Inside Television with Alan Sepinwall

Review: 'New Girl' - 'Bells': The thrill of the fight

The guys step to the forefront in one of the strongest episodes so far

By Alan Sepinwall Wednesday, Nov 30, 2011 9:27 AM

Winston (Lamorne Morris) and Jess (Zooey Deschanel) work with some high school kids on "New Girl."

Credit: FOX

A review of last night's "New Girl" coming up just as soon as I have a $40,000 bar mitzvah...

"Bells" was one of the funniest "New Girl" episodes to date, but it felt particularly encouraging for two reasons:

1)Winston finally had a personality beyond "not Coach."

2)Jess was by far the least funny part of the episode - not because she was bad, but because the material for the guys was so strong.

Let's take the second one first. When the show debuted, it was overwhelmingly driven by Jess. The guys had a couple of funny bits in the pilot (the introduction of the douchebag jar, Coach trying to motivate Jess), but they were, for the most part, irrelevant. The show just needed three dudes to react to this weird magical unicorn who had charged into their lives - and for people who found Zooey Deschanel's performance funny, that was okay for a start. But for the long-term viability of the series, the guys need to be able to carry the load at times, and "Bells" was a fine example of that. Jess(*) had her moments (doing a robotic bells routine, trying to defuse Nick and Schmidt's fight by getting in between them and singing), but the parts I'm going to remember involved Nick's quick fixes, Schmidt and Nick yelling about Midori Sour and dead nannies (one of the funniest scenes the show has done, and 100% Jess-free), Schmidt trying to squeeze the expensive conditioner out of Nick's hair and Nick's response to Schmidt's cardigan.

(*) I also think the show has done a good job of making her seem saner and/or more human when she's doing things related to her job. She's still a goofball, and someone the kids don't know what to make of, but she's not an alien from Planet Twee when she has to deal with

Nick has always been the character the writers have had the most consistent vision for, but he's also been the straight man, whereas Schmidt is funnier but all over the map in terms of characterization. Their feud showed both how Nick can be funny and not just the guy who patiently explains to Jess how normal humans behave, and seemed to find the right balance among the many faces of Schmidt. Good job.

Meanwhile, Winston finally seemed like a character, period, and not just some guy the writers slotted in when ABC renewed "Happy Endings." Winston being hyper-competitive and cocky is something the show can work with, whether opposite happy rainbow Jess, insecure Schmidt or laid-back Nick, or some combination of the others.

The title is "New Girl," but the show is going to have to be a true ensemble to work long-term. "Bells" suggests it can be.

What did everybody else think?

Alan Sepinwall
Sr. Editor, What's Alan Watching

Alan Sepinwall has been reviewing television since the mid-'90s, first for Tony Soprano's hometown paper, The Star-Ledger, and now for HitFix. His new book, "The Revolution Was Televised," about the last 15 years of TV drama, is for sale at Amazon. He can be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com

Related Searches: New Girl, Zooey Deschanel, Max Greenfield, Jake Johnson, Lamorne Morris, Alan Sepinwall

Next 47 Comments

Kim

Actually I didn't necessarily like this one as much as the others - although I'm still singing Eye of the Tiger this morning. Just when I think I can't stand one more second of Jess's (and Zooey's) cutie-patooty act, she brings me back from the ledge of hate and makes me laugh. Schmidt is by far my favorite character.
November 30, 2011 at 10:38AM EST Reply to Comment
UGABugKiller

I think I could just spend 30 minutes looking into Zooey's blue eyes and be happy, but this show is great so far... as long as they NEVER get Nick and Jess together.

Jess & Nick's chemistry as characters is so palpable that the writers might get to a point where they feel compelled to do so, but I hope they never do. There's a Sam & Diane-thing going on with them (without the love-hate, more like a like-annoy) and I would love it if it just keeps on like that.

Also, I know this is a small thing, but it's nice to have a show with an actual sung theme song, where the cast takes part in some way. Way too few shows do this anymore, and it's a shame.
November 30, 2011 at 10:39AM EST Reply to Comment
- Al I agree about Nick & Jess's chemistry. I don't actually think the show is trying to put them together. They just seem to have a lot of chemisgtry. Even Justin Long commented on it in the Thanksgiving episode. :)
  December 1, 2011 at 8:45PM EST
Karen G.

Definitely a stronger episode for the boys. The image of Winston trying to write music for 'Eye of the Tiger' utilizing bells made of paper (and that ridiculous envelope hat) is the image that will stick with me from this episode.

But, I am a total sucker for visual gags, so...
November 30, 2011 at 10:40AM EST Reply to Comment
Jessica S.

This is spot-on with what I was thinking, probably because I've agreed with everything you've said about New Girl thus far. That shouting match re: Nana & Midori Sour got funnier and funnier with every line. This is a sitcom I can root for.
November 30, 2011 at 10:42AM EST Reply to Comment
StephenH2OMan

My favorite episode so far. Love the term "fancy fix." Plan to start using it immediately.
November 30, 2011 at 10:43AM EST Reply to Comment
JonV

I honestly thought this was the worst episode of the show that I've seen and I really only laughed once (at Schmidt getting his cardigan; against all odds, the show's made his doucheiness kind of funny).

This just seemed like a lazy episode of TV. Take the guys' personality tics and dial them to 11 (or in the case of Winston invent something) so they approach caricature levels, and let them loose. It was just noise for me.
November 30, 2011 at 11:06AM EST Reply to Comment
- adam Agreed on this ep being just noise. literally noisey and loud...all the yelling was so grating. My girlfriend called from the other room and sincerely asked if i was watching a maury povich type show.
  November 30, 2011 at 11:14AM EST
- JonV I should have prefaced by saying, I'm iffy on this show to start. I think it's at its best when the level of quirkiness is more managed, so ultimately the show just might not be for me.
  November 30, 2011 at 11:16AM EST
- John I typically enjoy New Girl, but I'm with you on this one, it was by far my least favorite episode so far. I don't recall laughing once, and the Jess/Winston stuff with the bells just bored me to death.
  November 30, 2011 at 11:24AM EST
- Kim You put into words exactly what I was thinking but couldn't verbalize the way I wanted. I laughed at Winston's hat like the commenter above, but other than that, bleh. And I do like the show for the most part.
  November 30, 2011 at 11:43AM EST
- browntown87 I agree that this one wasn't as good as others, but I did enjoy the toned down Jess. I found the Midori Sour shouting match between Nick and Schmidt particularly unfunny, it seemed out of place for some reason, like they tried to copy a scene from "Curb" or something (which is a hilarious show obviously).
  November 30, 2011 at 12:14PM EST
- AL yeah this was the worst episode yet. i was shocked to see the glowing review
  
  November 30, 2011 at 1:11PM EST
- aamadis Agreed. Definitely the worst to date, possibly aside from the tv stealing episode. The guys fight seemed contrived and forced and while Winston was featured more prominently he was just as boring as ever.
  November 30, 2011 at 1:40PM EST
- El Knid While I'm more with Alan on this one, I can totally see why some of the stuff that worked for me - particularly, the Nick/Schmidt shouting match - isn't everyone's cup of tea. I'd be curious to hear from those for whom this episode was a step in a bad direction which scenes from the previous episodes they feel are better representative of the direction the show should be going in. What do you want to see more of?
  November 30, 2011 at 10:17PM EST
tv_vwr

Wasn't it his Nana (as in Grandmother) not nanny that made the quilt? Making it even more douchee for Schmidt to think $30 could pay for it. Where is that jar when Nick needs it? Where is it at all, that was the funniest bits of the pilot.
November 30, 2011 at 11:33AM EST Reply to Comment
- Drewson I interpreted the exchange as Nick referring to the quilt form his Nana, and Schmidt saying he paid $30 to replace the quilt from Nick's Nanny. I think that was part of the joke.
  November 30, 2011 at 2:50PM EST
- WeebeysPlasticFish I called one of my grandmother's Nanny. It sounded to me like he said it nah-ny.
  November 30, 2011 at 11:29PM EST
watching and waiting

So I guess it is no longer a requirement of a sitcom to be funny .. even in a 'strong' episode ... because this one wasn't.
November 30, 2011 at 11:50AM EST Reply to Comment
klg19

I was intrigued by this episode because it was such a departure. It dealt with more "serious" issues than any episode previously: the rich-guy/poor-guy resentments between Nick and Schmidt; Winston's fears of career failure. The previous episodes have drawn all the characters in such broad and farcical strokes, and this was the first to introduce real drama into their lives and their personalities.

I'm not entirely sure it worked 100%, especially in the context of the episodes that came previously, but I confess I liked it. It wasn't necessarily a good "New Girl" episode, but it was a good episode of television.
November 30, 2011 at 12:01PM EST Reply to Comment
Teproc

I was totally expecting "as soon as I discover I've been robbed by giants", that line made my laugh so bad. Agree on everything you said, but i'm surprised you didn't write about the more serious moments of this episode (the scene between Nick and Winston expesically), which i thought were surprisingly weel-done too.
November 30, 2011 at 12:20PM EST Reply to Comment
ChampSkins

How many episodes are going to end with the guys coming to "rescue" Jess? Beyond ridiculous at this point.
November 30, 2011 at 12:55PM EST Reply to Comment
keith

Is Deschanel sometimes doing a Peewee Herman voice or is that her real voice?
November 30, 2011 at 1:01PM EST Reply to Comment
TL

It's interesting how different people look for different things while watching this (which can be said about any show) because I thought that Jess wasn't as funny when she toned down her quirkiness. Her actually getting upset with Winston threw me off and took me out of her part of the episode.

Everything that involved Schmidt and Nick was good though, but even there I'm a fan of Schmidt period and don't see all of these different faces that people keep talking about. He's just a big goofball.
November 30, 2011 at 1:05PM EST Reply to Comment
fritanga

Wow, people actually WANT the magical unicorn to the exclusion of all else. I think this was probably one of the funniest episodes yet (but then again, I come from a hollering family) precisely because it was Jess-lite. Sometimes she needs to step aside, tone it down and let the guys' testosterone run free.

I actually liked Nick in this ep. - up until now I've found him to be alternately wimpy and dickish, but both qualities worked to his advantage in his power struggle with Schmidt. Their scenes together were some of the best so far in this series, mostly because of the insane escalation of their argument. And Winston finally has a personality! Turns out he's just as neurotic as the other guys, and in a similarly wonderful, demented way.

They're all magical unicorns in their own ways, actually. I hope they keep up all this kicking and head-butting between everyone, and of course keep Nick and Jess far, far away from each other, unless she's trying to break up his fights with Schmidt. I don't want UST, I want hollering!
November 30, 2011 at 1:34PM EST Reply to Comment
Brian Reichl

I was just happy to see one of my favorite comedians, Little Esther, working on a major TV comedy. Liked everything else about the episode too.
November 30, 2011 at 1:46PM EST Reply to Comment
- asarael REDBAN?
  November 30, 2011 at 7:42PM EST
Scott Rosenberg

I found the episode to be problematic, and the reason Alan and I differ on that one is because we disagree on his second point. I think Jess was the least funny part of the episode because she was bad. Really bad, really out-of-place, and really not funny.

I had a mixed approach to the show in the early goings, with some issues with Zooey being too wacky/ridiculous, but more with the guys not appearing to be particularly talented in those first couple of episodes. Now, we know that these guys can act, and be funny, and carry an episode, but that creates a real problem for the lead. Where Jess is cartoonish and the others are mild but still caricatured, you can take that as the premise of the show. When all of the guys are being realistic people with realistic problems, that expectation changes, and "adorkability" just doesn't play. Jess had one good scene where she was mentoring Wilson on how to make it about the kids, but I found all the quirky stuff grating. It made me wish I was just watching these three guys be roommates with issues, and no quirky girl. I don't think that that is a direction the producers of the show want their audience leaning. I like what they're doing with these guys, and have come to appreciate their talents (although Nick's rage is overblown and overplayed), but I think they need to course correct Jess significantly away from the premise in a more realistic (sadly, generic) direction to make everything fit together and elevate the comedy to a higher level. This episode shows the potential for that.
November 30, 2011 at 2:16PM EST Reply to Comment
conrad

i just wonder how many takes were necessary for the schmidt and nick yelling scenes...best part of the ep.
November 30, 2011 at 2:56PM EST Reply to Comment
laur

I also felt like this was one of the first episodes of the show that really worked. They are finally getting the character of Jess down pat. She's not a complete weirdo that normal people wouldn't be friends with let alone live with. She's just kinda quirky and I feel like they are starting to nail that. Also Schmidt is amazing - "I just need to grab my cardigan" made me lose it. I've been rooting for this show and I feel like it finally gave me some hope it wouldn't just be a "cute show" but actually a good show.
November 30, 2011 at 3:20PM EST Reply to Comment
laur

Just let me grab my cardiagan - line of the night. I absolutely died. Schmidt gives such good face.
November 30, 2011 at 3:21PM EST Reply to Comment
Greg

I kinda liked the thanksgiving episode, but this I disliked. I guess it came to a point where only a miracle can make me like those three guys. I just find everything that comes out from Max Greenfield's mouth so far-fetched and Nick is just incredibly annoying to me. Winston did improve in this episode, but I didn't laugh at anything he did. I miss coach.
November 30, 2011 at 3:52PM EST Reply to Comment
Ed Kyle

Where were the laughs? Why so much yelling and conflict in this episode? This is supposed to be a sitcom!
November 30, 2011 at 4:43PM EST Reply to Comment
jprichard

This was the last episode of "New Girl" that I'll be watching. I've seen every episode and, with the exception of the Thanksgiving show that featured Justin Long, it hasn't been funny at all. I'd decided that if this week's episode wasn't at least slightly humorous, I'd stop watching. And it wasn't. The ridiculous one-upmanship between Nick and Schmidt, trying to find something for Winston to do, the long pointless monologues by Zooey Deschanel as she tries to make things better among her roomates ... I give. Life is too short. Alan, I often agree with your reviews, or at least come to understand your point of view. But somehow this show has cast a spell over you and twisted your perspective on just what is funny. How can you possibly write that "the material for the guys was so strong" in this episode? I felt embarrassed just watching it. Zooey can be funny and charming but too often here she's been silly and annoying. I wanted very much to like the series, but I'm tired of waiting for it to find its way. Uncle!
November 30, 2011 at 7:53PM EST Reply to Comment
Robert Bopp

I can't seem to get into this show at all, after watching all the episodes to date. As always with comedy, that may reflect more on my particular tastes in humor than anything else. What I don't like is that I don't recognize any of these people as acting like, or talking like, anyone that I've ever known, and I've been here for 60 years. I know it's not supposed to be 'reality' but sitcoms where every scene seems to dial up the personalities and situations to the point of unbelievable caricature causes me to loser interest. I'm not sure that I'm explaining myself very well, so as an example of a sitcom I do like because I can relate to the characters in some realistic way is Parks & Rec. I like Zooey, but the show just doesn't do anything for me, and not once have I actually laughed while watching it.
November 30, 2011 at 7:58PM EST Reply to Comment
Robert Bopp

I can't seem to get into this show at all, after watching all the episodes to date. As always with comedy, that may reflect more on my particular tastes in humor than anything else. What I don't like is that I don't recognize any of these people as acting like, or talking like, anyone that I've ever known, and I've been here for 60 years. I know it's not supposed to be 'reality' but sitcoms where every scene seems to dial up the personalities and situations to the point of unbelievable caricature causes me to loser interest. I'm not sure that I'm explaining myself very well, so as an example of a sitcom I do like because I can relate to the characters in some realistic way is Parks & Rec. I like Zooey, but the show just doesn't do anything for me, and not once have I actually laughed while watching it.
November 30, 2011 at 7:59PM EST Reply to Comment
Robert Bopp

I can't seem to get into this show at all, after watching all the episodes to date. As always with comedy, that may reflect more on my particular tastes in humor than anything else. What I don't like is that I don't recognize any of these people as acting like, or talking like, anyone that I've ever known, and I've been here for 60 years. I know it's not supposed to be 'reality' but sitcoms where every scene seems to dial up the personalities and situations to the point of unbelievable caricature causes me to loser interest. I'm not sure that I'm explaining myself very well, so as an example of a sitcom I do like because I can relate to the characters in some realistic way is Parks & Rec. I like Zooey, but the show just doesn't do anything for me, and not once have I actually laughed while watching it.

November 30, 2011 at 7:59PM EST Reply to Comment
- Robert Bopp Very sorry about the multi-posts; I kept getting a message that the 'captcha' text I entered was incorrect (it wasn't) and only now did I realize that despite the bogus error message my comments were being posted - and reposted. Again, my apologies.
  
  November 30, 2011 at 8:01PM EST
jimmmy

I am liking it more and more. Very happy it has no laugh track.
November 30, 2011 at 9:08PM EST Reply to Comment
liz

My husband always does cheap & quick home repairs so I have already told him that I want a "fancy fix" for our window.
November 30, 2011 at 11:18PM EST Reply to Comment
WeebeysPlasticFish

It's interesting to see the vastly differing opinions of this show. Personally, I'm loving it. I like Jess a lot. She's like a confident, optimistic and happy Liz Lemon.

I loved the use of "Eye of the Tiger." I think I might make a playlist of memorable songs from this season of TV. So far it would include that and "Roxanne", I think.
November 30, 2011 at 11:38PM EST Reply to Comment
megs

Write a comment...I felt they needed a C story. Too much time was spent on the arguing and the bells. Maybe they need more characters?
December 1, 2011 at 1:20AM EST Reply to Comment
megs

Write a comment...Write a comment...I felt they needed a C story. Too much time was spent on the arguing and the bells. Maybe they ne?ed more characters
December 1, 2011 at 1:21AM EST Reply to Comment

Next 47 Comments

News From Our Partners

Follow HitFix:

Follow @HitFix

Get Instant Alerts on What's Alan Watching

Latest Posts

HitFix First Look: 'Hannibal' is worried about Will Graham

Will's gift takes an increasing toll; can the bad Dr. Lecter help him?

Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Series finale review: 'The Big C: Hereafter'

Cathy and her family prepare for the end as the Showtime dramedy concludes on a strong note

Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Season finale review: 'Rectify' - 'Jacob's Ladder'

Daniel ponders a trip out of town as the terrific first season comes to a close

Monday, May 20, 2013
Review: FOX's 'The Goodwin Games' has potential it won't get to realize

Some interesting pieces in a new sitcom from the 'HIMYM' guys, but it's a dead show walking

Monday, May 20, 2013

Cannes Film Festival 2013

Inside Television with Alan Sepinwall

Review: 'New Girl' - 'Bells': The thrill of the fight

Send to your friends

Direct link: http://tinyurl.com/8xh9dna

'New Girl' - 'Bells': The thrill of the fight

Share this Post on ...

Direct link: http://tinyurl.com/8xh9dna

'New Girl' - 'Bells': The thrill of the fight

Comments

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Al I agree about Nick & Jess's chemistry. I don't actually think the show is trying to put them together. They just seem to have a lot of chemisgtry. Even Justin Long commented on it in the Thanksgiving episode. :)

Karen G. Definitely a stronger episode for the boys. The image of Winston trying to write music for 'Eye of the Tiger' utilizing bells made of paper (and that ridiculous envelope hat) is the image that will stick with me from this episode.But, I am a total sucker for visual gags, so...

Jessica S. This is spot-on with what I was thinking, probably because I've agreed with everything you've said about New Girl thus far. That shouting match re: Nana & Midori Sour got funnier and funnier with every line. This is a sitcom I can root for.

StephenH2OMan My favorite episode so far. Love the term "fancy fix." Plan to start using it immediately.

adam Agreed on this ep being just noise. literally noisey and loud...all the yelling was so grating. My girlfriend called from the other room and sincerely asked if i was watching a maury povich type show.

JonV I should have prefaced by saying, I'm iffy on this show to start. I think it's at its best when the level of quirkiness is more managed, so ultimately the show just might not be for me.

John I typically enjoy New Girl, but I'm with you on this one, it was by far my least favorite episode so far. I don't recall laughing once, and the Jess/Winston stuff with the bells just bored me to death.

Kim You put into words exactly what I was thinking but couldn't verbalize the way I wanted. I laughed at Winston's hat like the commenter above, but other than that, bleh. And I do like the show for the most part.

AL yeah this was the worst episode yet. i was shocked to see the glowing review

aamadis Agreed. Definitely the worst to date, possibly aside from the tv stealing episode. The guys fight seemed contrived and forced and while Winston was featured more prominently he was just as boring as ever.

tv_vwr Wasn't it his Nana (as in Grandmother) not nanny that made the quilt? Making it even more douchee for Schmidt to think $30 could pay for it. Where is that jar when Nick needs it? Where is it at all, that was the funniest bits of the pilot.

Drewson I interpreted the exchange as Nick referring to the quilt form his Nana, and Schmidt saying he paid $30 to replace the quilt from Nick's Nanny. I think that was part of the joke.

WeebeysPlasticFish I called one of my grandmother's Nanny. It sounded to me like he said it nah-ny.

watching and waiting So I guess it is no longer a requirement of a sitcom to be funny .. even in a 'strong' episode ... because this one wasn't.

ChampSkins How many episodes are going to end with the guys coming to "rescue" Jess? Beyond ridiculous at this point.

keith Is Deschanel sometimes doing a Peewee Herman voice or is that her real voice?

Brian Reichl I was just happy to see one of my favorite comedians, Little Esther, working on a major TV comedy. Liked everything else about the episode too.

asarael REDBAN?

conrad i just wonder how many takes were necessary for the schmidt and nick yelling scenes...best part of the ep.

laur Just let me grab my cardiagan - line of the night. I absolutely died. Schmidt gives such good face.

Ed Kyle Where were the laughs? Why so much yelling and conflict in this episode? This is supposed to be a sitcom!

Robert Bopp Very sorry about the multi-posts; I kept getting a message that the 'captcha' text I entered was incorrect (it wasn't) and only now did I realize that despite the bogus error message my comments were being posted - and reposted. Again, my apologies.

jimmmy I am liking it more and more. Very happy it has no laugh track.

liz My husband always does cheap & quick home repairs so I have already told him that I want a "fancy fix" for our window.

megs Write a comment...I felt they needed a C story. Too much time was spent on the arguing and the bells. Maybe they need more characters?

megs Write a comment...Write a comment...I felt they needed a C story. Too much time was spent on the arguing and the bells. Maybe they ne?ed more characters

News From Our Partners

Never miss a post - sign up now to get an e-mail alert whenever What's Alan Watching is updated

Latest Posts

Recent Activity on Facebook

Most Popular on Facebook

About HitFix

Advertise on HitFix

Subscribe to HitFix

Popular Topics

Karen G.

Definitely a stronger episode for the boys. The image of Winston trying to write music for 'Eye of the Tiger' utilizing bells made of paper (and that ridiculous envelope hat) is the image that will stick with me from this episode.

But, I am a total sucker for visual gags, so...

Jessica S.

This is spot-on with what I was thinking, probably because I've agreed with everything you've said about New Girl thus far. That shouting match re: Nana & Midori Sour got funnier and funnier with every line. This is a sitcom I can root for.

StephenH2OMan

My favorite episode so far. Love the term "fancy fix." Plan to start using it immediately.

tv_vwr

Wasn't it his Nana (as in Grandmother) not nanny that made the quilt? Making it even more douchee for Schmidt to think $30 could pay for it. Where is that jar when Nick needs it? Where is it at all, that was the funniest bits of the pilot.

watching and waiting

So I guess it is no longer a requirement of a sitcom to be funny .. even in a 'strong' episode ... because this one wasn't.

ChampSkins

How many episodes are going to end with the guys coming to "rescue" Jess? Beyond ridiculous at this point.

keith

Is Deschanel sometimes doing a Peewee Herman voice or is that her real voice?

Brian Reichl

I was just happy to see one of my favorite comedians, Little Esther, working on a major TV comedy. Liked everything else about the episode too.

conrad

i just wonder how many takes were necessary for the schmidt and nick yelling scenes...best part of the ep.

laur

Just let me grab my cardiagan - line of the night. I absolutely died. Schmidt gives such good face.

Ed Kyle

Where were the laughs? Why so much yelling and conflict in this episode? This is supposed to be a sitcom!

jimmmy

I am liking it more and more. Very happy it has no laugh track.

liz

My husband always does cheap & quick home repairs so I have already told him that I want a "fancy fix" for our window.

megs

Write a comment...I felt they needed a C story. Too much time was spent on the arguing and the bells. Maybe they need more characters?

megs

Write a comment...Write a comment...I felt they needed a C story. Too much time was spent on the arguing and the bells. Maybe they ne?ed more characters

Never miss a post - sign up now to get an e-mail alert whenever
What's Alan Watching is updated