(Fox)
Tuesday night's episode wasn't exactly the zany nonsense we saw on last week's "Virgins." But it's kind of hard to top an episode that combined extra-large lube, Mick Jagger, and a working girl named Octopussy. However, "Winston's Birthday" proved to be an adequate set-up for what will surely be an over-the-top season finale.
In this episode, it's the day after Jess and Nick's steamy hook-up. As Nick is trying to whip up a very sweet pie and egg breakfast, Jess' father Bob (Rob Reiner) enters unannounced at the loft. He's in town for Cece's wedding, which is set for the day after. It's not exactly good timing because Jess and Nick have yet to discuss their sexy time affair, but that's life. Jess gets a call from Peg (Mary Lynn Rajskub), who tells her that there's a teaching position open at the school. All Jess has to do is play substitute teacher for some rowdy kids. So, she hesitantly leaves Nick and Bob to hang.
The rest of the gang is pretty much doing his or her own thing: Cece freaks out after she accidentally hennas her face, Winston is super worried that everyone might have forgotten his birthday, and Schmidt realizes that he really, really likes Elizabeth (his college girlfriend).
Aside from the plot, here are the five key moments from this week's episode:
Jess was an on-the-move multitasker (and the voice of reason).
Instead of the usual running around, freaking out about one thing or another, the role was reversed. Jess still managed to try out for a teaching job, while trying to fix all her best friend's pre-wedding problems. For example, she tells off one of Cece's relatives who is trying to be an attention hog ("Shashir, you son of a b****h. You little son of a b****h, it is not your day!").
When Cece wakes up from a nap and discovers black henna ink all over her face, she calls Jess, who comes running over to try to clean up with cotton balls and rubbing alcohol. Unfortunately, things don't go over so smoothly. But it's the thought that counts, right?
Nick talks about all the things he likes about Jess without actually saying all the things he likes about Jess.
With Jess gone to school to try to snag that teaching job, Nick and Bob have a lot of time to bond one-on-one. "So is there a lady in your life?" Bob asks while the two are seated on the loft's roof. Well, yes, Nick responds. Her name is Yolanda Winston and she's NOT quirky, she doesn't have bangs, she's tall, fat, and has really, really ugly eyes (beady ones at that).
Bob thinks Nick is like him (a.k.a. not good enough for his little girl)
While Nick and Bob are seated around beers and pretzels, Nick tells the truth: Yolanda is really Jess. Of course, like any protective father, Bob flips out. Nick runs away. It's when Jess returns to check up on the two that we hear what Bob really thinks of Nick — he's a "lazy drunken cable thief." When Bob was Nick's age, he continues, he was confused, lost, had no plan, and got married without having himself figured out. "You're me," Bob finally reveals of Nick. "And I'm not good enough for my little girl." Nick again runs away, clearly crushed.
Schmidt is falling for Elizabeth
So Schmidt does a Schmidt thing and acts like he doesn't care about Elizabeth when he really does. He first gives her a bunch of crap for wearing an awesome "Y2 Kitty Kat" tee-shirt (the same shirt she wore when she first met Schmidt in college, mind you). Then, he fails to defend her from a more "obviously" hot young co-worker's judgments. But things seem to work out in the end. He crashes Elizabeth's date at a restaurant while wearing an adorable frog tee (you know, the one he wore when he first met Elizabeth).
It's Winston's birthday, but no one seems to know or care.
For some reason, Winston can't seem to have his cake and eat it too. Absolutely no one realizes it's his birthday, and we have to sit through agonizing moment after agonizing moment of Winston thinking his surprise party is about to happen. But of course, when there are henna fiascoes, ex-girlfriends to win back, and a big roommate connection in the works, it's not really that possible.
Poor Winston finally gets his surprise birthday party, though. Sort of. He discovers, on the roof, Nick and Jess (who are trying to have the breakfast they missed), and a lovey-dovey Schmidt and Elizabeth (who clearly dug Schmidt's restaurant crash). "You guys didn't forget!" Winston proclaims, relieved. Well, they did. But, we don't have the heart to tell him.
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