NBC has released a picture from next week's 'Community' season finale (paintball part deux, part deux) that appears to confirm rumblings we've been hearing that a multi-network 'Community'-'Cougar Town' crossover episode is in the works. This development marks an awesome next step in the referential love-fest that's been going on between the two shows for well over a year.

What's the evidence? Check out 'Cougar Town' actors Dan Byrd and Busy Philipps standing behind 'Community' actors Donald Glover, Danny Pudi and Alison Brie in the background of this photo.


Pretty cool, right? The two shows have been engaged in a friendly ping-pong game of mutual admiration lately, and now it's really starting to get fun.

On 'Cougar Town,' Byrd's character Travis made his girlfriend watch the 'Community' Season 1 DVD on their first date. 'Cougar Town' creator Bill Lawrence -- who worked with 'Community' executive producers Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan on 'Scrubs' -- has said he appreciates the friendly back-and-forth, and has hinted that more might be coming in.

Also this season, Abed, 'Community's' resident pop-culture expert and nerd extraordinaire, is obsessed with 'Cougar Town' and references it constantly. In 'Community's' recent 'Pulp Fiction'-'My Dinner with Andre' homage episode, he told Jeff an elaborate lie that he had been invited to make a cameo appearance on his favorite show.

But what if it wasn't a lie?

One of the most interesting questions to think about now is whether this might be a reciprocal crossover, with 'Community' actors also appearing on 'Cougar Town.' If Laurie and Travis can take a trip to Greendale, might we see Abed hanging out in the background behind Courteney Cox and co. drinking wine soon?


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