Community finally returns tomorrow and it now has an Academy Award-winner among its cast. To celebrate the show’s return and the Oscar victory of Jim Rash, who plays Dean Pelton, we’re looking back at the most memorable, laugh-out-loud funny and downright ridiculous costumes the Dean has donned throughout the first two-and-a-half seasons.
10. Devil
“Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps” (Episode 3.05)
Dean Pelton even dresses up in other character’s scary stories. And we love him for that.
9. Opening Musical Sequence Sequin Dress
“Biology 101” (Episode 3.01)
Pelton opted to go for a sparkling purple dress for the third season’s grand musical opening where they promised to be less weird. Yeah right.
8. Lady Gaga
“Epidemiology” (Episode 2.06)
No Halloween party in 2010 was complete without a Lady Gaga costume and who better to rock it than the dean of the greatest community college in the country.
7. Scarlett O’Hara
“Paradigms of Human Memory” (Episode 2.21)
Time for new energy-efficient windows? Then it’s time for Pelton to dress up as Scarlett O’Hara and proclaim, “Gone with the windows!”
6. October Fest
“Accounting For Lawyers” (Episode 2.02)
Guten tag! Have a beer and take part in Greendale’s Pop-n-Lock competition.
5. Mr. Winter
“Competitive Religion” (Episode 1.12)
Trying to avoid favoring any particular religion, the dean just wished everyone a “Merry Happy.”
4. Tina Turner
“Paradigms of Human Memory” (Episode 2.21)
The only excuse he needed to dress as the singer was Daylight Savings Time: “It’s time to Tina Turner the clocks ahead.”
3. Cowgirl
“A Fistful of Paintballs/For a Few More Paintballs” (Episodes 2.23/24)
For two whole episodes we saw Pelton run around in Daisy Dukes and a tied-up plaid shirt. We also saw him get pelted with paintballs—over and over.
2. Catwoman
“Paradigms of Human Memory” (Episode 2.21)
Worn in a series of flashbacks, the dean donned a rather flamboyant Catwoman costume to raise awareness of Feline AIDS Awareness.
1. Uncle Sam
“Intro To Political Science” (Episode 2.17)
Dean wants you! (To watch Community, Thursdays on NBC at 8 p.m.)