Smallscreen Reviews
Review: 'New Girl’’ for FOX a homerun (VIDEOS)
By April MacIntyre Sep 20, 2011, 18:48 GMT
Jess, a quirky young woman, moves into an apartment loft with three single men. Although they find her behavior a bit dorky, the men support her and they become almost like a family. ...more
The best of the new network television 2011 comedy lot for me hands down is FOX's "New Girl’’ starring Zooey Deschanel.
At the recent TCA summer press tour, Ms. Deschanel softened the normally hardened crowd of TV critics with her natural charisma, saying of her character Jess: "I think she’s someone who expresses her emotions all the time. She’s very much herself, and she’s almost too in touch with her emotions, which I think is a really great contrast with the other characters, who are less in touch with their emotions, and I think that’s sort of a lot of the comedy comes out of that juxtaposition."
Indeed it does. The ebb and flow of conversation betwixt the cast is realistic, effortless and perfectly timed. Not an easy accomplishment in sitcom land.
Jess is a dorky stunner, a beauty behind glasses, an unaware, fey force of nature who bursts into song and uses the power of "Dirty Dancing" to work through her girl grief, lamenting a failed relationship.
It is Jess's earnest appeal and forthright personality that is guileless, engaging and refreshing in this day and age of "genital wart" gross-out guffaws and hacky character development (Two and a Half Men) that make this FOX effort a no-miss comedy for the family.
In the premiere, we meet Jess, who walks in on her boyfriend with another woman, and subsequently she leaves him and must find new living arrangements.
Enter her potential new roommates, three guys: Schmidt (Max Greenfield) is a vain fellow who loves to take off his shirt. Nick (Jake Johnson) a nice bartender also mourning a past relationship. Coach, (Lamorne Morris) a bumptious and socially awkward gym trainer. They all interview her, and each decides her positive qualities outweigh her negative ones.
The prop to watch for is the “Douchebag Jar,’’ an item FOX kindly sent out to TV critics with dollar bill covered lollipops. This is where the dollars go in the show when one of the guys missteps in conversation. If it were the aforementioned odious CBS comedy, it would be overflowing.
“New Girl’’ is created by “No Strings Attached’’ screenwriter Liz Meriwether, who said of Zooey, "It was just such a gift. She’s just so great, and she’s so great in the show. She’s such a smart actress. I think this character is out there, and we really were trying for a different kind of female character, and she’s able to play the comedy and the scene underneath, which is just so important, and for me, is what really makes something actually funny. We just got so lucky."
Lucky and well-paved with good intentions, and spot-on writing, casting and timing too.
Make sure you catch it tonight.
From FOX
Zooey Deschanel stars as Jess Day, a young woman who, after discovering her long-term boyfriend is cheating on her, moves into a loft apartment with three male roommates she doesn’t know – prickly bartender Nick, womanizer Schmidt and intense personal trainer Coach. In the opener, the guys try to help Jess get back on her feet and into the dating world in the series premiere episode of "New Girl" airing TONIGHT, Tuesday, Sept. 20 (9:01-9:31 PM ET/PT), on FOX.
Zooey Deschanel, Part 1 (9/15/11) Jimmy shows an old video from when he and Zooey met and the two talk about her show, "New Girl." Part 1 of 2.
Zooey Deschanel, Part 2 (9/15/11) Jimmy shows an old video from when he and Zooey met and the two talk about her show, "New Girl." Part 2 of 2.
Musical Instruments with Zooey Deschanel, Part 1 (9/15/11) Jimmy and Zooey must play simple songs on unusual musical instruments for The Roots. Part 1 of 2. Musical Instruments with Zooey Deschanel, Part 2 (9/15/11) Jimmy and Zooey must play simple songs on unusual musical instruments for The Roots. Part 2 of 2.
