Cedars, October 2020

Fall 2020 6 Gen-Zer’s have gotten to see an idealized picture of the culture and style of the late 90s and early 2000s. Viewers of “Friends” will always be able to relate to at least one of the six main characters. The cast’s personalities are wide-ranging, but each is hilarious and endearing in its own way. Whether you re- late to Monica’s OCD, Chandler’s defensive humor, or Joey’s ineptitude, “Friends” has something for everybody. The actors’ chemistry is palpable and draws the audience in. Throughout the show, several different relationships form within the group. Most end in cringe-wor- thy (albeit entertaining) breakups, though one couple (no spoilers) ends up happily married. Despite all the relationship drama, however, the group all remain close friends. If you haven’t watched “Friends,” then you are missing out on a multitude of quotable moments, from “Ms. Chanandler Bong” to “We were on a break!” Most of the moments are hilarious because of the high- ly specific scenarios from which they arise, which means you’ll only understand them if you know their context. Trust me, I felt left out for most of my life until I was finally persuaded to watch this show last summer. Thankfully, I can now banter with “Friends” quotes, which has added a new level of sophistication to my conversations. So watch it. You won’t be disappointed. Abigail Hintz is a junior Journalism ma- jor and the Sports and Digital Editor for Cedars. She loves reading, playing Spike- ball with her friends, and watching soccer 24/7. New Girl By Lauren Ryan A delightful mixture of humor, wit, and comradery, “New Girl” draws its view- ers into the sitcom dream of getting to live with your best friends. The story begins when Jess (Zooey De- schanel) moves into a tiny New York apart- ment with three guys: the lovable grouch Nick (Jake Johnson), the self-proclaimed “top dog” Schmidt (Max Greenfield), and Latvian basketball-pro Winston (Lam- orne Morris). As she navigates Nick’s dirty socks, Schmidt’s obsessive cleanliness, and Winston’s lengthy showers, she finds her happy place with her middle-school best friend Cece (Hannah Simone). This unforgettable crew typical- ly hangs out in their loft, a place for light-hearted jokes, dinner parties, and the occasional emotional breakdown. It is in this place that these strangers first become friends and, later, a veritable family. They tease each other about their weaknesses, but they also have each other’s back when the moment calls for it. Overall, the show has a comfortably laid-back tone that makes viewers feel as if they are also a part of the loft family. What makes “New Girl” great is how its characters grow throughout the series. Jess learns to be more flexible, Nick gains more confidence, Schmidt learns humility, Cece grows kinder, and Winston becomes more self-aware. Yet they are still real people with everyday problems, and the show makes a point to focus on the characters’ daily strug- gles even in the midst of their growth in a way that feels authentic and relatable. Lauren Ryan is a senior Professional Writing & Information Design major. She serves as the Campus Editor for Cedars. You can probably spot her around cam- pus by her bright yellow backpack. On a regular day, she’s most likely hanging out with friends or setting up a hammock. Community By Ben Hiett On the surface, “Community” follows the antics of the sardonic Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) and his motley group of friends, but at its core, it’s a satirical commentary on classic sitcom tropes. This careful bal- ance of irreverence and sincerity makes it a sitcom unlike any other. The word “meta” doesn’t even begin to describe how showrunner Dan Harmon meticulously crafts and layers the show’s offbeat, referential humor. The writing is gleefully self-aware, especially in the case of Abed (Danny Pudi), a nerdy movie buff who inter - prets the events of the show through the lens of cine- matic storytelling. “Community” is an extraordinarily high- concept show. Entire episodes are devoted to lampooning a particular sitcom trope or a specific film genre. These parodies are not meant to mock these tropes but rather to celebrate them in all their clichéd glory. However, even the most intricately craft- ed concept episodes would fall flat without characters to laugh with and invest in. Harmon creates each character to superficially check the boxes for a classic sitcom stereotype, but then he turns these stereotypes on their heads. They’re not only lovably wacky misanthropes but also vulnerable, often dysfunctional human be- ings. The situations they find themselves in are usually ridiculous and over-the-top, but they also have to deal with the person- al consequences of those situations. “Community” is a show with a lot go- ing on. It’s not made for casual watching or to just have on in the background. Rather, this wildly original take on sitcoms works to earn its audience’s attention with its masterfully planned-out humor and ridic- ulous yet relatable characters. Its specific brand of weird might not be for everyone, but for those who enjoy it, it’s a hilarious, off-the-wall delight. Ben Hiett is a senior Molecular Biology major and the Arts and Entertainment Editor for Cedars. When he’s not pre- tending to study, he loves watching mov- ies, looking them up on Wikipedia after- wards, and hanging with the boys. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Zoe Deschanel stars as Jess in “New Girl.” e