Danny Pudi Talks Community: Season 5, Abed Saying Goodbye to Troy, Making a Great Tag and More

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As you mentioned, Troy and Abed have become such a beloved duo.

The first week after Donald had left, there's a little bit of "What are we going to do next?" kind of thing. Then being in that study room scene, it was just a good feeling, like, "We're going to be okay. It's just going to be different." It was a very cool, very interesting scene, and some of the funniest stuff I've heard, as a spectator, from Dan. It was cool, because it forces you to look at the study group differently, forces you to look at your character differently, because suddenly you are bumping into different viewpoints. So that was exciting for me, because now there is a little bit of, like, "Okay, part of me is gone. Some of my goofy side with Troy is gone. Abed has to stand alone a little bit more," and that's what we've been going through for the last couple of episodes. It's been exciting. It's been fun. There's a little bit of testing boundaries again, re-testing boundaries, seeing whether or not other people are going to accept me. Jonathan Banks and I just had these great scenes, where someone new is challenging me. I think by this point in the series, five years in, the study group is already very aware of Abed's marathon movie sessions and love of Kickpuncher and pillow forts and dressing in pajamas. But Jonathan Banks... [Laughs] It's all new to him. It's fun to look at all that stuff again and try to explain to somebody why it's worth it. It's been good. It's been really good.

IGN: You said there's been a lot of weirdness thrown your way. Any examples you can give?

Pudi: We already have two tags this year -- one of them involves a green screen, just me and Joel. It's in the premiere, and I think it was one my favorite tag experiences ever. It's very bizarre and very Dan Harmon. Right away, the first week we’re doing it, I was like, "Okay, we're back." It just felt like Dan's vision and silliness is back, which was really great. Then I think, I don't know if it's the second or third week, we had another tag -- I'm always really excited about the tags. The tags always feel to me like, if we get the tags right, the show I feel is running in a good place.

Danny Pudi as Abed in Community: Season 5.

Danny Pudi as Abed in Community: Season 5.

IGN: And you've been a part of so many great tags.

Pudi: Yeah, and maybe that's why I'm a little biased, because I love them so much. I know it's only 30 seconds, but I feel like if we capture something really quickly in 30 seconds, then I feel like we're clicking. There's another tag with just Donald and I -- I think it might be our last tag, actually. That to me is such a great last tag for Troy and Abed, for Donald and I. I don't know if it's the funniest tag we've ever done, but it might be the funniest visual we've ever done. I will say, it involves Troy and me hiding, or being in disguise. I'll just say that. It's so good! I remember it was hard for both of us to keep a straight face. Neither of us could get into our wardrobe without three people helping us. [Laughs] So that makes me feel good too, because those were those two tags, and then there's another tag that we had in the Walton Goggins episode. Just reading it, before I even saw it, just reading the tag -- Joel was showing it to me on his phone when we got the pages, and he's like, "Have you read this?" I'm like, "No," and we were both reading the tag on his iPhone. We were both cracking up. It just made me feel like, "Okay, our first three tags are so exciting." So there's that tag too. It's a good one. It's a doozy. We have great guest stars this year. That's a big thing.

IGN: Lastly, what does Abed make of Professor Jeff Winger? How is he processing that?

Pudi: I don't know if he feels one way or the other. I think he's not really affected by that. I think Abed would have seen it coming. I think he's really not that surprised.

IGN: “Sounds like a Season 5 thing to do.”

Pudi: Yeah! it just feels like maybe that would be expected. I think Abed's more affected by other stuff early on in the year. His priorities are dealing with the fact that -- it is the fifth year, he's still here -- the Troy and Abed friendship has to be addressed. There's some other bigger things happening that to him just seems like, "Okay! That seems like a logical leap, I guess." So I would say that's not on the priority list for him. [Laughs]

Community: Season 5 premieres Thursday, January 2nd at 8pm on NBC.


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