Asian Population Studies

Did You Know?

• Troy mentions the disturbing call he got from Chang on Halloween in the episode "Epidemiology".
• Pierce owns a LaserDisc edition of Emmanuelle in Space.
• Jeff's compliment to Andre about his garish woolen sweater, answered with "My dad gave it to me," references Malcolm-Jamal Warner's role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show.
• In the end tag, Rich visits 'Troy and Abed in the Morning' to demonstrate how to make kettle corn, even though he knows it's not a real TV show.

Plot

After the winter break, the study group meets again. Annie mentions she has a crush on someone, and everyone tries to guess who it is. Shirley attempts to share that she is getting back together with her ex-husband, but no one is interested. Chang asks to join the group once more, and Jeff refuses him outright.

The group attends their first anthropology class of the semester, which is now taught by a sober Duncan. Troy accidentally tells Pierce that Shirley slept with Chang at the Halloween party that nobody remembers. Rich, Jeff's rival from pottery class, comes in and sits next to Annie. Jeff realizes Rich is the person Annie likes.

In the cafeteria, Britta notes that a sober Duncan will make the class harder. Annie suggests inviting Rich to the study group. When Jeff objects, Annie proposes a mixer where they invite several classmates and pick one to join. Shirley's ex-husband Andre arrives.

When he goes to get ice cream, Britta tells Shirley she should rethink her decision, and Shirley blurts out that she is eight weeks pregnant. Troy and Pierce realize the baby could be Chang's. At the mixer, Troy tries to ask if Shirley had sex with Andre around Halloween but fails. Pierce says it would be kinder to just tell Shirley. Jeff brings a woman named Quendra, hoping Pierce, Troy, and Abed will ask her to join instead of Rich, but something Pierce says makes her leave angrily.

Rich brings kettle corn and becomes instantly popular. Chang confronts Abed about not being invited, but Abed acts like a broken robot. Annie calls for a vote, noting that Rich is the only candidate who stayed. Jeff, desperate to keep Rich out, agrees to sponsor Chang.

Jeff argues the group should pick Chang over Rich, saying they know little about Rich and his perfect behavior seems suspicious. The vote is tied: Jeff, Abed, and Britta vote for Chang; Annie, Troy, and Pierce vote for Rich. Shirley breaks the tie by voting for Chang, despite Pierce threatening her. Angry, Pierce cruelly reveals that Shirley had sex with Chang on Halloween and that the baby might be his. Chang says that explains the photos on his phone, which he shows to a horrified Shirley.

Reception

In its original American broadcast, the episode reached approximately 4.733 million households with a 2.2 rating/6% share in the 18–49 demographic. The episode received positive reviews from critics. Samantha Urban of Dallas News wrote that the show can get away with an ending that is sentimental without being saccharine, while still being funny and contributing to character development. Kelsea Stahler of Hollywood.com noted the episode was solid and praised its attention to detail.