S01E21 · EP 21
season 1 · 2010-04-22

Contemporary American Poultry

written by Emily Cutler and Karey Dornetto · directed by Tristram Shapeero · 3.67M viewers · image Community Wiki (CC BY-SA)

Episode DNA

14 scenes · 2 threads
absurd 13%scheme 11%chaotic 8%obsession 6%betrayal 6%tense 6%confession 6%cheerful 4%triumphant 4%deal 4%

Story threads over runtime

click a block to open the scene
0:005:0010:0015:0020:00
A · Chicken finger mafia
B · Abed's social connection
01

Every scene

14 scenes · our breakdown
1 · Greendale cafeteria · cold_openStudy group lunch banter

The study group discusses classes, Jeff's phrase 'streets ahead', and their love of cafeteria chicken fingers.

00:01–01:55scheme · obsession
2 · Greendale cafeteria · act1Plotting to get chicken

Jeff rallies the group to get Star-Burns fired from the fryer job so they can control the chicken supply.

01:55–02:01scheme · betrayal
3 · Greendale cafeteria · act1Abed becomes fry cook

The group successfully gets Star-Burns fired and Abed hired as the new fry cook, securing their chicken supply.

02:01–05:33scheme · impersonation
4 · Greendale cafeteria · act2Abed's chicken empire grows

Abed starts skimming chicken fingers and trading them for favors, expanding his power.

05:33–07:42scheme · deal
5 · Greendale campus · act2The chicken operation expands

The group's chicken operation grows into a campus-wide syndicate with multiple roles and perks.

07:42–09:24scheme · obsession
6 · Abed's dorm room · act2Jeff confronts Abed's power

Jeff tries to shut down the operation but Abed refuses, claiming he finally understands people through chicken.

09:24–10:59rivalry · confession
7 · Greendale campus · act2Jeff fails to rally the group

Jeff tries to turn the group against Abed but they refuse, siding with Abed's leadership.

10:59–13:19rivalry · betrayal
8 · Greendale kitchen · act2Jeff sabotages the fryer

Jeff gets Star-Burns to remove a vital valve from the chicken fryer, crippling Abed's operation.

13:19–13:57scheme · betrayal
9 · Greendale campus · act3The group's decadence grows

The group becomes spoiled and lazy, losing respect for Abed's leadership.

13:57–15:20obsession · petty_grievance
10 · Greendale campus · act3Abed destroys the backpack

Abed stuffs a backpack full of chicken as a message to the group.

15:20–16:03humiliation · escalation
11 · Greendale campus · act3The group begs Jeff for help

The group, now suffering from Abed's actions, begs Jeff to take down Abed.

16:03–17:32comeuppance · confession
12 · Greendale kitchen · act3Jeff and Abed make a deal

Jeff confronts Abed in the kitchen and they make a deal to help each other connect with people.

17:32–20:28confession · deal
13 · Greendale campus · tagThe aftermath of the mafia

Abed narrates the end of the chicken mafia and the return to normal life.

20:28–20:31comeuppance
14 · Greendale campus · tagTroy and Abed's signature trick

Troy and Abed perform a signature trick for the study group, ending on a positive note.

20:31–21:08
03

Same DNA

nearest episodes by gene profile

Episode facts

Wikipedia · Wikidata
Aired
2010-04-22
Overall
#21
Writers
Emily Cutler and Karey Dornetto
Director
Tristram Shapeero
Viewers
3.67M (US)
Pace
148 words/min · 81 questions

Where to watch

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In this episode

JW
Jeff Winger16 episodes · drives 702 scenes
BP
Britta Perry16 episodes · drives 194 scenes
AN
Abed Nadir12 episodes · drives 277 scenes
PH
Pierce Hawthorne23 episodes · drives 173 scenes
SB
Shirley Bennett12 episodes · drives 70 scenes
AE
Annie Edison14 episodes · drives 204 scenes
TB
Troy Barnes10 episodes · drives 155 scenes
BC
Ben Chang47 episodes · drives 2 scenes