'Community' is back in session for cast script reading to support COVID-19 relief efforts

Bill Keveney, USA TODAY
·2 min read

This is one online class TV comedy fans are not going to want to miss.

"Community," the cult-favorite comedy that ran for five seasons on NBC and one on Yahoo! Screen, will reopen Greendale Community College one time only for a COVID-19 charity table read featuring the show's cast and its creator, Dan Harmon.

Jeff Winger, Britta Perry and their study group partners will return as the cast reads Season 5's "Cooperative Polygraphy" on Sony Picture Television's "Community" YouTube channel. (It will post May 18 at 5 EDT/2 PDT.)

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The cast of "Community" - Danny Pudi, left, Jim Rash, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, Joel McHale, Alison Brie and Ken Jeong, seen in November 2019 - will return for a YouTube table read and a Q&A on May 18 to raise money for COVID-19 food relief efforts.
The cast of "Community" - Danny Pudi, left, Jim Rash, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, Joel McHale, Alison Brie and Ken Jeong, seen in November 2019 - will return for a YouTube table read and a Q&A on May 18 to raise money for COVID-19 food relief efforts.

The table read, which will feature the cast taking part remotely, will be followed by a Q&A with Harmon and participating cast members, including Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Jim Rash and Ken Jeong. Fans can submit questions using #AskCommunity and tagging @CommunityTV on Twitter.

Variety first reported the reunion news Thursday.

"Community," which ran from 2009 to 2015, wasn't a ratings giant but developed an enthusiastic following based on the show's masterful use of meta humor and the appeal of the study group members, a varied assortment of characters who combined to make an engaging comedic class.

The fifth-season episode, "Polygraphy," focuses on the study group members being forced to take lie-detector tests after the unexpected death of classmate Pierce Hawthorne. Pierce's death followed the departure from the show of Chevy Chase, who is not involved in the table read.

After Pierce's unexpected passing, a team of investigators headed by the no-nonsense Mr. Stone arrives at Greendale to subject the study group to lie detector tests before they can be considered for distributions under the will.

The script reading and Q&A, in partnership with producing studio Sony Pictures Television, is designed to raise money and awareness for José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen and Frontline Foods in support of their efforts to get fresh meals to COVID-19 front line responders and vulnerable communities across the country.

"Community" is the latest classic sitcom to come out of retirement to raise money for COVID-19 relief efforts. "Parks and Recreation" received a warm welcome from fans last week when the cast came back for a new NBC episode that featured the characters dealing with social-distancing and stay-at-home rules in the age of coronavirus.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Community' cast to join for online table-read and Q&A fundraiser