Dean that’s going to be very happy in the sense that this is
really the first time the Greendale Six will really need him when
he’s constantly the one trying to get all over them?
Jim Rash:
Well, yes. Yes, get all over them,
absolutely.
Gillian Jacobs:
I enjoy your word choice.
Jim Rash:
Yes, he definitely wants to get all over
them. Some maybe not as much as others...
Gillian Jacobs: Not Britta.
Jim Rash:
... Yes, maybe not Britta. He still
hates the fact that she was in that Christmas show. (they laugh)
It’s funny, the theme of the allure of this study group and
obviously it was played upon in last week’s episode, a clip show,
and them sort of coming to realize that. What really is a funny
device, in the sense that I, as the Dean, always seem to tell them
only about the huge things happening at this school. Partly to set
up a story...
Gillian Jacobs: Fires.
Jim Rash:
Exactly, and now fires, it just played
on that idea. I think that what will happen or what you will see in
the finale is sort of the closest that Dean has come to be included
in a study group plan to win back their school. Of course, he was
the reason that they have to, (laughs) but hopefully they
won’t remember that.
Gillian,
what has it been like this whole second half of the season working
with Donald Glover and doing the Troy/Britta stuff that’s going on?
Gillian Jacobs:
I love it. We have the sweetest hugs on
TV. We’ve really cornered the market on longing looks and really
sweet hugs. (laughs) He’s obviously an incredible performer
and we’ve so enjoyed getting to have these scenes together. There’s
not a bad... what is it, bad apple? Yes, that’s the phrase. There’s
not a bad apple in this group, so I’m really lucky to get to work
with this cast and it’s been really fun to get to have all these
scenes with Donald.
Jim Rash: Yes, and often between takes they would
be rehearsing their hugs.
Gillian Jacobs:
Oh, yes. Those - I mean, come on.
Jim Rash: More often than not. (laughs)
Gillian Jacobs: Extensive rehearsal. (laughs, too)
Looking forward to season four is there anything you’d like to see
both Dean and Britta do more of?
Jim Rash:
Gillian, do you want to start?
Gillian Jacobs: Yes, sure. I think Britta should
probably sing some more. That’s really where the gold is. (they
laugh) Let’s see, maybe I’d like to meet Britta’s family. I
think that would probably be pretty fun and give some more insight
into how Britta ended up the way she is. I always think it’s fun
when we get to see glimpses of the characters’ families and we got
to meet Pierce’s dad this season, and we’ve met Chang’s brother. I’d
really love to meet Britta’s family.
Jim
Rash:
Yes, it would be nice to see - and some
of it started this season - where they explored pairing off certain
characters and mining what happens when those two, whether Jeff and
Shirley, and with Britta and Troy, [have] a possible relationship. I
would love to see more of that because it always evolves and changes
and finds new things for these characters. As far as the Dean, I
mean how can I not want [to be] forced on Jeff’s character again, or
to see his living arrangements. I’d love to see...
Gillian Jacobs: Oh, yes.
Jim Rash:
...where the Dean lives and how seedy it
might be. (laughs) Maybe it’s an apartment just above
Greendale.
What has been your absolute favorite costume to wear?
Jim Rash: Oh, that’s tough, if I were to go all
the way back, I thought probably the Gaga outfit from Halloween back
then was fantastic and hard to top, because that jacket they had
made for it.
Gillian Jacobs:
Your Tina Turner was also pretty
spectacular.
Jim Rash:
Yes, Tina Turner was good as well. That
skirt was just one squat away from revealing everything. (Gillian
laughs) It was very short. I really can’t complain. All of the
costumes are too enjoyable to put on.
With two showrunners leaving [Garrett Donovan and Neil Goldman left
to take over new FOX show
Ben & Kate] and [creator] Dan Harmon’s fate uncertain [he
was fired soon after the interview], what do you expect we’re going
to see next season?
Jim Rash: Well, who knows? Obviously, we love
Neil and Garrett and spent three great years with them. The natural
evolution of these things is that people move on to the next chapter
for them. But, what’s wonderful is that Community has always
had its voice, has always had its vision and that started in the
very beginning. We want to just continue that, you know? We want the
show that we started, the show to continue, and close out whatever
chapter, whenever that may be. Everyone comes in and understands
this vision and these characters and these voices and this cast, and
that’s how a show is evolved.
Gillian Jacobs: Yes, nothing ultimately has been
decided at this point, and I think we’re all just very hopeful.
We’re really grateful for everyone that’s worked on the show, and
we’ve been really blessed with incredible writers and producers and
such insanely talented people.
How
much of Community, in your guys’ opinion, is Dan Harmon’s voice and his
vision for the show, and how much of it, like Jim was mentioning, is
something that has evolved?
Jim Rash: Well, this nugget started in his
brain... you know, the pilot? All these characters have evolved from
that nugget, so obviously that’s where it started and it evolved
over a lot of different attributes, which is both his vision, the
writers, they pull from us as actors and what we’ve brought to it
and the quirks that evolved, and the evolution of those characters
from both sides, so it all began there.
Jim, for you again, sorry for all the costume questions, but it’s
what we love. What do you think Dean Pelton would have worn to the
Oscars?
Jim Rash: Oh, wow. Somehow I feel like he might
have like followed the idea maybe he should just paint himself in
gold, and then a gown of gold and gold gloves; just really celebrate
an on-the-nose interpretation of the statue. That’s what would I
imagine.
Britta has traveled a long way from the stereotypical love interest
in season one to the sanest group member through her insanity today.
Both Dan Harmon and Joel McHale praised your comedic abilities on
the last conference call. Could you speak even further to Britta’s
development and growth this season?
Gillian Jacobs:
I just feel really blessed with some
really great material that I was given in season three that allowed
Britta to further develop and need to unleash my awkward dancing on
the world. I have really enjoyed her growth and evolution and
development and I think that this show is not conventional by any
stretch of the imagination, and therefore the role of traditional
love interest really has no place on this show. So of course, we
have to subvert it and change it and she has to be awkward and silly
and strident at times and deeply flawed. It’s really great to play a
multi-dimensional character with shortcomings as strengths, and I’m
really grateful that I don’t just pine after Jeff Winger.
(chuckles)
We all are. It’s awesome. There
has been a big push for six seasons and a movie on the fan
community, but my biggest fear is that we might just have four
seasons and a Webisode.
Gillian Jacobs:
We’ve already done Webisodes.
(laughs)
Jim Rash:
We’ll continue the Webisodes, yes.
All right, an epic Webisode. But are you currently...
Gillian Jacobs:
Oh, an epic Webisode...
Ongoing,
every full day, you’re just filming. But, are you currently looking
at the fourth season as a last season? Are you preparing yourselves
just in case it isn’t renewed for the fifth? As you said, it is the
little show that could, but just in case it doesn’t puff one more
puff?
Gillian Jacobs: Well, I think that nothing about this
journey has been average or predictable. It’s like the show itself,
the journey for us as actors on the show. You have to maintain this
balance between optimism and realism. It’s already so far exceeded
my expectations of what this experience would be like that who am I
to predict what’s going to happen this fall and beyond? I’m just
really grateful that I’ve gotten a chance to work with the writers,
the directors, and the other actors that are a part of this show.
I’ve learned so much from them and I’ve made some really great
friends, and I feel like I’ve come out on the other end a stronger
performer. I feel like I went to graduate school for comedy.
Regardless of whatever happens, I’m just really grateful for the
time that I got to spend with these people.
Jim Rash:
Yes... I can’t say it better than that.
Yes.
Gillian Jacobs:
Jim didn’t need to learn anything. Jim
came in a comedic genius.
Jim Rash: I wasn’t...
Gillian Jacobs:
I needed this show to figure some things
out.
Jim Rash: ...I refuse to learn.
Gillian Jacobs:
He’s a teacher, did you know that? He
teaches at Groundlings.
Oh, well, I’ll just have to sign up.
Gillian Jacobs:
Yes.
Jim Rash:
Yes, please. That’s what this call is
now turning into. Now, I’m going to sell you on some classes.
Gillian Jacobs:
I’m shilling for Jim’s classes at
Groundlings.
We
all know Community is notorious for its rabid fan base and the
Internet presence, is there any type of fan response that stands out
to you that you’ve especially appreciated or, maybe even been a
little bit taken aback by recently?
Jim Rash: Well, I think just in that time that we
were off the air for a while, I think any and all of that, from the
flash mobs to the goatee and all that stuff, it really can’t compare
to the outpouring of fans in that capacity to almost protest for you
to come back. It was because of a lot of that stuff, and then our
nice return. It showed that their voice was heard, you know?
Gillian Jacobs: Yes, and there’s an upcoming gallery
show in Los Angeles of all...
Jim Rash: Oh, that’s right, yes.
Gillian Jacobs: ...fan art of
our show called Six Seasons and Movie that starts on June 23rd. This
is totally fan-initiated, fan-driven, and fan-created. To see them
continue to organize in this way, and they’re all so talented. From
out of their love of the show, in their free time and their talent
they’ve created all this incredible art of us. We’ve always felt so
flattered and surprised and delighted by what they’ve created, you
know? We’ve developed friendships by the Internet with some of these
artists, so it’s really exciting that they’re going to get a whole
gallery show of their work.
Random question, what’s it like to see yourself drawn as a cartoon
character? You guys have had a few episodes of different ways that
you’re animated. I just can’t imagine what it would be like to see
yourself in all of these different variations. How does that feel?
Jim Rash: Well, I think there’s different levels.
Going to the fan art there was someone who did us as X-Men and I
looked pretty bad ass, you know, a bald... I think it was Storm, I
don’t remember what it was but... Then we had the Webisodes and then
where I had more of a flatter ass.
Gillian Jacobs:
You judge it by how much of a bubble
butt you have? (They both laugh)
Jim Rash: Yes, yes. Exactly! So yes...
Gillian Jacobs:
I would say when some of us went to the
studios where they were animating the Stop Motion Christmas Episode,
that was a pretty surreal moment. To see those figurines of all of
us - I’d never seen the process of making a stop-motion animated
episode and it was pretty incredible. That was surreal and sort of a
realization of a childhood dream that I didn’t even dare to have.
Then to see the fan art is a whole different other kind of shock and
delight because they’re not being paid to do that and they haven’t
been asked to do it by NBC or Sony or the writers, they’re doing it
just out of their love of the show. I’ve never been a part of
something before that had this kind of devoted fan base. I feel like
we’re almost like a sci-fi show. We have the level of devotion that
you would stereotypically associate with like a sci-fi show. That’s
been really remarkable to see it develop because I don’t know how
many actors on sitcoms get to experience this. And I highly
recommend it! All you actors out there, get on a show with a rabid
fan-base; that’s my recommendation.
Gillian,
I interviewed you in New York a few years ago for Gardens of the Night so it’s good to talk to you again.
Gillian Jacobs: Holy moly! Very different kind of a
project.
Well that was sort of what I was going to ask you. When I had
interviewed you that was the only thing I had seen you in and I saw
you in
Community a little while later and I was going, wow, that’s a
very different side of her! Was it cool to go and do something so
completely different and at this point do you enjoy doing comedy or
drama more or do you enjoy the mix?
Gillian Jacobs: Well, I had done a string of films that
were similar in tone and content to Gardens of the Night,
meaning I had played a lot of prostitutes, strippers, homeless
runaway teens, drug addicts and rape victims, so I would say that
Community...
Jim Rash: That’s your wheelhouse, that is your
wheelhouse...
Gillian Jacobs:
...was a welcome change of pace for me.
What?
Jim Rash:
That’s your wheelhouse.
Gillian Jacobs:
(laughs) That’s my former
wheelhouse. So I was really excited to get this job and get to do
something different. My hope is that I get to continue to do more
serious material and also continue to do comedy in the future. I
don’t want to choose I just want to get to do everything all the
time. But, yes, (laughs again) that’s certainly a very
different kind of role that you saw me in.
Yes,
it definitely was. Now, some of the funniest episodes are the theme
episodes like recently you had the
Law and Order show. Do you guys have any fantasy
themes that you’d love to have them do in future years?
Gillian Jacobs:
Daytime soap.
Jim Rash: (laughs) Daytime soap, yes, that
would be good.
Gillian Jacobs:
I think daytime soap would be really
good.
Jim Rush: I think it would be good with just full
on organ music the whole time.
Gillian Jacobs:
And of course our show would whip pan to
the organ player.
Jim Rush:
Yes, and most likely the dean would
insist that somehow in that soap version he and Jeffrey fought in a
water fountain.
Gillian Jacobs: Somebody would have to play twins,
right? Themselves and their own twin.
Jim Rash:
This is writing itself.
Gillian Jacobs:
I know, its rich.
Yes, I think really very good. You’ll have to go talk to the writers
room.
Gillian Jacobs:
Well, if nothing else maybe some fan
fiction or fan animated soap opera.
Exactly.
And Jim, do you ever bring the Oscar down on set to make sure that
you get the proper respect? No, seriously, what was it like to win
the Oscar?
Jim Rash:
What have I just said, (makes funny
noise) "wa-wa..." (laughs) You know, no big deal! It is a
cliché to say but it’s also a very true cliché in that it’s very
surreal. If there was ever a time that you just feel into the moment
of something that you can’t quite comprehend until after it, that’s
what it felt like. It feels like it’s just something that’s
happening and everything’s going into this weird vacuum of silence
as you’re looking and walking your way towards the stage. Seeing so
many friends that you just happen to be on this weird journey at a
similar time and it’s hard to say that it was anything less than
incredible. You know?
Looking back on this season, what would you guys say has been your
most memorable or your favorite moment on the show?
Jim Rash:
Gillian?
Gillian Jacobs:
All right, let me think. Hamster in
wheel in brain, activate...Well, I guess it’s kind of a cliché at
this point but my appearance in the Christmas pageant definitely
springs to mind when I think of this season. Dancing around in a
skin-tight brown unitard, that’s pretty memorable. I felt like Mr.
Hankey the Christmas Poo up there. So the combination of
embarrassment and adrenaline made it pretty memorable.
Jim Rash: Yes, it’s hard. For me I guess -
memorable only because we did it over and over and over again and it
might have been because they were just sort of punishing me - but I
guess I’m going to call it Dean’s spastic orgasm at seeing Jeffrey
back from break and tan with his aviators on.
Gillian Jacobs:
Wearing his sunglasses.
Jim Rash:
Yes, and falling to the ground because
we did that over and over again. It really wasn’t even different
coverage it just seemed like I was being asked to keep going.
Basically having my full release moment I’ll call it on the floor -
that was memorable to shoot because they would keep rolling and I
just kept going. So, that was fun.
This
has kind of been touched on a little bit already but looking to this
upcoming fourth season, what are the both of you looking forward to?
Gillian Jacobs:
I’d say getting back to work first and
foremost.
Jim Rash:
Yes. I think I think...Sorry!
Gillian Jacobs:
Oh, no go ahead Jim.
Jim Rash:
No, I was just going to say that the
first thing is to be back. The second thing is this is the fourth
year and whatever happens whether it becomes true that we’re six
seasons and a movie or we have this chapter, it’s so nice to go into
this with this idea that it really is the fourth chapter of these
people’s lives. Following the third which turned into a darker
exploration of each character and them figuring out what it is that
they want. Then to see the end result coming up this Thursday and
where that could take us into the fourth season is the most exciting
thing for me, just continuing their chapter.
Gillian Jacobs:
I also think we’re all so grateful,
because probably on any other network we might have been canceled
first season. We might have never made it to a full first season,
might never have made it to a second season. The fact that we’ve
been given this opportunity to grow and develop this show into the
truly singular television experience that it is has really been such
a blessing. I think we as actors when we signed on for this pilot
really didn’t know the scope and depth and creativity and
originality that this show was going to have. It’s been a surprise
to us as much as it has been to the viewers. I think we all just
have to have these feelings of, what’s the word that I’m looking for
Jim...
Jim Rash:
Let me get inside your brain.
Gillian Jacobs:
Okay, in. And...
Jim Rash:
(laughs) I don’t know, what word
are you looking for?
Gillian Jacobs: Gratuity - not gratuity because that’s
what you put on a tab at a bill...
Jim Rash: (laughs again) Gratuitous?
Gillian Jacobs:
... but grateful, some form of the word
grateful. We’re grateful! What I want to say is that we’re grateful.
How often are you surprised in a positive way by the job that you
have as an actor? It’s really just been incredible to see
Community become the now sort of iconic TV show that it is.
Would
you guys that you are happy with where your characters are and the
development that you guys have made throughout the past three
seasons?
Gillian Jacobs:
Yes.
Jim Rash:
Yes, absolutely. Yes, yes! Absolutely,
because it goes to what Gillian was just saying, I started in the
pilot just as this very top of the show just doing this what was
supposed to be a guest star [role] at the time. That turned into
recurring and then by season three [I] was added to the cast. As far
as the character and watching this evolution, even this year getting
to do the documentary episode, it’s like every now and then you get
to watch and learn something new about these characters. If there’s
anything that I can’t do it’s complain that I had this great ride
and even in small doses you learn something new about the Dean.
Gillian Jacobs:
And I think it’s really a testament to
Jim’s talent that he has become such an invaluable part of this show
in that I cannot imagine the show without him. We as fellow cast
mates are so blown away by his talent and his humor and also his
grace in handling the whole award season and his humility. It was
such a pleasurable experience to watch your friend win an Oscar. I
can’t tell you. I started crying so hard that the people around me
thought that I had emotional problems. But, it was...
Jim Rash:
I set her up for this speech. Good work!
Gillian Jacobs:
(laughs)
I expect the $10.00 in the mail later. But, no, truly, it’s
been so amazing to watch Jim develop as the Dean on the show and
also as a screenwriter, his other life, and now a director so we’re
so proud of him.
Jim Rash:
Aww, thank you.
As actors you come into a new role, you may or may not know some of
your cast members. Either you know them just by name or you may have
worked with them before and some you may not have worked with. Would
you like to possibly do more projects with them outside of
Community later on, let’s just say,
just in case six seasons aren’t happening. Who do you see yourself
working with more in the future or who would you like to work with
more in the future?
Jim Rash:
Well, first we’re going to start with
each other.
Gillian Jacobs:
Oh yes, oh yes.
Jim Rash:
She can’t get rid of me. No matter what
happens, she will not get rid of me. (Gillian laughs) I’m
going to stand near her house. I’m going to watch and see where she
goes. Not in a stalking way, in a friendship way. The type of
friend that just watches what you do. That’s a very natural
friendship. It is not lost on me on how much I have enjoyed these
past three years and look forward to this coming year because of
this cast. It’s not everyday that you get a job where you genuinely
enjoy the company you’re working with but that is the case here. So
no matter what happens I couldn’t name one person, I just name "all"
as people that I would hope that our paths continue to cross in
every capacity. Not just obviously as friends but in working,
because these are people you trust and these are people that you
admire. So that’s the best qualifications for someone you want to
work with.
Gillian Jacobs:
Yes, I see us in the same vein as
Arrested Development or Freaks and Geeks where you see a
group of people continue to work together long after the TV show
that brought them together goes away. Everyone is so incredibly
talented and versatile on this show. That’s the thing that I’ve been
impressed with continuously over the last three years that so many
different genres and plots and styles have been thrown at us and you
just watch everybody rise to the occasion. You just get more and
more glimpses of what people can do and what they’re capable of. So,
I would work with all of them and be delighted to do so. It’s so
exciting to be on a job where you’re learning from your co-workers,
which has really, truly been my experience on this show.
Okay,
so what you’re saying is should we expect to see Dean Pelton and
Britta featured on a Childish Gambino [co-star Donald Glover's rap
alter-ego] album?
Gillian Jacobs:
I don’t think we should punish Donald in
that way. You know what, Jim is a better rapper than I am. Jim has
some rhymes to lay down. I would be there maybe more as the hype
women where I get on the mic and I get the crowd going but you don’t
actually hear me rap or sing. I’m kind of there to bring the energy,
the fire, the excitement and just really the sizzling skillet-like
fire.
Jim Rash:
What a wordsmith. And real quickly,
Donald will be too humble to admit this so don’t verify this with
him but he would insist that I join him on stage I just know it.
Don't check it though. Don't confirm it.
Gillian Jacobs:
Jim has a song called "Party is Party."
Jim Rash:
I have a song called "Party is Party"
and he is insistent that we lay these tracks. Now, don’t ask
him, don’t confirm it because he will be too humble to admit. But,
anyway, so yes, it should happen.
Jim, in an interview a while back you mentioned that if they ever
asked you to write for Community you would be “panicked.” Now, since then you’ve won an
Oscar of course so if that changed do you think they might actually
ask you to contribute as a writer?
Jim Rash:
(laughs) No! I can’t. I would
probably still say panicked only because I think that what they do
and where their brains go and what they do. I don’t know necessarily
if I would feel like, man, that would be too much pressure to come
aboard and even attempt what they have been able to do and the
places that they’ve been able to go. I feel it’s easier for me just
to get to act on the show. So, I don’t know if they’ll really need
me. Now, I will pitch some horrible story. I’m still panicked.
Have you given your Oscar statuette a name and if so what?
Jim Rash:
Oh, it’s Gillian. Sweet, sweet Gillian.
We’re hugging right now. I’m physically hugging her. I have not,
I’ll go with that. I haven’t bothered to name, but that seems like
an appropriate name to me.
I agree. We’ve talked about the seriously loyal fan following this
show has and the desire for six seasons and a movie. Is there
anything that you can recommend that fans could do to help build
that following and obviously tell their friends? Tweet? Facebook? Do
you have any more suggestions? I know fans have been doing a lot
already.
Gillian Jacobs:
Somebody suggested buying the episodes
on iTunes if you have extra cash which everyone does. Just has piles
of extra money. But, I think continuing to buy the DVD’s, buy the
episodes on iTunes, buy the merchandise and show NBC and Sony that
you’re willing to spend money on the show. If you are going to DVR
it, I hate to say this, but don’t fast forward through the ads
because it sort of disqualifies your viewing on DVR. So please don’t
fast forward the ads and then I think your viewing will count.
That’s something I learned recently.
Jim Rash:
Wow, I didn’t know that at all!
Gillian Jacobs: Yes. So sit through the ads, buy merch.
I’ve been told that our Troy and Abed in the Morning mugs are
incredibly popular at the NBC store in New York and they almost
can’t keep them in stock. So keep buying them!
Jim Rash:
Yes.
Thanks, that sounds like great advice.
Gillian Jacobs:
Yeah, that’s me, great-advice-giver
Jacobs!
