Josh Holloway vs. Joel McHale in hotness showdown on Community finale

Here’s some good news about my favorite sitcom, Community. I should say it’s mixed news because it reminds us that this incredibly funny, highly watchable show is about to close out its second season. It’s going to do so with even more man candy, though, so I guess I can live with that. Lost’s Josh Holloway (who is featured in this week’s Hot Guy Friday) is going to guest on the two part season finale as some kind of hunky competition to the snarky boyish hotness that is Joel McHale’s Jeffery Winger. It looks like this won’t be airing until mid May, though, so we have around five more episodes to look forward to.

Potential mild spoilers in quoted text below
I didn’t watch last night’s episode of Community yet, so I would say no spoilers in the comments yet, but it still won’t spoil it given how much they put in that show. That episode is on the DVR waiting for me like a box of truffles after dinner. One of my favorite parts of last week’s episode was when Abed and Troy explained that they’d had to stop hanging out with Jeff after Britta told them Jeff liked nipple play – then Troy mimed like he was stroking an imaginary Jeff’s nipples. They’re so great at riffing off same sex relationships in that show (remember when Annie tried to kiss Britta?), and given all these funny comments by the stars I think we can assume that Josh and Joel will have a little homoeroticism going.

Joel McHale is used to being the resident hunk on the set of “Community.” Now, a challenger emerges from off the island.

Josh Holloway is slated to guest star in the survivor paintball-themed second season finale of the NBC comedy, and series co-star Alison Brie said that the “Lost” alum caused quite the stir on set.

“Josh Holloway from Lost makes an appearance and he and Joel have a “handsome off,” as I like to call it, between the two of them,” Brie told NY Magazine’s Vulture blog. “That was kind of the vibe on the set, as well. Everyone on set — guys and girls alike — were fawning over Josh.”

Brie said that the vibe of a relaxed set changed a bit, in honor of the handsome star. “Everyone was on their best behavior, looking better than ever. Our male producers would talk to Josh for five minutes and then they’d walk over and say, ‘He really is attractive, isn’t he?’ It was so funny. There were a lot of man crushes, absolutely.”

Holloway has had this “problem,” before; he bemoaned his sex symbol status in a 2009 interview with Company Magazine:

“‘[The] whole sex-symbol thing is really strange,” he said, adding that he, “wouldn’t wish it on anybody. I appreciate the opportunity to work, the cash it gives you, and other things it provides are wonderful. But the celebrity thing… I don’t like attention.”

Still, McHale didn’t seem to mind the good looks of his “rival.”

“Josh Holloway is as sexy, as dreamy as you would expect, even more so than he was in ‘Lost’ I think,” he recently told TV Guide. “You really get to see his comedic side. He nails it. He’s so funny. He was such a good guy, great to have around. I would follow him on to any set and then they would handcuff me and escort me out.”

[From Huffington Post, sources are TVGuide and NYMag]

I like that they’re reprising the paintball scenario that was last year’s brilliant finale. This show rarely gets it wrong – excepting that bizarre stop motion animation Christmas special. I didn’t even watch the whole thing. Did anyone even like that? (My mom did so don’t be ashamed.)

Oh and I also have to mention how much I like relatively new guest star Malcolm Jamal Warner as Shirley’s ex husband. He’s great in that role, and they even work in the occasional Cosby Show reference for him.

Community has been renewed for a third season, hurray! We have plenty more to look forward to after this season wraps.

Photos are from NBC, where you can watch full episodes of Community for free if you’re in the US.