The Simpsons: 500th episode

This screen capture, seen briefly at the end of The Simpsons' long publicized 500th episode pretty much summed up my thoughts: it did, it fact, suck. Considering all of the promotion Fox did for the 500th episode (including a contest where people tried to outlast the others in a 499 straight episodes viewing of the series), you would think that the writers would have put some effort into things. You'd be wrong.

The premise was intriguing: The Simpson family was being kicked out of Springfield because of Homer's antics, Bart's pranks, and Lisa's constant complaining. They wind up in The Outlands, an edge of society, off the grind type of community. They find that they are much happier there than they were in Springfield. Eventually, the residence of Springfield end up joining them.

However, the premise did not really deliver on the possible hilarity. The jokes (verbal and sight gags) were weak and few and far between. Considering this season has been relatively strong (with several episodes that had be laughing out loud throughout), I had high expectations for this one, and The Simpsons did not come close to living up to them. The one part that I did enjoy was the montage of couch gags at the very beginning. There was also the Outlands theme song, which was mildly entertaining, too. However, those two things were just simply not enough to carry the episode.

For more information on The Simpsons:

Website: www.fox.com/simpsons

The New Girl! It's Jess!

Ah, The New Girl: otherwise known as the best new comedy of the television season. Airing on Fox and starring the “adorkable” Zooey Deschanel (Almost Famous, (500) Days of Summer, Yes, Man), The New Girl started off strong with its series premiere, and continued to remain strong in the ratings after being pre-empted by the World Series. The premise of the show is Jess (Deschanel) walks in on her boyfriend cheating on her, so she moves in with 3 male roommates: Schmidt (Max Greenfield), Nick (Jake M. Johnson), and Winston (Lamorne Morris). After moving in and assuring her Mom that the guys aren’t going to kill her just because she “met them on Craigslist,” Jess proceeds form a new family that enables her to move on from her failed
relationship.

Jess’s romantic exploits, whether they be with fellow teacher, Paul (Justin Long), or True Blood’s Ryan Kwanten, never fail to entertain. Her inanity, such as the fact that she plays the bells, sings her own theme song, and refers to being horny as being “twirly,” keeps the audience rooting for her to find happiness. The audience is also wondering by this point if the series writers are planning on having her hook up with Nick (Johnson) or Schmidt (Greenfield). In fact, in the most recent Valentine’s episode, she almost did try to hook up with Schmidt, but was saved from the “mistake” by Nick.

The roommates also hold their own against Deschanel’s Jess. Schmidt is a want-to-be playboy who has been given a “douchebag jar” by his roommates. Greenfield plays him with such earnestness that it’s hard not to love him, even when he’s earning having to put money in the jar. Nick quit law school right before finishing because of his own broken heart (all the better reason why he and Jess should get together). Winston has returned from playing basketball overseas to find that he has a new, semi-insane roommate. I actually hope they begin giving Lamoire Morris more to work with.

The New Girl airs at 9pm on Tuesdays on Fox.

Twitter: @NewGirlonFOX

Website: http://www.fox.com/new-girl/