Community: The Funniest Episodes of the Series, Ranked

Community, created by Dan Harmon, ran from 2009 to 2015. The show focused on students who form a study group at Greendale Community College. Led by Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), who had to return to school because of an illegitimate law degree, the group also consisted of Britta (Gillian Jacobs), Annie (Alison Brie), Troy (Donald Glover), Abed (Danny Pudi), Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), and Pierce (Chevy Chase), who get into mischief together. Despite some creative shake-ups, then a cancelation and revival before a final cancelation, the show remained consistently funny, with some episodes standing out. Here are the funniest episodes, ranked.

9 Documentary Filmmaking: Redux

A scene from Community — Sony Pictures Television

This episode sees Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) take the lead as director of a commercial about Greendale. The Dean slips into near-madness as the commercial progresses, shutting down the school and going way over budget. The other characters are hilarious by being themselves: Abed hides behind the camera in filming a documentary, while Pierce rents a trailer and demands another. Finally, Jeff, at first annoyed at having to portray the Dean, ends up wearing a bald cap and completely embracing the character. It’s a fun episode that lets the Dean take a starring role while everyone shines in being themselves.

8 Cooperative Polygraphy

Community was known for its bottle episodes, and this is a strong one. Shortly after Pierce’s funeral, the study group sits at their table, and is asked to take a polygraph test – organized by Pierce, to see if one of the group murdered him. The group reveals dark secrets, argues, and grows suspicious of each other, before ending things by sharing Pierce’s last words for them and receiving gifts from him. It’s an emotional end to a funny episode, with great moments from the whole cast; they even reunited for a virtual table-read of the episode as a COVID relief fundraiser, according to Variety.

7 Basic Lupine Urology

This is a great example of the show following the format and style of another genre. In this episode, where the group investigates who killed the yam they were growing for a science project, Community becomes Law and Order, complete with Troy and Abed in long detective coats. After the investigation, they hold court, with Annie harshly questioning the suspects and Jeff uncovering the final answer. Everyone thrives in their law-inspired roles, and it creates a great episode.

6 Contemporary American Poultry

Another play on a different genre – this time, a mafia movie – sees the group running a scam that gets them inside the cafeteria to skim chicken tenders for themselves. The great idea predictably spirals, as Abed starts selling more chicken tenders in exchange for favors for the group, until they grow spoiled. Jeff finally shuts the operation down, after a sweet moment where he realizes that Abed liked doing it to connect with people. It’s a great episode, and the fact that it’s based around chicken tenders perfectly matches the show’s absurdity with its skill at paying tribute to different genres.

5 Pillows and Blankets

Done in the style of Ken Burns’ Civil War documentary, this episode tells of the epic, campus-wide war that erupts when Abed and Troy disagree about whether pillow forts or blanket forts are better. Forts are attacked, plans are laid, and messages are intercepted in this thrilling and funny battle. Troy and Abed are the stars, but Jeff has a great moment where he shows how much he cares for his friends, and Britta has a typical Britta moment where her photos of the war all come out terrible, save for one unintentional picture.

4 Modern Warfare

The first of the show’s paintball-themed episodes is still great. After the Dean announces a paintball game with the prize of priority class registration, the game evolves into an all-out war. The destroyed campus is covered in paint, with the students forming alliances. It has all the drama and thrills of a major action movie, plus some softer moments as the survivors join together, and Jeff and Britta finally giving in to their sexual tension. It still remains one of the show’s best, and funniest.

3 Remedial Chaos Theory

Even if you haven’t seen this episode, you’ve likely seen its most famous shot: Troy entering the apartment with pizza to see Pierce bleeding from a gunshot wound and the whole place on fire. The shot comes from an innocent start, as the group rolls dice to see who has to go get the pizza. Each roll shows the alternate realities created by a different person getting the pizza, ranging from Britta getting engaged to the pizza delivery man to Jeff and Annie kissing. It’s an intricate episode that highlights its characters and what they bring to the show, with layers of humor and complexity.

2 Cooperative Calligraphy

This bottle episode starts off innocently enough, as Annie can’t find her pen. However, she insists one of the group took it, which leads to everyone staying in the room to find it. Things escalate until everyone ends up naked and the study room is completely torn apart. The search also reveals lots of disturbing things about everyone, like Abed tracking menstrual cycles and Shirley’s hidden pregnancy test. Locked in the room for the whole episode, the cast makes the episode exciting and hilarious from start to finish. The Ringer considers it one of TV’s best bottle episodes ever, and it deserves the recognition.

1 Paradigms of Human Memory

For an episode with very little plot, “Paradigms of Human Memory” still manages to be funny and heartfelt. After the group blames Jeff and Britta for all their problems and things become a giant argument, everyone shares memories that push their own points, with a great use of “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles. It’s styled like a clip show, with the group reflecting on their adventures, with the irony of all the adventures being things the audience has never seen happen. It ends with an inspirational speech from Jeff, composed of past inspirational speeches. It lovingly pokes fun at the show and the characters, while celebrating what makes it all so perfect and funny.