Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television - S6-E13
Trivia: In addition to being the final episode of the show, this is also the only episode to include harsh profanity, with two uses of the "f-word." The first was done as a joke by actor Jim Rash, who surprised the cast by saying the character Abed is "f***ed up" during a take. It was so unexpected and hilarious, they decided to just keep it in, as season six was produced for the internet and thus didn't need to cut around profanity. The second use of the word, by the character Britta, was written into the script, but meant to be bleeped out. However, as they decided to include Rash's adlib of the word, they decided not to bleep Britta's use of the word.
Trivia: "Community" shares some interesting connections with the cult-classic "so bad it's good" film "The Room." Co-star Gillian Jacobs is a massive fan of "The Room" and discovered during the filming of season three that one of "Community's" camera operators, Todd Barron, was actually the credited cinematographer of "The Room." (He was one of several DP's who worked on the film, but was the only one credited.) Jacobs and her co-star Alison Brie, who had heard of "The Room" but never seen it at the time, would constantly grill Barron on its production and ask him questions about it. Later, Brie would go on to co-star in the film adaptation of "The Disaster Artist", a book based on the making of "The Room."
The Psychology of Letting Go - S2-E3
Trivia: There is a storyline visible in the background of the episode during certain scenes. During the story, Abed is confronted by a pregnant female student, gets into a fight with her boyfriend, and then helps her deliver the baby in the back of a car.
Asian Population Studies - S2-E12
Trivia: When Joel McHale says "nice sweater" to Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Malcolm says "thanks, my dad gave it to me." The sweater looks just like the sweaters Bill Cosby wore on the Cosby Show. Bill Cosby played Malcolm Jamal Warner's dad on that show. (00:17:21)
Trivia: Though creator Dan Harmon didn't want to focus too much on this aspect, the show's "Will they/won't they?" relationships were originally going to be Jeff and Britta, and Troy and Annie. While this was the case for the first season, it was later changed to Jeff and Annie for one, and Britta and Troy for the other, with Jeff and Britta merely becoming on-again-off-again "friends with benefits" and Troy and Annie just being good friends. These changes were ultimately made based on the chemistry of the actors and the response from fans.
Trivia: The show repeatedly takes several swipes at the television series "Glee", particularly early on. This is because "Glee" was one of the show's main competitors during the first season, and it was a friendly jab at how "Glee" often got higher ratings.
Trivia: When Chang is being chased by Professor Hickey, he screams out his same-sex celebrity crush is Nathan Fillion. Nathan Fillion would end up appearing in the next episode as Bob Waite.
Cooperative Polygraphy - S5-E4
Trivia: Pierce's boat that he gives Troy to sail the world in is called the "Childish Tycoon." Donald Glover, who plays Troy, uses the stage name "Childish Gambino" in his music career.
Biology 101 - S3-E1
Trivia: This episode aired Sept 22, 2011 where Abed learns season 3 of the (real life) TV show "Cougar Town" is moving to mid-season, which he fears means an upcoming cancellation. Abed and Troy say "6 seasons and a movie" in regards to the show (a line previously used in reference to "The Cape", another favourite show of his). While no movie was made, "Cougar Town" did move to mid-season in 2012 and lasted for 6 seasons.
Aerodynamics of Gender - S2-E7
Trivia: When Abed is in his "Terminator" mode, the display shows references to later episodes (and at the time unaired). On the left is "Projected Cycles." In s02e08 we learn Abed inadvertently began tracking the girls' menstrual cycle. Under "Memos" there's "Record Cougartown. Troy's Birthday 14 days. Get Rudolph for Xmas. Confirm Mom for Xmas. Build blanket fort." Later we learn Abed loves the show, and in s02e19 he tells Jeff he was an extra on the show Cougartown (Abed/Danny Pudi does actually appear as an extra in the show). In s02e10, the group celebrates Troy's birthday (while still respecting his Jehovah's Witnesses believes). In s02e11, we learn Abed's Mom comes to visit every December 9th and they watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. In s02e09, Abed and Troy build a blanket fort. Additionally, s03e14 is the episode with multiple massive blanket and pillow forts.
Trivia: Near the end Pierce suggests turning #OldWhiteManSays, which has 600,000 twitter followers, into a TV show. He says "how about Old White Man Says..." (where he non-verbally implies a curse word) and everyone replies, no one would watch it. This episode aired the same day as the TV show "S#*! My Dad Says", which is based on a real twitter account posting crazy things someone's old, white dad says. "S#*! My Dad Says" was cancelled after only 18 episodes while "Community" ended up airing 84 more episodes.
Trivia: Troy says he's Jehovah's Witness. In real life, actor Donald Glover was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. Annie says she's Jewish. In real life, actress Allison Brie's mother is Jewish, making her Jewish as well.
Advanced Documentary Filmmaking - S4-E6
Trivia: When Chang and Jeff are discussing his Changnesia, Chang says his short-term memory is getting better and rolls up his sleeve to read the words "side-effect" that he's written on the inside of his arm. On the side of his arm that's facing the camera, he's written a reminder to "Rent Memento." (00:08:50)
Trivia: Britta's parents, George and Deb, are played by Martin Mull and Lesley Ann Warren. Mull and Warren stared together in Clue (Col. Mustard and Miss Scarlet) where they were paired together to search the house.
Trivia: Pierce's father is named Cornelius, which is Chevy Chase's real first name.
Cooperative Polygraphy - S5-E4
Trivia: This episode features a storyline involving the "Ass Crack Bandit", a student (or teacher) who is notorious on campus for dropping coins down the pants of students and faculty members. This entire storyline is a callback to the Season 2 episode "Intro to Political Science", in which the character Annie makes a brief passing reference to the "Ass Crack Bandit" during a speech.
Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations - S4-E5
Trivia: During the fifth episode of Season Four ("Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations"), Dean Pelton is shown to be wearing a cowboy's outfit during one scene. This is a very close replica of the cowboy costume Jeff Winger wears in the Season One Halloween episode "Introduction to Statistics." Later, during the seventh episode of Season Four ("Economics of Marine Biology"), when Pelton's pants are pulled down, it becomes clear that he is wearing the same underpants as Jeff from the Season One episode "Physical Education." It is confirmed in the DVD commentary that these are just two of many subtle examples of Pelton emulating Jeff's style, due to Pelton's obsessive crush on Jeff.
Trivia: At one point in developing Season/Series 2, the character Chang was going to have a radically different storyline. It was originally going to be revealed that he had a twin that he had eaten or absorbed while inside of his mother's uterus. He was then going to have visions of this deceased twin that would torment him and act as his "evil side." This idea was dropped, presumably for being too dark and too strange.
Answer: His attempt to "kill" Jeff was to roll at him as an iPad on a stick. He knew it wouldn't work, but it played to the story that he was a killer as he knew Jeff would tell people about it, or attempt to retaliate for it.