Paleyfest: 'Community'

By TODD KUSHIGEMACHI

Fans of NBC's college-set comedy staple "Community," which is set to make its return to the Peacock lineup March 15, showed their Human Being spirit at the Saturday night Paleyfest sesh at the Saban Theater in BevHIlls.

Following a screening of that same unseen upcoming episode, "Community" creator Dan Harmon and much of the cast chatted about the show''s somewhat tenuous future and on-set shenanigans.

Harmon was quick to note that the 8 p.m. Thursday timeslot was "a hazardous environment" and actress Gillian Jacobs said the network had "Britta'd it," in reference to how her character is always messing up.

One of the biggest rounds of applause was given to Jim Rash, who plays Greendale's Dean Pelton, as Rash came on stage with his Oscar. Rash, also a screenwriter, just picked up the trophy last week when he won the Academy Award for his adapted screenplay of "The Descendants."

During the audience Q&A at the end of the evening, Jacobs honored a request to re-enact her "pizza, pizza in my tummy" dance. Then, engaging with his fans, literally, Danny Pudi ran into the crowd to give a woman a hug, much to her delight.

"We'd do anything for you guys," Jacobs said.