Parents' Guide to

Community

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

College comedy's wit trumps some stereotyping.

TV NBC Comedy 2009
Community Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 11+

Based on 15 parent reviews

Chris P.
Chris P. Parent of 4-year-old
March 9, 2023
age 2+

jeffery 😘

Jeff winger! Baby! Love ya! ooooooohwahhhhh!!!! Abed

This title has:

Great role models
Too much consumerism
1 person found this helpful.
Cayla P.
Cayla P. Parent of 6 and 13-year-old
January 3, 2023
age 13+

Best Show Ever

I loved this show sooo much. There are many nerdy references. There is also quite a bit of innuendo but nothing too bad. Pierce makes rather offensive jokes and assumptions, but other than that I loved this show.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

COMMUNITY centers on Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), a sharp-witted lawyer who finds himself at Greendale Community College after his degree gets revoked. Hoping to attract the attention of fellow student Britta (Gillian Jacobs) while scoring some easy As, Jeff forms a Spanish study group that unexpectedly brings together an eclectic group of students -- including pop-culture junkie Abed (Danny Pudi), hippie-turned-businessman Pierce (Chevy Chase), middle-aged divorcee Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), neurotic perfectionist Annie (Alison Brie), and former high school jock Troy (Donald Glover). Things tend to get a little crazy, especially when the group goes up against Chang (Ken Jeong). But as Jeff learns that street smarts don't replace book smarts, he also finds himself getting a social education.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (15):
Kids say (85):

Created by the directors of Arrested Development, this well-written series successfully mixes traditional sitcom humor with some of the quirky social interactions made famous in The Breakfast Club. It's also mildly edgy thanks to the way the humor plays off of stereotypes associated with community colleges, the professors who teach there, and the people who attend them.

The members of the study group are far from perfect, but buried within the jokes is a positive message about the importance of getting an education at any age, as well as the importance of friendship. It's definitely funny, and ultimately, Community manages to score high marks.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether it's ever appropriate to use stereotypes to create humor. Why or why not? How are stereotypes used in Community?

  • Would you consider the characters role models? Are their relationships realistic? How do they change over the course of the series? What do they learn?

  • What's the difference between a community college and a university? What are the benefits of attending one or the other? Disadvantages?

  • How do the characters on Community demonstrate communication, self-control, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate