Just Shriek and Punch the Zombie Nick.

New Girl Season 2 Halloween 

           When it came to New Girl, I was all about Schmidt for a while, but in the new season, the most memorable moments come courtesy of the Ron-Swanson lite, surly sweet Nick Miller (Jake Johnson, not to be confused Jack Johnson the Hawaiian strumming, sweet styling singer, even though I almost typed his name first).  Sure, Schmidt had a great moment dressed as Lincoln (because according to his logic, everyone thinks of the venerable President at least once a day).  Still, the past two episodes shined when Nick was Nick-confused, emotionally stunted, and yet goofily caring and kind.  Two episodes ago, as he struggled to express his love for Schmidt after Schmidt bought him a cookie, "just cuz,"we got a glimpse of when Schmidt and Nick met in college, which was dumbly true to how shallow most friendships start.  When Nick finally returned the gift with a cookie of his own for Schmidt, he stutters, "You give cookie, I give cookie," in an adorably confused chant until finally breaking down.  It was a great moment of comedy and truth as he struggled to express real emotions.
       In last nights episode, Nick once again had a truly fantastic moment.  Already admitting to having a fear of haunted houses and relationships, essentially saying they are one in the same, Nick braves a haunted house for Jess, worried she's about to tell an unfeeling doctor that she's interested in a relationship.  Nick runs like he's an extra in The Walking Dead, frantically searching for Jess amidst the ghouls and monsters.  Poor Nick is attacked by a zombie, or so he thinks.  He punches the zombie in the face, only to find out he punched Jess.  Shrieking like a banshee  or more accurately a little girl, he's attacked by a pack of monsters,who defend their fellow haunted house worker violently   Poor Nick is caught in his worst nightmare, and it makes for a perfectly hilarious moment.
      Kudos to New Girl for allowing its characters to shine, giving opportunities for all of the characters to develop and be ridiculously awesome.  For all his valiant efforts, poor Nick lets Jess get her revenge, punching him in the face in the last second of the show.  For now at least, he wins the award of my favorite character on the show.

New Girl's Secret Ingredient: Activia!!!

New Girl Season 2

            A lot is happening in season 2 of Fox's hit comedy New Girl.  Jess (Zooey Deschanel), the consummate optimist with a soft spot for glitter and Gollum, will lose her job as a teacher and be forced to try her hand in a hodgepodge of new jobs.  Schmidt (Max Greenfield) will once again be a single crazy man on the prowl.  It was also just announced that New Girl will get its probiotic yogurt on, with Jamie Lee Curtis coming in to play the divorced mom of Jess in a Thanksgiving episode.  Rob Reiner will play Jess's father in the episode that will force the split couple together.
        After a first season that grew in its hilarity and heart, I will certainly be tuning in to watch Jess and the boys this Fall.  New Girl season two premieres September 25th on Fox.  I will be watching, with or without my yogurt.

New Girl: Because Hand Bells are Hilarious

Winston and His Mad Hand Bell Skills

          New Girl started as a showcase for the dorky cute antics of Zooey Deschanel's Jess.  However, as it grew popularity, it also grew in its development of its other characters.  Schmidt (Max Greenfield) has become the not so secret scene stealer playing an obsessive, overall jerk with a heart of mushy gold.  Nick Miller's (Jake Johnson) stubborn grumpy man persona plays brilliantly with Jess's eternal optimism.  Winston (Lamorne Morris) plays the most normal of the bunch, observing and commenting on the crazy around him.  That is, except for one special episode, entitled "Bells."  Next to "The Landlord," "Bells" is my absolute favorite example of New Girl's ability to grow into a truly funny comedy that showcases ALL of its characters.  In the episode, Winston helps Jess with a group of kids performing with hand bells.  There is simply something inadvertently funny about hand bells and the need to done gloves to perform with them.   Add that immediate humor to Winston's sudden and obsessive need to put on the best hand bell show (hilarious thought), and you get one of the best episodes of New Girl.  I am excited about the new season, ready for more Winston, Jess, Schmidt, and Nick, knowing that New Girl gives a chance for each character to let their freak flags fly high and proud. Ring that bell Winston.  Ring it.

2 Kinds of Quirky

         The Mindy Project, a new Fox show coming this Fall and starring Mindy Kaling (The Office) as a doctor and generally quicky gal with a slew of unique friends and relationships can't seem to avoid comparisons to New Girl.  Zooey Deschanel has her own brand of awkward adorable comedy, which wouldn't survive without the comedy of the boys she lives with New Girl.  While it's a compliment for The Mindy Project to be compared to a successful and often hilarious show, I'd argue that after watching the trailer for The Mindy Project, the characters and tones of the shows couldn't be further apart.  Just because both protagonists are "quirky" and starring on Fox shows doesn't mean they are dopplegangers.  The Mindy Project looks more like a romantic comedy of the Bridget Jones meets a much less drama-filled Grey's Anatomy.  New Girl has morphed into a buddy comedy full of outrageous and silly moments.  It's wonderful that more than one show features a memorable female lead, but lets not be idiots and say that means they are the same.  I'll check out The Mindy Project, but I'll do it without immediatey trying to diagram the similaries to New Girl.