While we can all agree that shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation have earned their places as Netflix royalty, there's one show that's been living under the radar for far too long: New Girl. If you've never watched, New Girl follows an upbeat and quirky girl named Jess (Zooey Deschanel), who moves in with three single guys she meets online and the unlikely friendships that form. This show is my favorite comedy of all time, so here's why everyone needs to be paying more attention to New Girl: 1. It has an unmatched comedic ensemble The heart of this show comes from the friendships between the roommates of the loft. Their different personalities and dynamics with each another always result in hilarious situations and heartfelt moments, and every episode makes me wish I could be part of this friend group (yes, I know it's fictional, that's not the point.) The actors on this show were the best choices to bring these characters to life, and they make every episode that much funnier. 2. It has a complex and funny female lead One of the best parts about this show for me is that the main character is a girl with actual complexities and dreams of her own. Instead of Jess being perfect and always put together, we see an accurate depiction of a girl in her mid-20s trying to figure out her life. From career hurdles to friend troubles to dating mishaps (cue to me yelling at the TV for her to just get with Nick already), Jess is symbolic of every girl trying to embrace life while being unapologetically themselves. One of my favorite Jess moments is when she's crying and drinking wine while listening to Taylor Swift because, well, same. 3. It gave us Nick Miller, aka my dream man Nick Miller, Nick Miller, from the streets of Chicago. Nick's ability to go from acting like a grumpy old man who believes horses are from outer space to a total catch worthy of People Magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" title all in one episode is just part of what makes this character so great. With lofty career aspirations, a lack (or sometimes surplus) of confidence, and a desire to live life his own way, Nick is arguably the most relatable (and best) character on this show. Also, so many of his scenes with Jess make me melt, so there's that, too. 4. It gave us Schmidt, aka an iconic character to quote forever Ask anyone who watches this show and they'll agree. With a flair for the dramatics and a sassy-yet-sensitive attitude, Schmidt isn't afraid to completely be himself while also trying to impress everyone at all times. So many of his famous lines like, "All day, I could do this all day" and "I can't find my driving moccasins anywhere," have become things I say in real life on a consistent basis, so this show definitely wouldn't be the same without him. I also can't forget to mention the infamous Douchebag Jar, which Schmidt has to put money in every time he does something totally on-brand for himself (like meeting Cece for the first time and saying "I'm gonna marry you, girl"...) 5. It gave us Winston, who's so wonderfully weird Whether he's pranking his friends as Prank Sinatra, talking to his cat Furguson, or pulling a classic Cece/Winston mess-around (aka all references you'll need to watch to understand), Winston is so funny and at times it seems like he's living in his own world (or maybe it's Winston's world and we're all just living in it?) He has an over-active imagination and no filter, and the best part of it all is that he was originally supposed to be the normal roommate - which just goes to show that no one can hold back Winnie the Bish. 6. It invented the will-they-or-won't-they trope Ok, that might not be completely true, but in my mind it totally is. From the first episode, you can tell that there's more than meets the eye between Nick and Jess, and getting to watch their relationship unfold over the seasons is one of the best parts of the show. They have a unique dynamic compared to other TV pairings, and if you're able to watch this show without rooting for them then I'm concerned for you. Also, if you've seen the show as many times as I have, then you'll understand why That One Specific Episode Where They Play True American TM gets me every time. 7. It teaches us that real relationships aren't perfect and require work Schmidt and Cece have made me emotional with their relationship so many times I can't even count. Even though they're clearly meant for each other, their relationship goes through a lot of ups-and-downs and it takes time for them to be ready to make it work. It's important for shows to portray healthy relationships, and watching Schmidt and Cece find their footing as a couple is almost as educational as it is emotional. I can't think of another couple on TV that reminds me of them, and that's probably because it doesn't exist. 8. It shows us how having a support system can change your life Season one Cece is so different from later seasons Cece, and it's interesting to watch her evolve from Jess's childhood BFF who likes to party to a core member of the group. As she becomes more involved with the roommates, her friendship with Jess and her relationship with Schmidt both become significant for her character development and the show as a whole - and it just shows how critical it is to have people in your life who look out for you and lift you up. Also, it's a good thing she became such an important part of the show because how else would we have gotten this amazing reaction from an equally amazing episode with Prince without Cece's VIP invite to his party? 9. It gave us the bromance to end all bromances Nick, Schmidt and Winston are all so funny in their own right that whenever they're together, I usually end up crying from laughing (which is a lot.) Because Nick tries so hard to hide his emotions and Schmidt so clearly doesn't and Winston usually has no idea what's going on, they all perfectly balance each other out. They portray real friendships between guys who aren't afraid to get real with each other, and it's so refreshing (and hilarious) to watch. True fans will understand my love for the phrase, "Gave me cookie, got you cookie." 10. It also gave us Coach, an honorary member of that bromance He isn't always in the show but he's always in our hearts. Coach originally appeared in the pilot but was replaced by Winston after the show Happy Endings (which Damon Wayons Jr. was already a cast member of) unexpectedly got picked up for another season. Thankfully, we still got to have Coach in our lives for a little while when he joined the roommates for seasons three and four. Even when he leaves the show once again (it's a real roller coaster of emotions), he continues to pop up every once in a while just to remind us all of how much we love him. 11. It gave us True American, aka a game all of us want to play but have no idea how to play True American is a drinking game created by and for the roommates of the loft, but that hasn't stopped fans of the show from trying to figure out the rules. As far as I can tell, it's just a lot of alcohol mixed with American history and sprinkled with a bit of roommate drama, which is why it's so entertaining to watch. JFK! FDR! 12. Finally, it teaches us how your friends can become your family Through good and bad, happy and sad, these characters are always there for each other - and that's the most important takeaway from this show. For seven seasons, we watch this iconic group navigate life and love together as a dysfunctional yet tight-knit family of friends, and by the end of it, it feels like you're part of the fam, too. (I can dream, can't I?) For these reasons and a million more, New Girl clearly deserves more recognition than it gets - so, I hereby declare it as Netflix royalty.*
*Yes, I have the power to do this, don't question me.
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I Watched The Golden Globes And I Think We Can All Agree That Award Shows Are Too Long: A Recap1/6/2020 The 77th Annual Golden Globes were last night, and considering I have nothing better to do on a Sunday night than spend three hours (plus an additional two hours for the red carpet) watching an award show, I decided to write a recap for all of you. Here are my highlights of the night: 1. Bill Hader and Rachel Bilson confirming they're a couple People began speculating about this potential couple after they were spotted together in Bill Hader's hometown over the holidays, so naturally people were freaking out when they decided to confirm their relationship by walking the red carpet together. Even though it's an odd pair, they're both cool people so good for them; I give them my blessing, which I'm sure they've been patiently waiting for. 2. Beyoncé appearing out of thin air Beyoncé skipped the red carpet and showed up late to the award ceremony because she is Beyoncé and can do that if she so pleases, and no one watching at home even knew she was there until she and Jay-Z were randomly shown on camera. Despite not winning Best Original Song, Motion Picture for "Spirit" from The Lion King, she still made headlines for not joining the standing ovation for Joaquin Phoenix when he won Best Actor, Motion Picture Drama even though that is a ridiculous thing to write a news story about. 3. Amy Poehler and Taylor Swift presenting together Amy and Taylor are two of my favorite people in Hollywood, so seeing them onstage together was just a great moment for me even if the scripted banter still made me cringe. 4. Ansel Elgort wearing glitter eye shadow Whether Ansel Elgort is trying to get cast in the second season of Euphoria or he knows that men being comfortable enough in their own masculinity to go beyond traditional fashion and beauty trends is all the rage, his decision to slick back his hair and rock glitter eye shadow was a bold choice that I am rewarding. 5. Tom Hanks making me cry While accepting the Cecil B. deMille award for his impact on the film industry, Tom Hanks became emotional as he thanked his family and reflected on his decades-long career. It goes without saying (but I'm going to say it) that everyone loves Tom Hanks and his movies; and if you don't agree with this, then you need to stop reading this blog and go consult a doctor. I had chills during his entire speech, and by the end of it I may or may not have shed (more than) one tear. HE'S AN AMERICAN TREASURE, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME. 6. Michelle Williams using her acceptance speech to call attention to a women's right to choose After her moving speech about inequality in the workplace at the Emmy Awards in the fall, Michelle Williams used her voice and her platform this time to defend a women's right to choose. I would recommend watching the speech in its entirety here, but to summarize, she said that she wouldn't be in the position she's in today without a women's right to choose and she called for all women to vote in their best interests because it's what men have been doing forever. I was cheering her on from home, and when the camera cut to her best friend, Busy Phillips, getting emotional in the crowd I got emotional, too. 7. Brad Pitt practicing his stand-up comedy While accepting the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture (which is an extremely long title for an award), Brad Pitt delivered some great dad jokes to the crowd. He started his speech by thanking co-star and friend Leonardo DiCaprio (who, according to Brad, we are now referring to as LDC) and then made a Titanic joke by saying he would have shared the raft with him (it was a door, Brad, get your facts right!) He also made a joke about dating rumors, saying he couldn't bring his mom to the event because he's rumored to be dating any women he's photographed with (shoutout to whoever made the decision to show Jennifer Aniston's reaction to that joke - she laughed, everything is fine!) Well! There you have it. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch all of the films and television shows that were honored last night because I had no idea what was going on. |