First '30 Rock,' now 'Community': Actor and writer Donald Glover is a double threat

Donald Glover, image via Wikipedia

By BOB ANDELMAN
 
On the NBC freshman sitcom hit “Community,” Donald Glover plays “Troy,” a self-involved, former high school football star trying to find a place for himself in a junior college setting where his athletic accomplishments don’t mean much.

On the other hand, the pretty young girl in his study group, Annie—played by Alison Brie—thinks Troy can do anything. Anything with her, that is.

What may surprise fans of the show to learn, however, is that Glover was previously best known as a comedy writer.

He was a writer and executive story editor for “30 Rock,” sharing Writers Guild of America awards with the staff for best comedy series three years running—not usually the most direct line to starring in a sitcom. He also wrote, scored, produced and stars in the movie, Mystery Team.

Listen to more "Community" actor interviews with Mr. Media Radio:
Alison Brie
Yvette Nicole Brown

DONALD GLOVER AUDIO EXCERPT: "When I was writing at '30 Rock,' sometimes Tracy Moran couldn't make it and they'd have me do my Tracy imitation at the table read. Marcy Klein, a producer on '30 Rock' and 'Saturday Night Live,' asked me to audition for 'SNL.' It moved to doing bit parts on '30 Rock' and doing my own standup before 'Community.'" 

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

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Interview: Alison Brie, COMMUNITY, MAD MEN TV star: Mr. Media Radio

By BOB ANDELMAN

Alison Brie is a supporting actress on two hit series—“Community” on NBC and “Mad Men” on AMC.

Not bad for a young woman whose previous acting resume is still thin enough as to include performances in community theatre shows at a Jewish Community Center in Southern California. And don’t get me wrong—I’m not knocking those credits—it’s a testament to how, when it’s your time in Hollywood, the knocks on the door can come fast and furious.

AUDIO EXCERPT: "Our producers on 'Community' are big fans of 'Mad Men' and were very gracious to let me continue to recur on that show and I hope it works out for season four."

Her big break came in the first season of “Mad Men,” on which she plays “Trudy Campbell,” wife of ambitious silver spooner Pete Campbell. Pete hasn’t quite figured out married life yet—from making babies to staying away from women who are not his wife—but that hasn’t stopped Trudy from stealing most every scene she is in, including her final moment of season three.

As for “Community,” Alison plays “Annie,” the baby-faced, sometimes raw community college student who is desperately trying to fit in with the show’s band of oddball, somewhat older and more experienced characters.

The new NBC show took a few weeks to get its voice, but “Community” absolutely deserves the “Must See TV” tag and is funny from the first to the last minute of each new episode. It deserved a recent full-season pickup from the network and move to anchoring Thursdays night at 8 p.m.




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Copyright 2009 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!