Jeff Winger
Community character
First appearance"Pilot"
Created byDan Harmon
Portrayed byJoel McHale
In-universe information
OccupationLawyer, Student

Jeffrey Tobias "Jeff" Winger is a 33-year-old snarky, glib ex-lawyer attending Greendale Community College, on the NBC sitcom Community.[1] Jeff has been portrayed by Joel McHale since the show started in September, 2009. He is the main protagonist for the series.


Joel McHale

Background

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Jeff was a lawyer until the Colorado Bar Association found out that he did not get a bachelor's degree from Columbia University but, in fact, got one that was "less than legitimate" and "better than real" from the country of Colombia. He returns to college by attending Greendale Community College as a deal with the bar in order to prevent him from being disbarred. He consequently hopes to graduate as quickly as possible. It is revealed in the season 2 episode, "Accounting for Lawyers" that it was jeff's old buddy Alan that tipped off the Bar Association and got him fired.

Personality

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Jeff believes that he is amazing and can do anything he sets his mind to, even when he doesn't even try. He is known for his large ego and sarcastic attitude. He is narcissistic and he pretends not to care about many things. Although the group knows that this is just an act, they are constantly trying to get him to admit that he loves the group. Jeff was over-prasied by his mother as child and now he can't accept anyone being better at something than he is ( Beginner Pottery). He also has issues with his absent father, which leads him to not want to father the group. Jeff also prides himself on being a "stylish American". He is seen taking care of his body, wearing nice clothes, and worrying about his appearance.

Character history

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Season 1

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In the pilot, Jeff forms and joins the study group because he is attracted to fellow student Britta whom he hits on, despite her rejection of his advances.[2] However, by the end of the pilot episode, he is kicked out of the group before being asked to join back in. In episode "Spanish 101," he is seen developing a tentative friendship with Pierce Hawthorne, the oldest member of the study group. After Britta definitively rejects his advances, he begins flirting with his Statistics professor, Professor Slater, and they eventually begin dating. Before this, he shares a number of awkward moments with another study group member, Annie, after she kisses him to win a debate. After Professor Slater breaks up with him, he sleeps with Britta in the study room after a paintball fight in "Modern Warfare." At the end of season one, Britta and a newly interested Professor Slater compete for his affections, culminating in Britta professing her love for him at the school's Tranny Dance. Soon after, he meets Annie outside and they kiss. At the beginning of season two, Britta recants her "I love you," saying she was caught up in the spirit of competition, and he comes to an uneasy understanding with both Britta and Annie. Later in the season, the study group finds out that Britta and Jeff had been hooking up in secret throughout the year, which they immediately stop doing afterwards because of it no longer being secret. Jeff is continually sarcastic and often displays much less enthusiasm for Greendale activities than other members in his Spanish study group. Initially, Jeff tends to be manipulative and self-centered towards his study group, but gradually shows an increasing maturity and tolerance for the viewpoints of the other group members and considers them friends. Because of his background as a lawyer and his compelling personality, many people, including Dean Pelton and Señor Chang, seek help from him. These ventures include stints as a member of the debate team and editor of the school paper and efforts to improve Chang's professional and love life. Due to his competitive nature and air of superiority, Jeff has a difficult relationship with his accounting, billiards, and pottery teacher when he ends up doing poorly in their class. Jeff enjoys being in positions of authority and acts as the effective leader of the group. It becomes apparent that several members of the group rely on him playing this role, while Pierce tends to insult Jeff whenever he can, despite his lack of wit.

Season 2

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In the second season premiere Jeff rejects Annie's advances and they to go back to having an award friendship. In "Accounting for lawyers"Jeff reconnects with a friend from his old law firm. He ditches the group and attends a party for his old boss. There Jeff realizes what a jerk he used to be and how much better he is because of the group. Over the course of the season, Jeff and the group engage in many antics that help him understand just how much he loves the group. Jeff connects with Abed through various situations including Abed's birthday party and Abed believing everything is stop motion. He helps Pierce through his addiction to pain killers, while still managing to make Pierce feel left out. The tension between Jeff and Annie continues to grow, while it is discovered that he and Britta are having a secret relationship. He and Britta are accused of ruining the year for the because he has not changed his ways .He is still selfish and image-obessed. He becomes jealous of many people, including Rich when he tries to join the study group. He is jealous of Pierce for taking the focus off of himself, when he is hospitalized. Jeff evens gets angry when Annie runs against him in a school election. Jeff continues to be the father figure to the group and guides them through their fights. He embraces the fact that they are a family and stills keep emotions out of most of the choices he makes.

Season 3

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At the start of season 3, Jeff feels left out when the biology teacher kicks him out of class and the group continues to take the class without him. He eventually talks the teacher into letting him back into class. He and Annie have a talk about their relationship as they grow closer together. In " Competitive Ecology" He and Annie initially pair up to be partners for a project. Annie then decides to switch partners because she doesn't want to carry Jeff through the class. It is revealed in "Remedial Chaos Theory" that Jeff is the one keeping everyone from letting loose and having fun. In "Advanced Gay", Jeff is still angry with his father and tries to help Pierce stand up to his father.

 
Allison Brie portrays Annie, one of Jeff's love interests

Reception and Development

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In a review of "Early 21st Century Romanticism" it is said that it is time for Jeff to admit his love for the group. There are also concerns that there hasn't been enough evidence of this for the viewer to accept Jeff's epiphany.[3] Other reviews have said that the character of Jeff needs to be developed more, in order for Jeff and Annie to become an interesting couple.[4] Many commentators have said that Jeff is one of the main providers of many "classic" quotes for the series.

Many commentators and fans have excited by the potential relationship between Jeff and Annie Edison(Allison Brie). Some have stated that they would be an interesting pair because Britta was the initial love interest for Jeff. Even though there is a large age difference between Jeff and Annie, fans like the idea that opposites attract. There is a wide fan base for the two as a couple, even though there has been little evidence of it on the show. [5]Joel Mchale has stated the relationship will be a major storyline for the third season.[6]


Creator, Dan Harmon has said that Jeff will take an emotional journey over the course of season 3. He said "Season 3 is about the price that you pay when you figure out that you love a group of people. That's it in a nutshell. It's about the high cost of valuing people other than yourself, and that's the path that Jeff has been on. The third chapter for him is going to be the toughest of all. When you love people, their pain is your pain. Nobody likes having to deal with hassles more than Jeff Winger, and nobody's going to have to deal with more this year."[7]

References

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