Big Bang Theory Vs. Community

This was one of the most hyped time-slot battles all summer and it had me very concerned as I love, or should I say loved both of these shows.

The season has started and the nerds from Big Bang Theory are totally destroying the gang from Greendale at an almost 3 to 1 rating everyweek.  Things aren't looking good for Community to get a third season.  Personally, I feel that Community has changed and isn't the same show it was last year.  Last year the show was about the sexual tension between the main characters Britta and Jeff and the adventures that tension took the gang.  This year it's totally about pop culture references and how they can write the show to get to one of those references or an Abed and Troy comedic moment. 

Most people will tell you that the best Big Bang episode is one that centers around Sheldon and that's because he's so socially awkward and you can't wait to see what totally crazy thing he'll do next or what totally insane thing he'll say.  After watching an episode of Community this year, I feel they're trying to do the same thing and it's totally not working.  Troy and Abed aren't the same socially awkard people, they're funny; but the show appears to be losing it's direction.  It's totally left the stories that made it great last year. 

The big final kiss between Jeff and Annie and Britta declaring her love for Jeff have been swept under the rug so fast this year that you almost forget that they ever happened.  Those are two huge things that happened  and I loved the finale, but we need to get those storylines flushed out before just wrapping them up.  Jeff telling Annie it's not appropriate for them to be together and Britta saying she was just kidding isn't really wrapping it up.  They haven't really written anything with the same sexual tension between these characters in a few episodes and I think the show is suffering because of it.

Then we've got these pop culture references that I feel is steering the ship that is the script.  Last season they were there; but not at the same rate as this year.  It's not really helping that the jokes are being bundled into these references and that you need a pop culture dictionary with you when watching an episode.  I get the feeling sometimes that I'm missing parts of the show because I just don't know the reference.  As you know I watch a wee bit of television and I watch the odd movie.  If someone like me is missing some of  these references how are others expected to keep up with the show?

It's a really worry because there isn't really anywhere else you can move Community to try and help it.  Besides, does it really matter when your show is getting crushed by the competition so badly.  Community appears to be the lamb sacrificed to the lion.  A show averaging under 5 million viewers isn't exactly a great way to start off "Must See Thursday" comedy night.  It's too bad because both of these shows can be great, but it appears that one may have lost a viewer.