BWW Recap: Learn the Art of 'Grifting 101' on COMMUNITY

In this episode of COMMUNITY, we learn all about "Grifting 101." The new Greendale course catalog is out, which includes a class in Grifting. When Jeff tells them the class would be a joke, since he himself is a grifter, the group decides to take it just to rub it in Jeff's face. However, they find out that Jeff was right, and the class, taught by Professor Roger DeSalvo-guest star Matt Berry-is just one big grift in itself.

The group tries to get Jeff to help them grift DeSalvo, but he refuses, that is until DeSalvo calls Jeff a liar, and not a grifter, which pisses Jeff off, since no one is allowed to be better than him or question his status. Jeff tells the group he's in, and after a long string of what seems like DeSalvo beating the group, and then being in on it with Britta, the gang is able to grift DeSalvo and get him to leave the school. The plan involved many things, including a fake African Telegram scheme, Roger falling down the stairs, Britta being expelled, Britta falling for Roger, and a very loud suitcase switch. In the end, the group was victorious and decides to celebrate with hot dogs.

Okay, so, not going to lie, I thought grifting was a fake word during this entire episode, only to realize that it actually is a word to describe swindling. My bad. Regardless of my lack of vocabulary knowledge, this episode was pretty ridiculous. Using the model of the 1973 film, The Sting, the episode was broken up into parts that included "The Set-Up" and "Watching The Sting." I have never seen the movie, but I learned from this episode that grifting takes way too much work, and also involves way too much construction and hiring of people to play roles.

This episode also plays into Jeff's insecurities again, and this time it's his inability to allow anyone to be a better liar/grifter than he is. At one point, Jeff even tells the group, "I need this! I need to be better than this guy!" Jeff always acts like the uncaring, cool one, but his insecurities are so extreme that I'm worried he's going to explode soon. Though, I have to admit, the scene where he's talking in circles about how their grift is working because DeSalvo knows they're grifting him but it's not the grift that they're actually doing until Annie shuts him down realizing his making it up as he goes along is a great moment, and classic Jeff.

However, my favorite part of the episode hands down was the guest starring appearance of Matt Berry. I am a huge THE IT CROWD fan, and it was so great to be able to see Berry in white linen clothing saying nonsense, just like his character on The IT Crowd. He was perfect casting for a grifter, because he has a natural talent at talking and talking without actually saying anything important. Berry could probably get me to buy a $150 suitcase, too! He is so outlandish and hilarious; I only wish he had a bigger role on the show.

Favorite Little Moments:

-The use of "The Entertainer" aka the piano song every piano student learns.

-Chang telling the group about his diabetes, and laughing off the fact he isn't getting treated yet

-Elroy trying to explain the study group's backstory: "She started it as a fake biology group so she could have sex with, uh...Troy?"

-Leonard giving the finger to DeSalvo

-Frankie's reaction to Officer Cackowski saying she and her disabled sister "could be twins."

-Ryan Ridley in The Guy From Jeff's Gym

Favorite Quotes from The Episode:

-Annie: "Oh, this is one of those things where Jeff gets jealous of something dumb."

-DeSalvo looking in a mirror: "I want to speak to you, you son of a bitch" "What?" "I love you." "I love you too."

-Frankie to the teachers in the teacher's lounge: "You don't have to go teach a class, but you can't stay here."

-Jeff: "Can an idiot walk backwards like this and not hit anything?

-Jeff: "Abed, how about you marry The Sting!"

-Annie: "So much construction!"

-DeSalvo: "You hit me, with a woman's hand!"

-Frankie: "Are you counting the amount of money, or the number of stacks?"

-Annie: "You can't expel Britta, she's been here 6 years! 3 more and she'll have her tw- year degree!"

-Leonard: "Briefcases, coming right through, identical briefcases!"

-Chang: "We were all in on it this whole time?" Annie: "You weren't!" Chang: "Because I cant be trusted!"

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Make sure to leave your comments/favorite moments below, or tweet me at @k8linmilligan! I'll see you next Tuesday as I recap the newest episode of COMMUNITY, only on Yahoo! Screen!

Photos Courtesy of Yahoo!

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