Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs GQ Pinup Follows Community Emmy Snub

Alison Brie and Gillian Jacobs weren't called out as Emmy nominees Thursday. Although Brie and Jacobs may have been on the Emmy wish list of several critics, neither they nor anyone else on NBC's cult comedy Community got any recognition. But the small but very passionate fan base got the next best gift hours later, as GQ put the show's lead comediennes in a provocative study session.

GQ recently put out an issue highlighting the funny women on TV and movies. The issue already got noticed by having Mila Kunis on the cover in just a see through t-shirt and underwear. But even cover girl Kunis wasn't as revealing as Brie and Jacobs in their pinup shoot, which was posted online Thursday.

The website even bragged in the headline "Alison Brie and Gillian Jacobs Did This Lesbian Scene For Us." Like with Kunis, the magazine highlighted the women's funny attributes, although their physical ones also got a lot of focus as well. That has always been a delicate balance when talking about women in comedy, yet it has been a bigger issue this summer.

Bridesmaids redefined expectations about headlining women in movie comedies, but that was R-rated more for gross out humor than sex. Cameron Diaz used both in Bad Teacher, and now Kunis is trying to do the same with Justin Timberlake in next week's Friends with Benefits.

The Community women aren't as well known as these movie stars, of course, but they are building up an impressive TV resume. Brie in particular has made her mark in both the most acclaimed drama on TV in Mad Men and in one of the most acclaimed comedies on TV as well. Yet Mad Men is a perennial Emmy leader and winner -- racking up almost 20 more nominations Thursday -- while Community was shut out once again, despite a daring second season.

It was by sheer coincidence that this kind of shoot for the show's leading women was posted right after the Emmy snubs. But for disappointed fans, it probably helped serve as a tonic, and may have gotten attention from those less familiar with the series and its stars.

A lack of familiarity or high ratings is probably why the Emmys ignored Community, although it had some of the biggest comedy stunts of the season. But time will tell if season 3 and beyond will change that and get more people to watch the satirical antics, which are often driven by Brie's semi-straight laced Annie and Jacobs's "buzzkill" Britta.

At the least, critics still get to advertise Community as the best comedy no one is watching after the Emmy shutout. But GQ was certainly watching, at least enough to expose Brie and Jacobs more than NBC has so far -- albeit in different ways.

Sources

GQ- "Alison Brie and Gillian Jacobs Did This Lesbian Scene For Us"