New Girl: A different kind of sitcom

New Girl: A different kind of sitcom

Like almost everyone else, I love TV sitcoms. They are comical, quick, and easy to watch, with characters that never fail to capture your adoration. But I’d be lying if I said they don’t tend to be redundant. After all, it’s in the genre’s nature to be predictable: there are always the same characters, with the same problems, and the same jokes. However, Fox’s New Girl breaks away from the typical sitcom while still providing the same standards that earned the genre so much love.

Season 1 of the show begins with Jess (Zooey Deschanel) moving in with three guys, Schmidt (Max Greenfield), Nick (Jake Johnson), and Winston (Lamorne Morris), following a messy breakup. The show follows the characters’ respective ups and downs, unified by the small loft they all share.

To me, the most striking quality of New Girl, is the comedy. The jokes of the show do not fall under the typical “sitcom humor.” I suppose the root of this is the characters. Now currently in its sixth season, the show’s main character, Jess, has become known as being “quirky” and “awkward.” The show certainly uses Jess’s unique personality to its advantage, constantly placing her in situations that will induce Jess’s classic, “quirky” lines. However, I find Jess’s comedy to be forced. The true comedy of New Girl lies within Jess’s three roommates. All three of them have quite distinct personalities. Nick is a cynical slacker, Winston is a whimsically cheerful former

New Girl provides all the comforts of everyone’s favorite genre, while straying from the pack with a whole new type of comedy.

athlete, and Schmidt is the overly confident, uptight marketing associate. All three of them are funny on their own, but combined, the trio is an unstoppable comedic act.

The comedy of New Girl does not fit the typical cookie cutter for TV sitcoms; it will only appeal to a select few. Regardless, I recommend at least trying the show. New Girl provides all the comforts of everyone’s favorite genre, while straying from the pack with a whole new type of comedy.