Review: 'Happy Endings' - 'No-Ho-Ho': Merry Jane-mas to you!
Brad tries to separate Christmas from Jane's birthday, and Dave plays gift whisperer for Penny
Eliza Coupe as Jane on "Happy Endings."
A quick review of last night's "Happy Endings" coming up just as soon as I explain "Tremé" to you...
I will be honest: I would have been wildly happy with an episode that was just the Hip-Hop Santa tag scene (embedded below) expanded to a half-hour, but that speaks more to my belief that Funny Dancing Is Funny than to the quality of "No-Ho-Ho" as a whole. Because it was a very strong outing for the gang.(*)
(*) This morning, I asked on Twitter whether the group had a nickname (like Scooby Gang or Cul-de-Sac Crew) I had forgotten. Consensus was no. I'm generally not a nickname-maker myself, but this does feel like a gap that's crying out to be filled. Some of the early suggestions — the Pallies, Kerkobitches — are clever but too specific to one or two characters. Feel free to suggest some in the comments, and if we get enough good ones, maybe I can figure out how to use HitFix's poll widget.
Much like last week's episode, this was one that managed to find just enough humanity within the insanity to make "No-Ho-Ho" more than just a collection of great one-liners and bizarre running gags like Alex's gift-wrap fetish. Jane's sadness about being a Christmas baby was taken just seriously enough — and played so well by Eliza Coupe, who always does well when allowed to show Jane's mushier side — to feel like there were some stakes to Jane-mas. And just when I feared that the whole gift whisperer gag was going to be another case of Dave being douchey and oblivious, it turned out he really did have skills in this area (and then that the big-ass candle was a real, good gift that he didn't understand without the backstory).
A very nice, funny way to end the year for the gang (whatever we choose to call them).
What did everybody else think?
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupLeeZy
December 19, 2012 at 12:19PM EST Reply to Commentthe dancing queens (boulevard)
BELLEKW
December 19, 2012 at 12:24PM EST Reply to CommentI loved that they brought back the "Jane hates surprises" gag. I was worried that the continuity would be ruined, but when she pulled out the double pepper spray...hilarious.
tvnerdasaurus they are pretty good at continuity (or, with the real world stuff, saying how it's weird they never mentioned it before...)
December 19, 2012 at 10:36PM ESTthis episode was hilarious. I love when they all dry heave. is that gross? i think it's hilarious.
chicago something.... WillKerkHeartz.....idk what Dave or Max's last names are. shucks.
tvwhorasaurus.wordpress.com
Mark S.
December 19, 2012 at 12:25PM EST Reply to CommentWhen Alex and Jane fought over the letter opener and stabbed Max's Eggnog delivery system, I fell off the couch laughing. This was easily the funniest episode of the season.
Brubarian Care for some back-nog?
December 19, 2012 at 1:32PM ESTStuckey
December 19, 2012 at 12:27PM EST Reply to CommentThe Chicago 6? The Hapsters?
DonBoy Enders? Henders? No.
December 19, 2012 at 3:04PM ESTrechilders85
December 19, 2012 at 12:33PM EST Reply to CommentAfter 2 seasons, I'm still not sure if I like this show or not. There are several different factors influencing me to watch this show. The first is because my fiancee loves it, so I watch it with her. I live in Chicago too, so I tend to watch those shows just because of that reason. Lastly, its a show that Alan reviews and I like to read his reviews so I make an effort to watch it.
That being said, the quick banter dialogue format is generally a turn off for me, but its what makes the jokes work, and without it, they wouldn't work. I often find their humor to be funny to me, but at the same time annoyed by the quick banter. So I've struggled to decide if I actually like this show or not. But I'll keep watching it I'm sure, so I know I at least don't hate it.
scoopie77 Do you think the show is very good at showing off Chicago? The first season, I wondered if they would had ever been to Chicago. I think they're getting better, but it seems to not use the setting well.
December 19, 2012 at 1:13PM ESTrechilders85 I definitely feel they don't show off the city very well. Doesn't seem like they are outside that much though, and when they are, it never seems to be in a very well known place.
December 19, 2012 at 2:22PM ESTOther shows like Chicago Fire (which I thought turned out to be the best new show of the fall) are excellent at it, and it almost seems like they are required to show the Willis Tower in the background every 2 min.
dan "Chicago Fire" shoots in Chicago, which makes it easier to use Chicago... "Happy Endings" shoots on the Paramount lot in Los Angeles...
December 19, 2012 at 2:24PM EST-Daniel
rechilders85 And there's also that.
December 19, 2012 at 2:34PM ESTAlan I thought My Boys did a great job using Chicago, too bad no one watched it.
December 19, 2012 at 4:06PM ESTdan Alan - "My Boys" also filmed almost entirely in Los Angeles, but they'd do a couple days in Chicago each season for key external shots and that probably helped. If "Happy Endings" were a bigger hit (or any size of hit) I suspect the producers might ask to do the same thing...
December 19, 2012 at 4:29PM EST-Daniel
troopermsu I used to live in Chicago. I find the difference between 'My Boys' and 'Happy Endings' is that while both don't really look much like Chicago during exteriors, 'My Boys' interiors look like residences that actually look like they could be in Chicago. I don't find that to be the case with HH.
December 20, 2012 at 3:49AM ESTscoopie77 Thanks for your insights y'all! I think you're right TrooperMSU. The apartments look very odd and dreamed up by TV folks. Brad and Jane's new condo does look like something that could be in Chicago.
December 20, 2012 at 9:48AM ESTTim
December 19, 2012 at 12:42PM EST Reply to CommentGood question on their nickname, Alan.
I'd be tempted to just call them the Gang, if I didn't already automatically connect that to "It's Always Sunny". The show itself sort of feels like a new age "Friends", so maybe something off that? The HE-Friends? (I know, that's awful)
Could be a unique opportunity for the show to brand themselves, like how Andre on "The League" has started telling people they're 'The Dre-Tones'.
Stuckey The Super-Friends? That's not a stupid name or one that's been used before
December 19, 2012 at 3:07PM ESTPrettok The Happy Friendings?
December 20, 2012 at 1:28AM ESTS
December 19, 2012 at 1:04PM EST Reply to CommentGod, I really hope there's a long version of that dance off. Or any dance off including these actors. These guys are easy the best ensemble on TV.
Brian They are great, but lets not forget about Parks and Rec.
December 20, 2012 at 12:40PM ESTCol Bat Guano
December 19, 2012 at 1:11PM EST Reply to CommentThe "earf" joke and Jane's dawning realization that the Christmas baby crowd at the bar was insane were excellent, but Alex's gift opening fetish was my favorite.
JosieK22
December 19, 2012 at 1:13PM EST Reply to CommentWhat? No mention of Alex talking about 'Love Actually?'
Michelle I read the comments today just to see if someone mentioned this. I loved her obscession with a movie that she's actually in!
December 20, 2012 at 10:20AM ESTCy Oh, man! I forgot she's in it!!
December 21, 2012 at 12:21AM ESTOtto Man
December 19, 2012 at 1:54PM EST Reply to CommentWhat a great episode.
Max: "You didn't like Ringling Brothers with Brothers?"
Brad: "It would've been the greatest show on earff."
Peter Don't you dare laugh at that.
December 19, 2012 at 3:56PM ESTghoti OK, you can laugh a little.
December 20, 2012 at 8:53AM ESTButters Racist!
December 20, 2012 at 10:39AM ESTBrian Great dialouge. I'm actually surpised ABC lets them get away with jokes like this. Maybe because the jokes are so rapid fire the higher ups don't notice?
December 20, 2012 at 12:41PM ESTghoti Gosh. If you think this dialogue is even slightly questionable, definitely never watch 2 Broke Girls. (Good advice for anyone, actually)
December 22, 2012 at 1:40AM ESTnath
December 19, 2012 at 2:28PM EST Reply to CommentI can't hear "Pallies" without thinking of Mr. Show's Goodfellas parody.
Chaddogg
December 19, 2012 at 3:00PM EST Reply to CommentGiven the "Happy Endings" title, I think you could come up with an inappropriate group name using the title of an NBC sitcom on hiatus that features Alison Brie......
S
December 19, 2012 at 3:35PM EST Reply to CommentElisha Cuthbert is a pretty great dancer. If you go back to the season 1 episode where the group did a jazzercise/krav maga dance at the end she was always on point.
LoopyChew And, of course, her krumping.
December 21, 2012 at 4:56AM ESTDarren
December 19, 2012 at 3:41PM EST Reply to CommentHilarious episode from start to finish. As an actual Christmas baby, I just have to say that the obvious solution to the problem is to celebrate Christmas in the morning and birthday in the evening. But yeah combined presents are a total bummer...
Lewis Happy Birthday for next week!
December 20, 2012 at 5:18AM ESTAlan
December 19, 2012 at 4:05PM EST Reply to CommentBest episode of the year IMO. Eliza Cuthbert has been a revelation.
nath Elisha Cuthbert? or Eliza Coupe?
December 21, 2012 at 3:15PM ESTAlan D'oh! Cuthbert. Coupe was the best thing about Scrubs 2.0, so I knew she would be good in this.
December 21, 2012 at 3:49PM ESTHeisenberg
December 19, 2012 at 5:32PM EST Reply to CommentHere's my nick name...
The Ah-mah-zin's!
AP Oz
December 19, 2012 at 6:29PM EST Reply to CommentTite Ends?
The Ironic Six?
The Six Pistols?
Zeal Team Six?
Six and the City?
Six Characters in Search of a Nickname?
AP Oz
QWERTY A bunch of criminals and sex addicts
December 20, 2012 at 8:46AM ESTTed Schmoesby your middle 4 are the best I've seen sir. I salute you and cast my vote for Zeal Team 6, with a nod also to 6 & the City
December 20, 2012 at 12:20PM ESTAP OZ Thank you, Sir Schmoesby. It's too bad that "The Ironic Six" is the most obscure reference, because I feel like that nickname might be the most apt for the group.
December 21, 2012 at 3:16PM ESTbigdipper
December 19, 2012 at 8:08PM EST Reply to CommentExtremely boring, but I usually refer to them as the "Happy Enders"
Adam Cuthbert happily not getting the wrapping and eggnostic puns kills me.
December 19, 2012 at 8:16PM ESTNR
December 20, 2012 at 12:18AM EST Reply to CommentHow could no one have questioned Alex not knowing her own sister's birthday? They're not that many years apart. I love this show. Thought this ep was pretty hilarious. But couldn't stop wondering when someone would bring that up.
ghoti She thought it was July 16.
December 20, 2012 at 9:32AM ESTTed Schmoesby I think NR's point is that for Alex to not know Jane would have had to come up with this plan in the 3rd grade....and probably also have her parents be in on it. quite a stretch....love the show though
December 20, 2012 at 12:11PM ESTBrian So Schmoesby of you to point that out.
December 20, 2012 at 12:44PM ESTLoopyChew Alex would've been four or five at that point, I think, and it's been well established that she's not the brightest knife in the closet.
December 21, 2012 at 4:58AM ESTbelinda
December 20, 2012 at 11:59AM EST Reply to Commentwhat are the chances of happy endings surviving another season? I love this show way too much.
Ted Schmoesby I think ABC would have to cancel Neighbors, The B in 23 and both Friday sitcoms before chopping this. but thats what I would have said about Community 2 or 3 years ago too
December 20, 2012 at 12:12PM ESTforg the ABC Friday sitcoms rates consistently higher than the Tuesday comedies. Bitch is pretty much dead but HE has a glimmer of hope since this is co-produced by Sony which is notorious on getting networks renew their shows so they can produced enough episodes for syndication
December 21, 2012 at 12:10PM ESTfraying
December 20, 2012 at 2:57PM EST Reply to CommentThat dancing tag was hilarious, in spite of missing a Casey Wilson solo.
Brian
December 20, 2012 at 3:50PM EST Reply to CommentThis week's ep was fantastic. I nearly fell off the couch twice: the first when Jane pepper-sprayed the surprise party, and then again when Alex and Jane fought over the letter opener, and punctured Max's eggnog-filled Camelbak, spraying everyone.
You add that to Hip Hop Santa and the Ringling Brothers with Brothers, and you have a great ep.
forg
December 21, 2012 at 12:11PM EST Reply to CommentElisha Cuthbert is just so lovable here! This is really unexpected considering her past performances