'Community's 'Inspector Spacetime' is real

You know that kooky British TV show that Abed and Troy are always drooling over – Inspector Spacetime? The one that’s supposedly been running since 1962 and is a dead ringer for Doctor Who? Well, fans, now it’s more than just an in-joke; it’s the real deal, baby.

Community first made reference to Inspector Spacetime in the season 3 episode, “Biology 101.” Travis Richey, who played the titular inspector, ran with the idea and has developed his own web series called Untitled Web Series about a Space Traveler Who Can Also Travel Through Time. The title’s a bit dubious, but that’s because his first attempt to pitch the show as Inspector Spacetime earned him a cease-and-desist order from the suits at NBC. So he took a note from Prince’s playbook and adopted a comically precise, tongue-in-cheek moniker while leaving the substance in tact.

The first episode clocks in at just four and a half minutes and has the low-budget, self-aware production quality that fans of Community are sure to appreciate. I’m skeptical of its potential — it works as a running gag but may not have the depth for much more than that — but it’ll at least placate viewers until Community starts up again on Oct. 19. Check out the first episode below.

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