chibirhm: (Donde esta la biblioteca?)
[personal profile] chibirhm
So there was a giant tumblr meme going around where you genderswap cast shows/movies/what have you. Which is, by the way, both fun and way harder than it looks. I say this because I hadn't seen anyone do a Community genderswap (though I did, in the process of making this, get linked to two, oops), so I decided to take it on.

A week and a half later, it's done, and it was hard. My massive, massive heartfelt thank you goes to [livejournal.com profile] falulatonks, who gave me a million ideas, put up with my whining, and was pretty much the best ever.


Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) → Jen Winger (Colbie Smulders)
"What is it about me that makes broken people flock to me? Is it my height? Do huddled masses mistake me for the statue of liberty?"

Colbie Smulders is someone who gets used a lot in gender-swap casting because she's just so under-appreciated but good. She'd be perfect for Jeff because Robin Scherbatsky is so much like Jeff (that would really be a good cracky crossover pairing, actually), they're both lovable misanthropes who pretend they're just so above everything but really, really care. Plus Colbie Smulders doing deadpan sarcasm is, like, my favorite thing ever next to her being a teenaged pop sensation.


Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs) → Brian Perry (Chris Pine)
"I'm not that cool. I'm not Juno, homeslice."

In this casting, we're just going to pretend that we have unlimited funds to make this happen. I know you're all like dubs tee eff Chris Pine? Action hero dude? But yes. Chris Pine would make a magnificent douchey pretentious hipster because he is a douchey pretentious hipster. He does beaten down but with a spark very, very well, which is exactly what the Britta character needs to be hilariously un-hilarious.


Troy Barnes (Donald Glover) → Tricia Barnes (Mindy Kaling)
Tricia: That's one of my biggest fears.
Abra: What is?
Tricia: If I ever, like, woke up as a donut...
Abra: You would eat yourself?
Tricia: I wouldn't even question it.

Oh god, this was by far the MOST IMPOSSIBLE CASTING EVER. First, the problem was I was extremely attached to keeping girl!Troy black because it's such a very different role for a black woman that we hardly ever see - this sort of adorable idiot savant who's hilarious and lovable because of the dimness, but you never feel like you're picking on them or making them the butt of the joke. Actually, it's weird to have a POC female who has a personality that isn't sassy snapping in Z formation (and isn't Zoe from Firefly, who I love forever). The problem is that Hollywood is... a really racist place. It was hard to think of any young black actresses, and thinking of a young black comedic actress is impossible. Except for maybe Raven. Which... no. But even when I said okay, I will literally take any actress, it was still really hard, because in addition to being racist, surprise! Hollywood is also sexist.

But even if it wasn't, the fact of the matter is that Donald Glover is so unique. He's nearly irreplaceable. Mindy Kaling is the only person I would ever entrust the female!Troy to because she has that stupid, but not really stupid, just differently smart, you want to be their best friend vibe. Plus, she can rap. Ding ding!


Annie Edison (Alison Brie) → Andy Edison (Andrew Garfield)
"I'm not hiding my own pen, you paranoid weirdo! Everybody stay within each other's eyelines please. One of you is a monster."

Again, we're pretending I have all the money and influence in the world to make this happen, because how amazing would this be? This role is so perfect for Andrew. He could totally pull off the neurotic over-achiever thing (he could always study Jesse, y'all), plus a lot of what's so inherent to the Annie character is that underlying kittenish and vulnerable sexuality, and you need to sympathize with Annie even when she's neurotic and controlling, you need to make her that everyperson, and that's Andrew's wheelhouse.


Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi) → Abra Nadir (Natalie Morales)
"I've got self-esteem falling out of my butt. That's why I was willing to change for you guys. When you really know who you are and what you like about yourself, changing for other people isn't such a big deal."

Defense time! I was super-devoted to keeping the minorities minorities, but again, Hollywood sucks, etc etc. Plus, in my defense, Danny Pudi is really half-Indian, not half-Middle Eastern/Arabic/Muslim. So yeah, Natalie Morales is what is referred to in the business as "racially ambiguous", which means basically you don't look at her and know what she is right away and would buy it if she said all sorts of things. So there. Let's pretend my inadvertent racism is justified by decades of racism!

But the real reason I chose Natalie Morales is she's an excellent straightwoman. She's good at being adorable without being vulnerable. She can play the butt of the joke or wide-eyed observer, and you don't feel sorry for her because she's got this core sort of strength. You more feel like, yeah, that chick is cool. I'm with her. You go, Natalie Morales! Which I think, when you have a character who's as disconnected from normalcy as Abed, you need so it doesn't become a pity party. Also, she is tragically under-used in showbiz. And I love her. A lot.


Shirley Bennett (Yvette Nicole Brown) → Sheldon Bennett (Dulé Hill)
"I wasted fifteen years of my life with a woman who left me with nothing but stretch marks and a faulty memory of two great orgasms, and now it's time to get what's mine."

My reasoning for this one is simple. One: Gus on Psych pretty much is male!Shirley, and two: Dulé Hill is magnificent and needs to be in everything ever.

No other explanation required.


Pierce Hawthorne (Chevy Chase) → Peggy Hawthorne (Jessica Walter)
"You all thought I was dead, didn't you?"

Originally, I wanted to cast Jan Hooks as she-Pierce after I saw her play Verna on 30 Rock, but when I went to search for pictures, I couldn't find any, and that's when I remembered Tina Fey saying in a commentary track that she's retired and they were super-lucky to get her at all, so that's out. I was initially eh on casting Jessica Walter because even though she's great at playing the boozy grand dame, the Pierce character is supposed to be a lot less falsely classy. The thing I realized, though, is that while I was semi-rightly picturing her as Lucille Bluth (because she's kind of the female version of Pierce) when she'd probably play the part differently because, you know, she's an actress and that's her job. And she really is a great, great actress who I love and who deserves better than... what bullshit is she on now? 90210?

Though no offense to Jessica Walter (because she's magnificent), but I'd still choose Jan Hooks over her.


Señor Ben Chang (Ken Jeong) → Señora Bonnie Chang (Margaret Cho)
"Guys, I got a confession to make. I took anthropology because I want to be a part of your study group. Now, I gotta do the honest thing and just ask. Is there any room in this pocket for a little spare Chang?"

Had to do it. Just had to. They even look related. And I don't mean that in a racist all-Asians-look-alike thing, because Ken Jeong doesn't look like, say John Cho or Grace Park, I mean that in a seriously, they look like siblings, can we please get on that, casting department of Community.


Dean Craig Pelton (Jim Rash) → Dean Cindy Pelton (Jane Lynch)
"Well, that answers my question. Jen Winger is sexy even in a coffin."

This is simply gratuitous, because it would be nothing short of emotionally magnificent.

Also, I decided not to go into recurring guest characters, because then I'd have to deal with the reality of a female Starburns, but Ian Duncan (John Oliver's character)? Would be played by Miranda Hart. Such fun!
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Date: 2011-02-16 06:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] robanybody.livejournal.com
There are not enough OH MY GOD, YES, THIS in the world for how amazing this casting is. ROBIN SCHERBATSKY AND MINDY KALING AND MARGARET CHO AND CHRIS PINE. Just. yes. Yes to all of this. And Lucille Bluth as Pierce is genius. And Dulé Hill! That boy needs to be in everything because he is my favorite.

I'm just going to live in how awesome this post is, okay? *loff*

Date: 2011-02-16 06:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
HOORAY. Also, now it comes with images. Because HAH HAH OOPS I MADE THOSE TOO.

Ugh, wtf, center tag, why are you a douche.

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Date: 2011-02-16 07:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] labels304.livejournal.com
This is amazingly done. I totally agree with your choices which is rare in genderswap for me.

I wonder what the show would be like if it were genderswapped though...

Date: 2011-02-16 07:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
Aw, thank you so much!

I would be interested to know, actually. Now I want to make a show that is just a poorly-disguised genderswap and see where it goes.

Date: 2011-02-16 07:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nightcamedown.livejournal.com
Oh, man, I love this! And Jessica Winters as Pierce is FLAWLESS. I don't know if you've heard her on Archer, but Malory is definitely quite Pierce-like. She would be fantastic.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
I haven't! I know she'd be totally amazing, but to me she is Lucille Bluth and I can't shake that very easily. which I suppose is a testament to her skill at that role that imagining her as anything else feels wrong.

Date: 2011-02-16 08:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] electrcspacegrl.livejournal.com
This is just *perfect* casting. Love the Mindy Kailing, Jessica Winter and Dule Hill choices. Now I really want to see this version.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
Mindy Kaling really does work amazingly well the longer I think about it, so thank god I was staring at my computer screen going AAAAAAAAAAAAUGH at the same time she tweeted because I saw her tweet and suddenly went DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER.

Date: 2011-02-16 08:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fistsandfangs.livejournal.com
I would accept this cast in a heartbeat. Jessica Winter is an inspired choice. Also Natalie Morales is gorgeous.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
She is, isn't she? I want to see her in more, Hollywood. I WANT HER IN EVERYTHING.

Date: 2011-02-16 08:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eilowyn.livejournal.com
I've seen Alison Brie in various genderswaps as characters that make absolutely no sense for me (as Xander from Buffy? What did she ever do to deserve that?!), but this is the first one where casting someone else as Alison/Annie makes perfect sense. I'd love to see Andrew get all high strung over losing his pen, make out with Cobie during a debate, and be BFFs with Chris Pine. This is a fabulous genderswap, one of the best I've seen since the meme went viral, and I forever will think of Margaret Cho as Senora Chang.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
I did see one version where boy!Annie was John Francis Daley, which I thought was pretty inspired, but Andrew was one of the first people I clicked in on immediately. He just is Annie. He'd be so good at him/her.

Thank you so much! (Though I have to say, the Margaret Cho thing is actually kind of Ken Jeong's idea - there's an outtake where he and Joel are pretending to be celebrities doing a PSA for NBC and he goes "and I'm Margaret Cho!" in this ridiculous high voice, and ever since I watched that when I got the DVDs for Hannukah I've been like this must happen oh my god.)

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Date: 2011-02-16 08:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] moeexyz.livejournal.com
This cast is the most amazing thing ever! And while I was reading this I pictured Mindy Kaling saying some of Troy's lines and it was just GOLD!

Date: 2011-02-16 10:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
Imaging them saying each other's lines is, like, the best part of genderswap casting. Imagine Mindy doing the Biblioteca rap. Yeah. YEAH.

I think she needs to just do it regardless. For the sake of the internet.

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Date: 2011-02-16 08:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] adinfinitum.livejournal.com
I LOVE GENDER SWAPS AND THIS IS AMAZING AND YOU'RE AMAZING BUT I'LL HAVE TO COMMENT FOR REAL WHEN I'M NOT AT WORK.

PS this would be the hottest cast ever.

PPS I did talk to my sister and she doesn't seem keen on the idea DDD: I'M STILL TRYING TO WEAR HER DOWN THOUGH, I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON MY PROGRESS.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
NOOOO I HAVE BEEN SO EXCITED FARAH I PROMISE I'M NOT CREEPY I'LL E-MAIL IT TO YOU AND YOU CAN FORWARD IT TO HER.

YOU ARE EQUALLY AMAZING <3 <3

Date: 2011-02-16 08:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] staraflur.livejournal.com
HAHAHAHAHAHHA SO PERFECT AND AMAZING MAMA BLUTH YESSSS

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Date: 2011-02-16 08:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quickdriveover.livejournal.com
THIS IS MY FAVORITE GENDERSWAP YET.

DULE HILL! JANE LYNCH! MINDY KAILING!

MOTHERFUCKING WENDY WATSON...I MEAN, NATALIE MORALES.


Seriously, though...there aren't enough words in the world to describe how much I love this. AMAZING.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
Thank you so much! I had fun doing this. Also I wanted to punch myself in the face a lot. BUT IN BETWEEN THE PUNCHING, I HAD FUN.

Date: 2011-02-16 08:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nausicaa83.livejournal.com
Absolutely perfect choices! *____*

Date: 2011-02-16 10:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
Thank you so much!

Date: 2011-02-16 08:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] raddishh.livejournal.com
JESUS CHRIST EVERYONE YOU PICKED IS THE MOST PERFECT THING EVER

I came over here expecting to hate everything and was SO pleasantly surprised.
I'M SORRY I DOUBTED YOU, A PERSON I DO NOT KNOW.
I legit love every choice, there were really only a few that weren't instantly perfect IMO. I really feel for you trying to pick a female equivalent to Donald Glover. There really isn't one. HE'S JUST TOO WONDERFUL.
But YEAH, you have cast a show that I would totally (still) watch. Congrats.

Suddenly, the idea of a female Dean Pelton is BLOWING MY MIND. Just... WOAH, that would be so intensely different than anything done on tv ever IMO.

(BTW, right now Jessica Winter is voicing Archer's mother on the show Archer. It's not the best show, but it's kind of funny.)

Date: 2011-02-16 09:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sushimonster724.livejournal.com
THIS IS SO PERFECT AHHH I CAN'T.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
Awww, thank you!

Date: 2011-02-16 09:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] becksreid72.livejournal.com
Holy crap....JANE LYNCH! JANE FREAKING LYNCH! YES PLEASE! And Andrew Garfield and Natalie Morales and Jessica Winter and freaking GUS!!!! This is the most perfect-est genderswap casting ever. Now I want this to happen. Now I want Abed to make another show about them only with them all genderswapped. Using this cast! That would be awesome! Seriously, there aren't enough words for how epic this is. I want girl!Dean Pelton so bad! So, yes. I approve muchly of this cast. Can you tell?

Date: 2011-02-16 10:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
The best part is... Abed totally could. And it would be believable. SO NOW HE HAS TO DO IT, CLEARLY.

Date: 2011-02-16 09:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 0penhearts.livejournal.com
OH MY GOD MINDY KALING! Yesssssssssss. I LOVE your choices for Pierce and (even though I can't recall seeing the Natalie Morales in anything; her face just looks right) Abed. WIN! And you know what? Chris Pine for Britta IS oddly perfect!

Date: 2011-02-16 09:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quickdriveover.livejournal.com
In terms of Natalie Morales, try and find The Middleman. It's a weird show, especially for its intended audience (ABC Family), but it's amazing and she's so perfectly deadpan, all things considered. I love her.

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Date: 2011-02-16 09:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pomegranate-md.livejournal.com
ANDREW'S INCLUSION MAKES THIS ABOUT 300 TIMES MORE AWESOME THAN IT ALREADY WAS, WHICH IS SAYING SOMETHING. <3 <3 <3

Date: 2011-02-16 10:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
ANDREW MAKES EVERYTHING MORE AWESOME.

ALSO IMAGINE HIM GETTING ALL EXCITED OVER A BACKPACK IN THE CHICKEN WINGS EPISODE. IT WOULD TOTALLY WORK.

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Date: 2011-02-16 09:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oneoffour111.livejournal.com
Magnificent! I love all these so much, especially Colbie for Jen and Margaret for Senora Chang. And the quotes you put under the pictures! :D

Date: 2011-02-16 10:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
Thank you! The quotes were the most fun to find. There are so many good lines that I forgot even though I re-watch my DVDs constantly.

Winters?

Date: 2011-02-16 09:29 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
How have there been 23 comments and not one person has mentioned that the actress's name is Jessica WALTERS, not Winters? Seriously, just google it and you have your answer. It's just driving me nuts-- this is my first time on livejournal, and I'm only popping in to add that!
And I love your choices. Mindy Kaling is perfect for that role.

Re: Winters?

Date: 2011-02-16 10:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
ACK SORRY. Correcting now.

Date: 2011-02-16 09:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sisterjune.livejournal.com
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, except I might have jane lynch as pierce so we could see more of her. but otherwise, YES TO EVERYTHING. I also glad you mentioned how racist and sexist hollywood is that makes doing this kinds of memes really hard sometimes. Its the reason i have on several occasions wanted to do a listing of my favorite POC actors and actresses just to give some love and recognition to the talented few roaming around hollywood and tvland.

Date: 2011-02-16 10:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
I did see a casting with her as Pierce, but she just wasn't right for me in that role, though I did feel sad about under-utilizing her.

But man, I always knew Hollywood was racist/sexist, but I had no idea until I did this casting exactly how deeply it was. I mean, it really, really makes it hit home. And even the types of roles! When's the last time we've seen an unrepentantly slutty yet ultimately lovable female character? Because Samantha on Sex in the City was just awful, you hated her. Just. BLARGH. IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD, SHIT WOULD CHANGE, IS MY POINT.

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Date: 2011-02-16 10:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hypertwink.livejournal.com
This is magnificent. I actually agree with your choices and why. I totally like Mindy & Natalie & Chris...with everyone.

But here's the real trick: how do you cast Vaughn and his small nipples?

p.s. OMG, Starburns!

Date: 2011-02-16 10:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
I think female!Vaughn would clearly just never wear a bra. It wouldn't have to be tiny nipples, then, it would just be NIPPLES. Though female Starburns. Man. HOW WOULD THAT EVEN WORK.

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Date: 2011-02-16 10:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wallows.livejournal.com
This is impressive! Really spot on. I initially thought male Annie should have bigger eyes, but your description SOLD me, and who doesn't love Spider-Saverin...

Date: 2011-02-16 10:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
Okay, here's the trick for me - you know that episode where Jeff describes Annie's crying technique of eyelashes fluttering but never closing? Imagine Andrew doing that with his big, sweet Bambi eyes. HOW COULD I NOT CAST HIM JUST TO DO THAT.

Date: 2011-02-16 11:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] giselleslash.livejournal.com
I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPROVE OF THIS LUCILLE BLUTH = PIERCE HAWTHORNE BUSINESS BECAUSE MY LOVE FOR IT IS EPIC.

Date: 2011-02-16 11:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
SHE CAN'T HEAR YOU BECAUSE SHE'S RUBBING THE SWORD OF DUKANE ON HER BALLS. LOOK AT HER, GETTING OFF.

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Date: 2011-02-17 01:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sonicbookmark.livejournal.com
Dulé Hill is magnificent and needs to be in everything ever.

YES. YES, HE DOES.

And you will be happy to know that I've finally seen an episode and LOVED IT. :D

Date: 2011-02-17 01:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
HOORAH! A CONVERT.

Date: 2011-02-17 01:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] riversabine.livejournal.com
Andrew Garfield and Jessica Walters, yes and yes! Love it:)

Date: 2011-02-17 03:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
Hooray! I'm so glad you enjoyed.

Date: 2011-02-17 03:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] whisperwords.livejournal.com
JULIA I LOVE THIS CASTING SO HARD I CAN'T EVEN. I'm not a fan of like 90% of the genderswap casts I've seen floating around on Tumblr (partly because of the fact that I feel like the general message of genderswapping is to make a heavily-male industry more woman-friendly and so the idea of genderswapping things like 30 Rock and Buffy the Vampire Slayer where the lead is one of the very few female LEADS on television just rubs me the wrong way, because I feel like the few female LEADS we get on tv are so valuable that by flipping it to "male lead, many female costars" kind of undermines the awesomeness that ACTUALLY IS THERE TO BEGIN WITH, but hey that's a tangent) but I LOVE THIS ONE and you know why?

It's because of Dulé Hill is magnificent and needs to be in everything ever.

CHARLIE YOUNNGGGGGGG ASLDKAHSTLDKAHT

(Also, swapping Andrew Garfield for Alison Brie is a THING OF GENIUS.)

Date: 2011-02-17 03:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chibirhm.livejournal.com
HOORAH. But yes, Dulé Hill is, like, emotionally magnificent in every way and I need Andrew and Alison to play siblings in something, like, yesterday.
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