Upon re-watching season 3’s christmas episode, these are a few of my favourite things.

-Mr. Rad seems to be the only person on the same wavelength as the Dean in the entire series, and watching them interact is priceless.

-Abed’s confused, (but still perfectly in rhythm,) query about the piano continuing to play without Mr. Rad’s input. (Also entertaining: Abed’s shirt simply says “Hamburger!!!”)

-When the scene ends, there is a burst of a-cappela music, straight out of the scene changes from Glee.

-Before Troy and Abed start rapping in earnest, the music starts playing softly in the background. They both starts speaking in a stealthy sort of rhythm. This becomes more and more obvious over the next 3 seconds or so, and then… Yoip: Rap! Basically, I love the buildup.

-The curtain behind them is made up of sheets from their blanket fort. I love that even while they pretend to be rapping on a huge stage with a bunch of backup dancers, Troy and Abed have a little thing like this grounding them to real life.

-Look how happy Troy and Abed are about the concept of glee!

-This is my very favourite joke in the episode: The redecorating of the study room to look like Glee’s music room. Including bearded, silent, mysterious piano player. The piano player is my favourite character in Glee. Community copied him perfectly, from the beard right down to the fact that Pierce isn’t really sure he’s there.

-The best part of Annie’s song is Jeff’s incredulity with the whole thing: Even after he’s been “won over”, he makes his point about dimishing returns.

-With which Annie replies more baby talk. The first time I watched the episode, I thought this was overdoing a it a little bit. I really like it now- it drives home just how far down the rabbit hole she is.

-Pierce’s smug body language as he watches the children’s choir work its magic on Shirley is priceless. 

-The choir really touches on everything Shirley loves in order to win her over. The obvious stuff is there, (Jesus, separation of church and state,) but there is also a line about it being the right season to bake. There was more of this song recorded, and apparently it will be on the DVDs. I can’t wait to hear the rest.

-Pierce’s continued confusion over what “regionals” comprises, (As well as the Dean’s,) is made funnier by his and his friend’s absolute devotion to making it to them.

-I’d really like to know who chose “Kings of Leon” as the distraction that Mr. Rad employs to escape. 

-Troy and Abed’s apartment is full of amazing things. They have fridge that looks like a vending machine. I would very much like a fridge that looks like a vending machine. I also love all the different hats hanging on the door to the imaginarium.

-Not so much a “thing I love” as a “thing i noticed”: The fireplace that Troy and Abed hang stockings over during their rap is actually where the TV is in the last scene. You can tell by the Inspector Spacetime poster hung above it with care.

Regional Holiday Music captured the best of Community: The jokes, the group spirit, and the ability to interweave all of those, along with a bit of meaning and seriousness into a compelling half-hour of television. 
Here’s to three and a half more seasons and a movie.