Community has many memorable characters to thank for its lasting popularity, but some stand the test of time better than others. Aside from being arguably Dan Harmon’s best TV show to date, Community is one of the greatest sitcoms of the 2010s, and its absurd brand of comedy remains in a league of its own. What started as an ode to Harmon’s community college education went off the rails in the best way possible, prioritizing creativity over realism and allowing stop-motion Christmas specials, musical extravaganzas, and weekly pastiches that no modern series can hold a candle to.

The six-season satire may have wrapped up its main storyline all the way back in 2015, but the franchise as a whole lives on over a decade later. Unsurprisingly, fans of the original series are eagerly awaiting the Community film sequel that was promised as early as season 3 (when “six seasons and a movie” became a recurring in-show joke). Yet, regardless of what the future holds story-wise, there’s no denying that Community has already created some of the best sitcom characters of the century.

Magnitude

Played By: Luke Youngblood

Luke Youngblood’s Magnitude may have only appeared in 15 episodes of Community, but he left his mark on Greendale Community College (and the world at large). The audience never learns what his full name is— or if Magnitude is his real name at all— but that air of obscurity is only fitting for a character who is the living embodiment of a bit.

Magnitude’s claim to fame, both in Community‘s universe and in the fandom, is his signature catchphrase: “pop-pop.” During student government elections, a grisly paintball massacre, or a totally inconsequential cutaway, Magnitude raising his hands with a smile always injects a surreal serotonin boost to the scene. Of course, his very existence is a play on sitcom characters with an unnecessary gimmick, but Magnitude works because his gimmick is all that he is— and, truthfully, it’s all that he needed to be.

Todd Jacobson

Played By: David Neher

Traditionally, comedic sitcoms use formulaic character archetypes to fill out their ensemble cast, but Community intentionally subverts every expectation. Unlike the typical straight man who is seen as a respectable voice of reason that cuts through other characters’ inanity, Todd Jacobson (David Neher) is ostracized for being too normal. In fact, the central study group is overwhelmingly wary of him because of his non-wacky nature.

There are numerous plots that revolve around Todd being the odd one out (for not being odd), and they often make some of Community‘s best episodes. Watching a decorated veteran with a calm head on his shoulders be pushed to the brink by a Law & Order parody isn’t something most shows could pull off, but Neher’s performance— and Community‘s killer scripts— made it fit in seamlessly.

Alex “Star-Burns” Osbourne

Played By: Dino Stamatopoulos

Alex “Star-Burns” Osbourne (Dino Stamatopoulos) started out as a visual gag more than anything else, but the more Community revealed about his character, the more fans loved him. Star-Burns is one of the strangest side characters in modern TV history, and it’s borderline impossible to fully understand who he is— and, more importantly, why he did everything he did throughout the course of the series.

Community fans mainly remember Star-Burns for his awkward line delivery, off-putting personality, and overall sketchy stage presence, but his most important storyline came in season 3, when the side character notably faked his own death. Everything from the over-the-top memorial service to the grand reveal of his survival felt like a delightful fever dream, which is ironically the best description of his character in general.

Britta Perry

Played By: Gillian Jacobs

It’s no secret that the main characters introduced in Community‘s pilot are unrecognizable from the loveable misfits viewers know and love, but Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs) probably had the biggest transformation. In the first episode, she’s an effortlessly sexy, manic pixie dream girl-adjacent love interest who inspires Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) to form the study group in hopes of forming a comically awful sitcom couple.

By the end of the series, however, Britta is an oddball through and through. She becomes the laughingstock of the show for her performative activism and quirky humor, but that only made her more endearing. Whether you love to hate Britta or simply love her, Community leaning into her weirdness irrefutably saved her character.​​​​​​

Jeff Winger

Played By: Joel McHale

Similarly, Jeff starts out as a dastardly yet dashing heartthrob who is only attending Greendale to reclaim his career as an ace attorney. Naturally, that facade soon crumbles as he grows closer to the study group and begins showing off his true self— the narcissistic yet insecure, friendly yet apathetic, suave yet unhinged side he initially tries to hide.

Jeff’s original character is much more familiar for fans of popular hangout sitcoms, but there’s something magical about a so-called protagonist severely lacking self-awareness. Of course, he goes through the cliché character arc of growing a heart and learning where his true loyalties lie, but it wouldn’t have been half as interesting if he weren’t in a constant state of denial.​​​​​​

Annie Edison

Played By: Alison Brie​​​​​

Alison Brie’s Annie Edison is a particularly peculiar case, as it sometimes feels as though there are two different versions of Annie that the show likes to include. On one hand, there’s the uptight academic overachiever who is chaste and often scandalized by the others’ antics. At the other end of the spectrum is the more open Annie, who loves stuffed animals and glitter pens but will tactically manipulate those around her by any means necessary.

While a lesser title would feel confused with such clashing character traits, Community makes Annie work by establishing the pivotal distinction of public versus private personas. The Annie Edison sitting up straight at Model UN isn’t the same Annie Edison gallivanting in the Dreamatorium or staging a break-in to cover up a broken Batman DVD. As such, her complexity is what makes her so intriguing.​​​​​​

Troy Barnes

Played By: Donald Glover

Troy Barnes (Donald Glover) begins as a disenchanted former jock who relishes low blows, but the real Troy that Community develops is incredibly charming. The sitcom quickly abandons the chip on his shoulder and instead makes Troy a bit absentminded and naive, which balances out the overall group much better.

By freeing him from the constraints of the jock stereotype, Troy becomes one of Community‘s most sympathetic characters. The series may poke fun at his silliness on occasion, but he has a heart of gold and enough optimism to spare. Plus, he’s half of one of the best sitcom duos of all time.​​​​​​

Abed Nadir

Played By: Danny Pudi

Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi), Troy’s platonic soulmate, completes the iconic pair, but he stands out as one of Community‘s most interesting characters on his own. Potentially the biggest film and TV buff on earth, Abed is responsible for the bulk of Community‘s references to pop culture and genre-based tributes. His interest toes the line of obsession, but that never reads as a negative trait.

When Community delves into Abed’s character and explores how he uses media to escape his trauma and insecurities, it’s a masterclass in Autism representation. Yet, it’s just as satisfying when the sitcom simply allows Abed to be a soundboard of impressions and classic movie quotes without a deeper explanation. Whether it’s the tip of the iceberg or the bottom of the ocean, Abed is by far the most complex character on Community‘s roster.

Ben Chang

Played By: Ken Jeong

Whereas Abed has emotional depth, Ben Chang (Ken Jeong) has the most narrative range. The enigmatic character is originally Señor Chang, an under-qualified Spanish professor with a temper. From there, he goes on a wild journey as a campus security guard and a full-blown dictator.

After his boss battle as an unforgettable sitcom villain, Chang basically gets a clean slate thanks to his “Changnesia” hoax. For the latter half of the series, Chang’s goal is all about infiltrating the study group, to the point where he hides atop bookshelves and inside of vents just to eavesdrop on their conversations. Community gives Chang so many arcs, it feels as though he’s ten characters in one— and each is legendary in their own right.​​​​​​

Dean Craig Pelton

Played By: Jim Rash

As fascinating as the rest of the cast is, there would be no Community without Dean Craig Pelton (Jim Rash). The eccentric administrator initially emulates overzealous college faculty, but once Community lets the dean roam free, he transcends every label, archetype, and boundary in sitcom history.

Every scene with the dean is a moment savored by the viewer, be it his intricate costumes, his hilarious physical comedy, or his function in the overarching story. The dean bulldozes his way into the main cast, and by the time he gets there, the audience is left wondering why he would ever be considered a mere side character. The dean’s cultural significance is undeniably a major reason for Community‘s long-lasting success, and he’s the character every fan remembers most when the credits roll, fondly or otherwise.​​​​​​​

Release Date

2009 – 2015-00-00

Network

NBC, Yahoo! Screen

Directors

Tristram Shapeero, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Rob Schrab, Jay Chandrasekhar, Adam Davidson, Justin Lin, Steven K. Tsuchida, Kyle Newacheck, Victor Nelli Jr., Nat Faxon, Michael Patrick Jann, Anthony Hemingway, Ken Whittingham, Steven Sprung, Tricia Brock, Jeff Melman, Gail Mancuso, Duke Johnson, Fred Goss, Bobcat Goldthwait, Richard Ayoade, Seth Gordon, Beth McCarthy-Miller

Writers

Chris McKenna, Hilary Winston, Andrew Guest, Tim Hobert, Karey Dornetto, Stephen Basilone, Emily Cutler, Annie Mebane, Alex Rubens, Tim Saccardo, Paul Isakson, David Seger, Maggie Bandur, Monica Padrick, Matt Murray, Liz Cackowski, Lauren Pomerantz, Dan Guterman, Matt Roller, Ryan Ridley, Carol Kolb, Jon Pollack, Dino Stamatopoulos, Donald Diego