New Girl and Happy Endings bring laughs, Parenthood brings tears (as usual)

New Girl- Models
This episode took on a relatable subject: What happens when friends change and you feel like you don't have much in common anymore? Plotwise, nothing happened, moved forward, or cropped up. There was no new side to any character and no development. However, this episode was hilarious. We loved the jokes about butt drinking and bra stuffing, the Russian monkey cartoon, and Nadia saying "YOLO." Can that die please? Whoever said that's just "carpe diem" for idiots was so right. The Russians are racist toward Romanians! Ha. Jess's physical comedy when she was modeling didn't work for us; we hate when Jess is turned into a stupid incompetent who can't do anything but be cute and clumsy. Idiot Jess hasn't made an appearance in a while. Here's hoping the show learns to retire her and bring Smart, Dorky Jess back around forever. We love all forms of Nick. He was great in this episode.
Episode grade: B+

Parenthood- I'll Be Right Here
THIS IS A HOUSE OF LIES. They didn't tell Haddie about her mom's remaining cancer. Although we get them wanting her to stay in school, they could really use her help with the baby, and it's just a semester. Also, Haddie will find out and trust will be broken. Does this season just exist to make us cry? Amber and her new boy don't have a whole lot of chemistry, but the awkwardness of their first date and its aftermath was realistic and comforting. There's nothing like dating to send a lot of people to the chocolate cake and television (just ask this blogger, who finds the whole thing just painful). Amber was a lot better with that politician, but we're not averse to this new relationship. We like that Ryan was direct, and Amber took it well.

We are so glad that Max won his election. This show has improved since the first season on its treatment of Asperger's. When Max was first diagnosed, his parents mourned like he was dying and talked about how there was something wrong with him. While we know it can't be easy to have a child who doesn't seem to connect with you on the level that a "normal" child does, we sort of cringed at the idea that Max was defective. It takes all types to run a world. In Max's speech, he recognized the things about his personality that work for him. He doesn't like to lie and he's focused. There are aspects of that condition that can be advantages, just like there are things that make it hard in lots of situations. That's why you learn coping skills, not to think of your entire personality as some disorder. We'll get off the soapbox and back to Max now. He expressed happiness at being the way he is. It was perfect. Look out world, here come the vending machines.

We are glad Crosby didn't forget the dinner. We are just now starting to not hate him, and that would have put us over the edge. We feel like Julia and Joel constantly get the shaft on this show. We bet if you took the screen time of all four main siblings and added it up, Julia's screen time would be the least. We don't know how we're feeling about Sarah and Mark lately. Drew is a whiner, so who cares about him right now. We're questioning whether that couple is even good together anymore. What do they even talk about besides spur-of-the-moment plans to co-habitate and/or procreate? Give us more Hank.
Episode grade: A-

Happy Endings- Cazsh Dummy Spillionaires
Ah, Happy Endings. The best show about six friends since Friends. In the premiere, Alex and Dave decide to be exclusive and accept that they are a serious couple, Jane finds out that Brad is secretly working, and Max "misery's" Penny in order to get a date, but she busts him. But this show isn't about plot; it's about the zingers, wordplay, fast jokes, and quirky tone. The dialogue is fast, and the characters are likable. We're glad Penny is out of the half-body cast. That would have gotten old if it went on for more than one episode. Also, the puppet thing is better left to GOB on Arrested Development. Oh, Franklin... The episode was alright. It wasn't as funny as most of this show's efforts, but there was nothing too wrong with it. We thought it was dumb when Brad took his briefcase in the bath though (unless it's waterproof).
Episode grade: B-

No Mindy Project this week.