NBC’s ‘Community’ season 5 brilliantly spoofs ‘Mad Men’ promos (video)

“Community” continues to hit home run after home run with their promotional strategy for season 5, and in between this and some of the early buzz surrounding the episodes ahead (it’s awesome so far), there is finally a little bit of a reason to start getting excited again about what was once the best comedy on TV.

Of course, what makes this “Community” promo bad to probably 95% of the human population (if not more than that) is that in order to get the joke, you have to be not only a fan of “Mad Men,” but also someone who watches the horribly-frustrating promos that AMC puts out. Rather than actually telling you anything that is coming up in episodes ahead, Matt Weiner decides instead to just give you tiny out-of-context soundbytes that give you no sense of what the story is going to be. So for “Community” to do that is great, but for them to do that in a way that also incorporates some great visuals makes it even better.

Basically, NBC’s marketing department really deserves something here in the way of recognition, though we also realize that they probably have more at stake in this show than they probably ever thought they would. Our feeling is that the network really believed that their family comedies were going to work, especially “The Michael J. Fox Show.” Since that didn’t happen, the focus now has to be more on making sure they can at least have one show possibly decent enough to get renewed. “Parks and Recreation” is on the fence, but bringing back Dan Harmon may be enough to get the ratings up just a few tenths here in the 18-49 demographic versus last season.

“Community’s” new season starts January 2, and regardless of whatever else is airing, we’re going to be there all season long to review the episodes immediately after they air. That’s right: Greendale Community College will always be top priority.