"Community" Casts James Brolin as Jeff's Dad
Sep 18, 2012
by Sadie Gennis


James Brolin is heading to Greendale! The Emmy-winning actor has been cast as Jeff Winger's estranged dad on "Community".

Brolin will appear in one episode as William Winger, who hasn't seen his son since Jeff (Joel McHale) was a child. McHale posted a photo of the pair on set on Twitter Tuesday morning.



Whatever scenes McHale was shooting Tuesday were apparently very emotional.

Yvette Nicole Brown, who plays Jeff's study buddy Shirley, tweeted an hour after McHale's Brolin post: "@joelmchale just made me cry. And for the first time it wasn't from teasing. ;) #WonderfulActingBuddy!"



"Community" returns Friday, Oct. 19 at 8:30/7:30c.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Community-Jeffs-Dad-James-Brolin-1053194.aspx

"Community": James Brolin On playing Jeff Winger's Dad -- FIRST LOOK
by Dan Snierson
Feb 20 2013


Thanksgiving will double as Father’s Day on an episode of "Community" that airs on…. March 7. And what will this special holiday bring?

The first sighting of James Brolin as Jeff Winger’s estranged father, William, who skipped out when Jeff (Joel McHale) was only 8 years old.





In this installment of NBC’s community college-set comedy, most of the study group suffers through an unsavory T-Day at the home of Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), while Jeff and Britta (Gillian Jacobs) wind up at William’s place, where awkwardness and discomfort are also on the menu.

“From the moment he opens the front door, whatever he says is just off,” notes Brolin of his character.

“And when Jeff says something and he answers, it’s just not on the same track at all. There’s probably something very sad about this, but there’s something very funny and recognizable about it… Good comedy is about real stuff.”





As you can see in these photos from the episode, Winger Sr. isn’t exactly a dour dad.

“You’re dealing with a charming charismatic, confident, intelligent who invented a lot of the tricks that Jeff has at his disposal,” says "Community" executive producer Moses Port.

Adds Brolin: “The father tries but I just don’t think he fits in a lot of places. And a lot of his answers are from left field. I loved every bit of dialogue that they had written. Every once in awhile there’s something kind of delicious and fun for an actor who’s done a lot of things, and this is one of them.”





The 72-year-old film and TV vet who’s married to Barbra Streisand points out that his casting raised a few eyebrows.

“There were millions of tweets either wondering, ‘Who the hell is this Jim Brolin guy?’ or ‘Why the hell did they choose him? He’s not right for his father!’” chuckles Brolin.

“Then there were all kinds of really nice things said too. I love that when it’s all over the place.”





Brolin isn’t the only celebrity guest in the episode, as "Workaholics" star Adam Devine also pops up.

“He may have an unexpected connection to Jeff,” hints David Guarascio.





Interestingly enough, Brolin will assume the role of another MIA dad of sorts on the Feb. 25 episode of "Castle".

An undercover operative, he is reunited with son Castle (Nathan Fillion), who is trying to retrieve the kidnapped Alexis (Molly Quinn).

http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/02/20/community-james-brolin-joel-mchale/

I was kinda hoping for Bill Murray, but this'll do!