Plot[]
 The important thing is that you are the only one there for him. And you don't really care what he wants, just as long as you don't have to share him with the rest of the world because really, you are just as selfish as I am. You're just not as good at it yet.
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| — Jeff to Annie about her feelings for Troy |
| In the study room, Annie helps Troy study for his Astronomy class as the other study group members arrive for their daily study session. Dean Pelton arrives and introduces himself to the study group. He awkwardly segues into football and pretends he just noticed Troy, who he happens to know was a star quarterback at Riverside High School. The Dean asks Troy to join the school's football team, the Human Beings. He explains that Greendale recently changed the team name and is having trouble creating a mascot. Pierce offers to help with the mascot design but Troy decides not to join the football team because he was the best and, even though an injury ended his high school career, he finished on top. Disappointed, the Dean leaves but says that the offer still stands. Shirley gets up to go to the bathroom but is offended when Britta declines an invitation to join her. Britta promises to try again later in an attempt "to try some more mainstream feminine stuff."
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| During Professor Baker's Chemistry class Britta invites Shirley to the bathroom, much to Shirley's delight. Britta then fails to sympathize with Shirley's story about an inconsiderate driver and launches into a tirade about gender inequality, upsetting Shirley with her behavior. Jeff interrupts Dean Pelton's mascot brainstorming session with Pierce to protest the use of his face on a Greendale poster. The Dean offers to remove Jeff from all of Greendale's promotional materials if he convinces Troy to play football for Greendale. Britta sees Shirley walk to the bathroom and then confronts her when she exits. Shirley says that Britta must learn to be softer with her friends while in the bathroom. Britta reveals that other girls have always hated her and she doesn't want to pee alone anymore.
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| Jeff finds Troy and interrupts his study session with Annie to talk about football. Troy is unimpressed by the unfinished football field and players that include a midget and a pregnant woman. However, Jeff wins him over by appealing to Troy's ego, saying Troy will be popular and loved if he plays football again. Troy returns to Annie but she is incensed by his return to his arrogant jock ways. Jeff returns to the Dean's office and announces that Troy has agreed to play QB for the team. Dean Pelton and Pierce are making progress on the mascot, charting racial and gender characteristics in order to avoid using anything that could be recognized and, thus, offend.
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| Annie ambushes Jeff and accuses him of ruining Troy's life for selfish gain and threatens to tell Troy about Jeff's ulterior motives. Jeff counters that Annie is taking advantage of Troy's need for academic help to monopolize his time because she is in love with him. Deeply hurt, Annie scurries to the bathroom asking Shirley to join her. Britta follows Annie instead and manages to cheer her up. Shirley, who had apparently been eavesdropping, jumps in to celebrate Britta's success.
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| Jeff seeks out Troy at the pep rally to admit that he lied about how great playing football for Greendale would be. However, Troy reveals that he purposely injured himself because he was afraid that he might fail and there won't be any pressure playing for Greendale. He continues that Greendale is there because something went wrong in their life and encourages Jeff to accept where he is. Outside, Jeff apologizes to Annie, admitting that they were both wrong and he's trying to make peace with his situation in life. Pierce and Dean Pelton approach with the new mascot for the human beings, a person in a head-to-toe silver lycra suit. They all head in to the pep rally.
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End tag[]
| Troy and Abed sneak into the Administration office and use the PA to make humorously inane announcements. Two security guards bust in but pull up upon realizing that they look just like Troy and Abed.
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Recurring themes[]
Continuity[]
| Continuity lists | ||||||||
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Running gags[]
| List of Running gags |
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Recurring or debuting running gags in this episode:
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Pop culture references[]
| List of Pop culture references |
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References to popular culture in this episode:
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Meta references[]
| List of Meta references |
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Meta references in this episode:
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Trivia[]
- The Community The Complete First Season DVD commentary mentions that it took 39 takes for Troy to hit the football player in the head when he throws his pass.
- Signs seen at the pep rally indicate that the Greendale football team's next opponent will be "the Dentists".
- When Troy and Jeff are out on the football field palm trees can be seen in the far background. Colorado does not have any naturally growing palm trees as they cannot handle the intensely dry and cold climate. The scene was filmed at John Shepard Stadium, Pierce College's field in L.A.Images
Quotes[]
- “Well, look at this group having some kind of meeting and being so diverse. There is just, boy, there is just one of every kind of you, isn't there?”— Dean Pelton
- “Goodness. Look what we have stumbled onto. An opportunity to help each other out. I suppose I wouldn't need this promotional campaign if I could announce to the press that Troy Barnes is playing football here.”— Dean Pelton to Jeff Winger
- “I miss knowing what to think.”— Troy
- “You still know what to think, Troy.”— Jeff
- “Oh, good.”— Troy
- “I'm saying you're a football player! It's in your blood!”— Jeff
- “That's racist.”— Troy
- “Your soul!”
- “'That's racist.”
- “Your eyes?”
- “That's gay?”
- “That's homophobic!”
- “That's black!”
- “'That's racist!”
- “Damn!”
- “I think not being racist is the new racism.”— Jeff
- “The important thing is that you are the only one there for him. And you don't really care what he wants, just as long as you don't have to share him with the rest of the world because really, you are just as selfish as I am. You're just not as good at it yet.”— Jeff to Annie about her feelings for Troy
- “The Dean has pictures of me, okay. Horrible pictures of me, attending his school.”— Jeff
- “A life of disillusionment and depression begins on the other side of that door.”— Jeff
- “Hey, man. Is this your first pep rally or something?”— Eric
| Season One Episodes | ||
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1. "Pilot" |
14. "Interpretive Dance" |
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| Season One • Season Two • Season Three • Season Four • Season Five • Season Six | ||
