John Goodman on Joining Community as Vice Dean Laybourne: "I Just Show Up to Throw a Monkey Wrench Into the Works"

John Goodman said it plainly: "I just show up to throw a monkey wrench into the works. — John Goodman on Vice Dean Laybourne, Community Season 3" — and Premier Guide Miami was in the room when it happened.

On September 14, 2011, NBC Universal hosted a press call for Community Season 3. John Goodman joined to discuss his recurring role as Vice Dean Laybourne, the imperious head of the Air Conditioning Repair School. Premier Guide Media's Daedrian McNaughton was on the call.

I just show up to throw a monkey wrench into the works.

Vice Dean Laybourne — the Darth Vader of Greendale

On his character's relationship with Dean Pelton: "He's got his privates in a vice, Dean Pelton. He's an unseen, unknown force on campus and Dean Pelton was feeling his oats and now he's having his oats fed to him." On whether any study group members will be seduced to the dark side: "They're trying to seduce one in particular — to the dark side, not personal seduction." On his approach to the role: "I just show up to throw a monkey wrench into the works." On the character's scale: "I have big ideas about the character. I don't know if I'm right yet." Joel McHale on the dynamic: "Whatever he's doing it's working great, so I hope he's completely tortured."

Why Goodman came back to comedy

On returning to intentional comedy: "It's funny. There's a great sense of achievement because it's so damn hard. There's a lot of ingredients to doing it and it keeps your skills going. You have to learn how to juggle again and it's just a great thing. Plus there's a great payoff when it works. And I like to laugh almost more than anything in the world." On what drew him to Community: "It's the cast. I think they're a wonderful ensemble. The writing is out there. It's not a typical situation comedy sitcom. It's risky." On the show's density: "It's like a huge fruit cake. It's very layered and it's like there's two features going on at the same time on the same stage. Everybody is doing something." On the TV comedy landscape: "I like the whole thing that Ricky Gervais kicked off — The Office, Parks and Recreation, the whole NBC lineup." On his two failed sitcoms since Roseanne: "They're no fun if they're not right. You're trying to be funny and that just don't work."

On being a hired hand — and a love grenade

On fitting into the ensemble: "I just went with it. Whatever happens, happens. Just show up and know my lines and bump into anything. I'm just a hired hand, there to help and then some." On his energy on set: "I'm like a hand grenade, you never know when I'm going to go off." McHale: "It's a hand grenade of flowers and sugar." Goodman: "And love — a love grenade." On advice to actors: "Be prepared. At whatever, whenever, and wherever you can." Community Season 3 premiered September 22, 2011, on NBC.

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