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'Community': What's with all the Barenaked Ladies talk? Here's our theory.
Forget that Pierce (Chevy Chase) hallucinated about a mini version of Andy Dick. And that Britta (Gillian Jacobs) made out with a girl.
Thursday's (Feb. 10) episode of "Community" made some pretty funny jokes around the nineties band, Barenaked Ladies, while making references to its powerhouse competition for the 8 p.m. timeslot, "The Big Bang Theory." Or, that's our take.
The Canadian band (which, like the study group, we'll refer to as "BNL" going forward) scored its biggest hit in 1999 with "One Week." But they also recorded "The Big Bang Theory's" theme song in 2007 at the request of their big fans, the series creators, Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady.
So, tell us if we're stretching here, but you can totally play back that scene and see they're making all kinds of references to their CBS competition:
"The Barenaked ladies are triple platinum, are you?" - Troy (Donald Glover)
Translation: "The Big Bang Theory" has really high ratings.
"Why does everyone leap to defend that band so aggressively?" - Jeff (Joel McHale)
Translation: A nod to that show's dedicated nerd herd audience.
"And maybe, 'BNL' has two Billboard awards to your zero?" - Annie (Alison Brie)
Translation: A gesture to Jim Parsons' two major lead actor awards (an Emmy and a Golden Globe) to the zero major awards for McHale, perhaps. He needs some love, award shows!
"They're 'BNL' now? We need a shorthand for the Barenaked Ladies. That's how fundamental they are." - Jeff
Translation: Obviously, a reference to the "TBBT" acronym for "The Big Bang Theory" and the love of their maniacal fan base, once again.
Gosh, we haven't felt this fulfilled since we watched "The Sixth Sense" for the first time -- before M. Night Shyamalan's shtick got tired.
Re-watch the scene below:
It all makes sense now, right?
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Photo/Video credit: NBC
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Didn't even think about it this way..... but thanks for the analysis/interpretation! I absolutuely LOVE this show and tonight was another example of the creativity that the writers, and the cast have in spades! And I like that the show is incorporating some continuity with Pierce and the painkillers and that might be a cause to his really grating behavior this season.... Looks like we'll find out next week!
Can I borrow your tin foil hat? ;-) Great episode last night.
stretching I'd say.
From creator Dan Harom's Twitter:
"Didn't know BNL did TBBT theme song. Wasn't a coded lunge for the throat of arch enemy @billprady. Musings confined to perception of BNL."
Relax, not everything has to be double layered on Community.
Barenaked Ladies is still one of the most successful touring bands in the U.S. They're actually wrapping up their annual cruise right now. I'm happy to see they have so many fans :). I love TBBT theme. All of BNL's new stuff is good, too.
The band is still recording music after 22 years. Technically, they're an 80s, 90s, 00s, and 10s band. Their last album "All in Good Time" (2010) hit #2 on the Billboard Rock charts and #1 on the Independent charts.
The band's lead singer, Steven Page, left in 2009 but the band's still charting (hit #2 on Billboard rock charts last year) and Steven Page is making great music, too. A bunch of underrated, talented guys. They deserve the recognition.
Whether it was a reference or not...Community is so much better than BBT.
How about that reference to tacos in the briefcase that Troy was holding?
Hot Librarian: What's in the briefcase?
Troy: Oh, tacos. You want one?
Hot Librarian: No.
Troy: Great. We really wanted them.
Abed: Yeah. We'll eat them.
Did anyone get that? I think I rolled off my couch over that one.