Nick, The Boyfriend With No Rewards

New Girl, S02E02

Jess needed help maintaining her sex-only relationship with Sam, so Schmidt suggest the guys take her out to give her some pointers, but Schmidt ditches the dinner with Winston so they can go to a club where Kanye West supposedly was at.  Nick and Jess got closer after the dinner, and Jess started to emotionally lean on Nick so that she could be motivated to have sex with Sam.

What I loved about this episode was that it pointed out again the sexual chemistry that exists between Nick and Jess, and it sort of showed what it might be like if they were dating (at least at the emotional level).  What started off as an awkward and drunk dinner to themselves, transformed them into a new level of friendship where Nick had no problems going off with Jess all day to Ikea.  I never expected that to happen.  I mean, they clearly have chemistry, but usually it fizzles right after they pretty much catch themselves crossing that line from friendship into something else.  So it was pretty exciting to see Jess and Nick sort of being a couple, even though she was just using Nick as her emotional boyfriend.  It was weird, for sure, that she had to do boyfriend things with Nick before she could get in the mood to have sex with Sam, but I didn't mind because it was so funny to see Nick going along with Jess' wishes as if he were already a whipped man, yet not getting the "rewards."  I was pretty annoyed when Winston spoiled it by telling Nick that he was basically her "emotional fluffer" and to stop doing anything beyond what he considered a friend would do.

But luckily, Nick hated being told what to do and was fine doing things like building her furniture for her.  What was even better than that was Nick admitted that he is sometimes attracted to Jess!  We all knew it, but I liked hearing him say it.  I really think this has moved their relationship significantly forward.  But one thing that was bizarre was that Nick was dancing to the "sexy mix" he had given Jess to get her in the mood for Sam (instead of relying on him).  I mean, he should know what she was doing to that music, yet that's a cause to dance?  He's so weird!  But I love it.

I don't have much to say about Schmidt's story.  It was pretty stupid.  But Winston's story about being sexually frustrated with Shelby was a little interesting.  Not the part where he was being kinda gross and fantasizing about every woman that he came in contact with (even Jess and Cece), but when Shelby claimed they had a "big fight," and Winston commented that they barely even talked.  What is going on there?  I didn't know Shelby was so crazy.  Or either she's just bored with him or something.  I doubt that Winston could do better, but he needs to take some action before he's stuck with a girl who's gotten a little too comfortable with him.  I mean, they're watching more TV together than doing anything intimate.

Most of the best lines, I think, came from when Jess and Nick were at the restaurant, but the one that stands out the most is one of Nick's (him calling her a "loft troll came as a close second):

This place is fancy and I don’t know which fork to stab myself with.

I really hope that there will be more opportunities for Nick and Jess to have dinner together because they are a disaster, but such a fun disaster.  Schmidt needs to return to being funny because lately he's been kind of off (possibly a side effect of not being with Cece).  Winston possibly needs to stop dating Shelby before one of those fantasies in his head becomes a reality (which may not be the worst thing if he's never gonna get some from his own girlfriend).   I, of course, just want to see what Nick and Jess will do next to torture us while we watch them like each other but resist taking it to that next level.

An Extra Long Snore

30 Rock used to be one of my favorite shows a season or two ago, but their sixth season is severely lacking for me.  I'm not sure where the magic went.  Perhaps the writers have changed--it's a mystery.  The characters are still their loveable selves, but perhaps after a while, the jokes are stale and their antics are unimpressive.  This week, there was a double-episode, which I decided to write about, as there was more material to work with than usual for this show.

So there were a few different stories going on.  The most boring was Jenna's.  She was having a case of the yips before her live performance.  Jenna only shines best when she is in pain--what a wonderful revelation!  It would be if I gave a damn.  The next up on the boring scale was Jack and his mother-in-law's story.  I love Mary Steenburgen, but I thought her character was lacking.  That was a shame!  All their troubles were solved with golfing...  I was slightly interested in their story only because I wondered if Jack would be a big enough ass to sleep with his mother-in-law.  Thankfully no.  How would his Canadian daughter respect him after that?

Okay, so let's go to the stories that didn't make me completely turn away from the screen.  There was the new page at their neck of woods, Hazel, who wasn't adapting well to the insanity that surrounds TGS.  She seemed on the verge of quitting until she met Liz at her apartment.  She quickly became obsessed with her to a level I thought we would see episodes later.  No, we got a little taste this time.  She was sitting in Liz's room, hugging her pillow, and then she was found to be in Liz's room, putting lipstick on her.  With all the psychos that already occupy the show, you'd wonder why I'd want another.  I like Kristen Schaal (from her various voice-over roles), so I welcome her to the cast if she can jump start my interest again.  The show's missing something, and she might fill that void.

Liz and Criss' story was fairly interesting in that they went to IKEA.  I love that store, but I like the idea that it's a place where couples come to break up after disagreeing on various furniture and home decor choices.  I don't care much for Criss, but I did like how this guy in the store was nearly walking on his heels as Criss moved throughout the store.  In the end, they argue, but Liz decides to apologize.  It turns out that she didn't even need to because Criss had made her a crudely but sweetly made table, along with dinner.  It's sad that she seems to be in a good relationship and I can't cheer her on.  My favorite person she dated was by far Carol.  Man, it sucks that he couldn't be a permanent fixture on the show.  But it was Matt Damon, so I don't know how much longer they could have kept him on anyway.

The best story was the one with Tracy, Frank, and Lutz.  They were scheming in different ways to take advantage of women and get dates (or possible just some sex, knowing them).  The general technique was to step in exactly when a woman was at her most vulnerable point and ask her, "Hey, Baby, what's wrong?"  Frank and Tracy kept saying this line in unison, forcing me to laugh during this episode.  They could have made this the central story, and I would have been happy.  Poor Lutz, who made the horrible mistake of suggesting to a postal lady that her hair looked bad, didn't get any dates for Valentine's Day, but he did get to go to IKEA and enjoy some meatballs with his boys.  That last part where they were all eating together outside of the store was the kind of silly fun that I have missed on this show.  But there just wasn't enough of it this time.

Lastly, I'll mention my favorite line from this episode (besides the "Hey, Baby" thing).  This was when Jack's mother-in-law was telling him that you catch more flies with honey, and Jack replied:

First of all, why do you want flies?

Yeah.  That phrases makes sense, and it doesn't make sense.  Anyway, I'm a little more motivated to comment (or watch) next week's episode if there is going to be more Hazel.  I could do with less Criss, and Tracey is always welcomed.  It's a good thing, though, that there aren't so many people I know watching 30 Rock.  I would have to be tortured by friends coming around and saying "Hey, Baby, what's wrong?"  It was funny on the show, but I'd probably punch someone in real life if I had to hear it more than twice.