This week’s episode of Fox’s new hit comedy “New Girl” was a doozy, and I’m not just saying that because Jess and Nick were hammered throughout most of the episode. The main plot line, a continuation from last week, featured guest star Dermot Mulroney (or, as he shall forever be known to me, that hot guy from "My Best Friend’s Wedding") as Russell, a “fancyman” (read: rich) that is romancing Jess. However, after their first date, he only pats her on the back. Oh no! This is unheard of in Zooey Deschanel world, a man who is not immediately charmed by adorkability! What a fiasco! 

Meanwhile, back at the apartment with the rest of the roommates, we can see that Nick is struggling to get laid as a bartender, which is made worse by the presence of his law school pal Dirk (played with typical excellence by Martin Starr). Dirk reminds Nick how easy it used to be for him to pick up chicks back in the glory days of college. In order to relive those years of getting ass with ease, he goes with Dirk to a college party and finds chicks who love him for being a bartender! Yes, finally, success! On a side note, it is a little bit insulting as a 20-year-old female to see myself portrayed on TV as such a fool. However, I guess some parts are rather accurate, because, let’s be real, I kind of do have a thing for bartenders. 

Shelby and Winston hit a roadblock when Shelby decides to gallivant off to Mexico with Winston’s blessing to be a free, grown, independent woman and do whatever her heart desires. Problem is, he then tries to surprise her in Mexico…in Schmidt’s car…in which Schmidt is having sex with CeCe in the trunk. This makes for an awkward car ride, especially with an unassuming Winston blasting the soundtrack to the hit musical “Wicked” the entire time (who doesn’t love a little bit of Broadway show tunes to get in the mood?).

Once Shelby lands in LA (and thus misses Winston, who is en route to Mexico to see her—so precious), she goes to the apartment where the rest of the roommates are *gasp* throwing a raging party! Nick and Dirk have brought their entire crew of sloppy college undergrads back to make a mess of everything, which only gets worse when Jess, exasperated by her lack of progress in her relationship with Russell, comes back and decides to get hammered (I feel ya, girlfriend, we all have those kind of days). 

Russell, of course, has a reasonable excuse for why he is not all over Jess and her polka dots and ukeleles and weird Daffy Duck impressions: he hasn’t gotten back into the swing of dating! He likes Jess, but he hasn’t dated in soooo long, you know how men are. But he is entertaining, and super dreamy, so let’s hope he sticks around. 

 Episodes of “New Girl” air every Tuesday at 9/8 central on Fox. 

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