Abed Nadir on "Community" (NBC)

NAME OF CHARACTER: Abed Nadir

PLAYED BY: Danny Pudi

SHOW (NETWORK / RUNTIME / GENRE):  "Community" (NBC / 22 Minutes / Comedy)

GENERAL SYNOPSIS: "A lawyer [Joel McHale] is scuppered when it is discovered that he has falsely claimed to have a bachelor's degree. He is suspended and enrolls himself into Community college. He forms a study group so that he can get closer to an attractive student [Gillian Jacobs]. The study group includes a millionaire [Chevy Chase], a former drug addict [Alison Brie], a former quarter-back [Donald Glover], a single mother [Yvette Nicole Brown], and a film student [Danny Pudi]" (IMDB).

TITLE OF EPISODE WATCHED (ORIGINAL AIR DATE): "Pilot" (September 17, 2009)

SUPPORTING/ MAIN: One of six main players

AGE: Never explicitly stated (likely between 20-30)

GENDER: Male

OCCUPATION: Student at Greendale Community College, majoring in Film Studies

ASD IGNORED / MENTIONED ON AIR: Mentioned. One of the characters ("Jeff Winger," played by Joel McHale) angrily makes the accusation ("Yeah, well, you have Asperger's!"), but Abed seems oblivious ("What's that?").

IN MOTION / VISUAL DIAGNOSTICS:

(Although the following is a YouTube clip of "Abed's Best Season 1 Moments," I reiterate the fact that, in formulating this response, I considered only the first episode of the show's first season. The video is nonetheless entertaining and provides a good sense of "who Abed is.")

WOULD S/HE LIKELY MEET DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR AUTISM (DSM-IV)*: NO

In the first set of diagnostic quota (I), he demonstrates a total of five (of the required six) items from (IA), (IB), and (IC), with the required two from (IA), two from (IB) and one from (IC). He demonstrates a (IA) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by (IA1) marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as facial expression (e.g., always keeping a straight face, except when doing impressions) (IA2) (IA3) and (IA4) a lack of emotional reciprocity. Certainly, he also demonstrates (IB) qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by (IB1) (IB2) marked impairment in the ability to sustain a conversation with others (e.g., he often takes up topics that only interest himself, and others often walk away) and (IB3) stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language (e.g., referencing obscure movies and/or the same movies, the same lines) (IB4); however, he does not fill the quota for the third set (requiring two) (IC), having only (IC1) an encompassing preoccupation with a stereotyped and restricted pattern of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus (e.g., film), (IC2) (IC3) (IC4). Also, there appears to be no sign of (II) current or past delays or abnormal functioning in the target areas (IIA) (IIB) (IIC), despite the fact that (III) the disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

. . . DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR ASPERGER'S SYNDROME (DSM-IV)*: YES

He shows (I) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by both (IA) marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors (such as facial expression and gestures to regulate social interaction) (e.g., lack of change in expression) and (IB) (IC) (ID) lack of emotional reciprocity. He also demonstrates (II) restricted repetitive & stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by (IIA) an encompassing preoccupation with a stereotyped and restricted pattern of interest that is abnormal in intensity (i.e., film), (IIB) (IIC) (IID). (III) This disturbance causes clinically significant impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (e.g., he admits to never having had a group of friends), although (IV) there is no (apparent) clinically significant general delay in language or (V) cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction) and curiosity about the environment in childhood. Finally, (VI) criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.

WHAT'S REALLY RIGHT:

• Abed is a self-professed 'pop-culture savant' who acts as the shows unofficial narrator, constantly applying the given structure of movie and TV analogies to every predicament. (It’s Abed who points out that the show’s setup—misfits hanging out in a school library—is very Breakfast Club.

• Although Abed isn't 'touchy-feely' when he interacts with those around him, he nonetheless expresses empathy for his friends in a unique way.

WHAT'S REALLY WRONG:

• After (as previously mentioned in the post) one of the characters ("Jeff Winger," played by Joel McHale) makes the accusation that Abed is an "Aspie" in the midst of an argument, Abed reaches out to those around him by asking, "What's that?" This is a moment of great potential for the writers to make the uninformed public . . . Well, informed. Unfortunately, however, their comedy makes unnecessary victims. "Ass-burger," one character quips under his breath, laughing at the phrase. "It's a serious disorder," another informs Abed. He remains quiet, however, leaving room for yet another character to ask, "Yeah, well, if it's so serious, why don't they call it meningitis?" There's an underlying (wrongly reinforced) assumption that ASD's are disorders on par with diseases.

GENERAL RATING: ★★★☆ ("Fair")

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: Paste Magazine named him #1 of "The 20 Best TV Characters of 2011", and he leads a PopSugar poll for "Favorite Community Character."

*For explanations, it is necessary to click on the link and see the corresponding numerals being referenced. Letters/ Numbers crossed out do not apply.