S04.E06: Background Check

[Cranberry]

As part of Winston's police academy training, the loft must pass a home visit and background check, which shouldn't be a problem until Jess admits she might be hiding illegal substances in her closet.

[SimoneS]

I cannot believe that the writers actually thought that crap was funny. 

[BoogieBurns]

I thought it was funny! I liked that they brought back Nick's no-confrontation-moonwalk move. Winston episodes make me happy. Schmidt loving Mark Paul Gosselaar so much that he can't be mad about Cece dating him. DuKwan. Jess on meth. All good.

Edited November 5, 2014 by BoogieBurns

[Tony]

That episode was full of slapstick humor - which meant basically no humor at all. Jess behaved like she just had a lobotomy and was missing a functional brain.

 

This show is going down the drains, and the ratings are definitely reflecting that.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Black-ish did the whole "adult driving around trying to lure kids into his car and realizing how creepy he sounds" scenario much better a few weeks ago.

 

My favorite joke was when Cece told Schmidt that she was dating Mark Paul Gosselaar. Hee!

[Tara Ariano]

People didn't like this one?! I thought it was the best in ages.

[Maya]

All six of them thinking aquarium rocks were meth? Pretty stupid.

[Glory]

People didn't like this one?! I thought it was the best in ages.

I did too. I was laughing so hard at one point I had to pause the t.v. and just try and chill out. Nick's entire monologue of crimes had me in stitches. Jess' boob meth was killing me. Everything about it just worked. 

 

I even liked the Schmidt/CeCe kiss. 

 

Two very enthusiastic thumbs up!

[Tiggertoo]

I rarely do this but I just turned it off partway through. Whatever I originally loved about this show just seems to be gone. I love Damon Wayans Jr but even he is not enough for me to watch this show anymore.

[michkabibbles]

I loved this one, too. My favorite part was Nick singing Landslide-wasn't it something about blind puppies?

[Primetimer]

An instant-classic New Girl reminds us of what Nick does best: panic hilariously.

Read the story

[TheHappinessHotel]

This is the best episode in a while.  Nick's crime monologue was absolutely hysterical.  He was on point this episode!

[theatremouse]

I didn't like it because a) cringe humor doesn't do it for me, and b) it was an idiot-plot. Jess thinks she has a bag of meth and policewoman is coming over very soon? Put it in a trash bag, put your actual trash from one or more rooms in the apartment in the same trash bag, go outside to the dumpster and throw out the trash, as one would, with normal trash, calmly. The end. No one sees anything. No one needs to flush anything. No one needs to rush around like a maniac. I mean I get they were basically presenting Jess in a panic spiral, but seriously, there were too many obvious easy outs to be very inconspicuous and I know every character but CeCe at this point has a bit of a "zany and therefore losing all common sense" written into them, but the main plot required them all to completely overlook the easiest most obvious way out that would have prevented everything. I don't abide that shit.

If she'd only realized it was there when policewoman were already in the house, or Winston were already going down to meet her (heh, not buzz her in like a schwarma delivery boy) then the panic would've made more sense because they'd have literally no time without policelady present, and maybe to be seen suddenly taking out the trash before the cops come over would look suspicious. But they basically presented as having too much time after Jess told them about the ottoman. And by this I mean, if they had 5 minutes, they had too much time.

Edited November 5, 2014 by theatremouse

[Wouldofshouldof]

I liked it.  But did any other Breaking Bad fans see the bag of white crystals and think, that's not meth, it's not blue?  Just me?  And I think bath salts would have been more believable than aquarium rocks.  

[joanne3482]

All six of them thinking aquarium rocks were meth? Pretty stupid.

As someone who has never seen meth and didn't watch Breaking Bad (or apparently any other show that showed meth), I'm not sure I'd know what meth looked like. HOWEVER, I do know what Google is and if I had something suspicious I would probably Google it. Aquarium rocks, though, are pretty obviously aquarium rocks so I was confused by that. I would be pretty perplexed on how to get rid of them though. I would overthink it because I know flushing is bad since it gets into the water systems and I would presume trash is bad because someone could get into the trash... I would probably call the cops and be honest because I'm stupid like that. 

 

I did LOVE that Winston is good at his training. I like Winston a lot and I'm glad he got a 'win.'  

[peeayebee]

I didn't like the stupidity of everyone, but there were funny moments and lines. I thought Nick was pretty hilarious. His extreme sweating and his litany of everything embarrassing thing from his life were great. 

 

I also liked Winston of course. Loved when everyone told him to change, and he said something like, "You're like rubbing alcohol. You sting me in the now, and save me in the later," then backing away with his hands in bless you/thank you pose.

 

I also liked the tag with Coach and whatever that guy's name was supposed to be. I liked them bonding.

[kia112]

I hate the new opening title.  I get why they did it, but I loved the visual of everyone walking away from Jess after taking part in her lunacy.

 

Winston is my favorite part of the show and I teared up a little when the policewoman said that he was one of their best cadets (while simultaneously side-eyeing Schmidt who seemed a little surprised).  Because I like Winston so much, I get a little miffed when the roommates turn stuff that should be about Winston into stuff about them...like this.  So I was happy when Jess's main concern at the end was that Winston passed his background check.

[Jessi]

I'm with you Tara. This was the funniest episode in a long time. I laughed the entire time. I was grateful for the commercial so I could breathe for a few moments.

[Traveller519]

I laughed because the characters were playing up their traits strongly in this one.

 

That being said, when Winston said they were coming to do his background check that day, my only thought was, "Winston, you should want these people not to be around when they come to talk to you!"

[possibilities]

It took me a while to get into it, because I hated the premise that Jess thought she was hiding meth in the apartment, and that they were all so stupid about handling it. But once I accepted the premise, I enjoyed the shenanigans.

 

It's just hard for me when they base everything on a transparently idiotic set up, like the landline that no one knew how to use, and which they somehow didn't set up with voice mail.

 

But I would rather laugh than criticize, so if I stop wanting the writers to be better than they are, I can really enjoy them to the extent they actually are good. Bad set up, great execution. They are at least very consistent about characterization, which some shows toss out the window for a gag.

[Iboatedhere]

I was a little distracted by the election updates on the bottom of the screen but I thought it was funny.

 

"Hats off to the hillbillies that made this meth." and Schmidt's pronunciation of 'toilet' were the highlights.

 

Maybe I missed it but why did they all have to be there? As soon as Nick started sweating he should've been shown the exit.

Edited November 5, 2014 by Iboatedhere

[BogoGog24]

I enjoyed the episode. S4 is shaping up to be far better than S3. I also, however, like many was frustrated by the stupidity of everyone in this episode. Why didn't Jess throw the meth out a long time ago? Why did they think it would be a good idea to flush it down the toilet instead of just throwing it in the trash? I realize a lot of the time TV shows don't care about real world logic so they can have a funny plot line but… Anyway, it was funny and enjoyable overall. DuKwon (Doo Kwan? Do Kwan?), Nick singing wrong lyrics to Landslide (Puppies with their eyes so blind), any scenes with Schmidt or Nick.

[ae2]

This episode was a lot of silliness and physical comedy built around an outrageously unrealistic premise. So I get why a lot of people don't like it. But if you're able to let go of all sense of reality for a little while in the same way you might when watching the Three Stooges, the entire episode was hilarious.

 

(As soon as Jess grabbed the bag I said to my SO, "the cop will find the bag at the end of the episode and it turns out it isn't meth." Uh, Fox, we *know* you won't actually show us meth on prime time network TV.)

 

I've said from the start that Nick, Winston, and Schmidt were amazing at the physical comedy and it would make the show. (Okay, since episode 2, since Winston wasn't in the pilot.) The episode was 15 minutes of Nick, Schmidt, & Jess freaking out and fooling around. Nick was amazing with his moonwalk and singing Landslide. Jess was okay with meth boobs, but I think once again she's the weak spot in the episode. Winston got a win and isn't unable to function in society, yay! 

 

I don't generally like calling sitcom plots "overused", but Big Bang Theory just pulled a "let's drive around trying to pick up children" joke a few weeks ago. According to another poster Black-ish did this too. At least Coach realized it, unlike in BBT. 

 

Does anyone else think this episode is the beginning of the end of Winston on the show? The cast has grown, as witnessed by the inferior new opening credits, and it seems like they're starting to write him out.

[BoogieBurns]

I don't generally like calling sitcom plots "overused", but Big Bang Theory just pulled a "let's drive around trying to pick up children" joke a few weeks ago. According to another poster Black-ish did this too. At least Coach realized it

 

Black-ish had such a similar scene to Coach's. I wonder if they have a director or producer in common. 

 

Quote from AV Club:

When Coach goes looking for a Duquan, his accidentally predatory invitations are nearly identical to those in Black-ish’s third episode, “The Nod.” It’s like a man can’t pull up to a group of kids gathered in public these days without realizing that everything he’s saying to them sounds like he’s trying to lure them to their inevitable kidnapping and/or doom.

 

Edited November 5, 2014 by BoogieBurns

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Nick's neverending confession reminded me of Chunk in The Goonies.

[Rabbitica]

I haven't watched New Girl in a couple of seasons and turned this episode on when sick at home today just based on the tagline for this post ("instant classic"? well all righty then). I was trying to eat lunch but I was laughing so hard I couldn't chew and had to focus some energy on not choking. I think I might start watching this show again!

[Tony]

Jess thinks she has a bag of meth and policewoman is coming over very soon? Put it in a trash bag, put your actual trash from one or more rooms in the apartment in the same trash bag, go outside to the dumpster and throw out the trash, as one would, with normal trash, calmly. The end.

 

She could basically do one of a million things except what she did - stuff it into her bra and walk around pretending it's nothing. What the fuck were the writers thinking with that one?

[ElectricBoogaloo]

The only good thing to come out of her stuffing it in her shirt was hearing Winston talk about how her cycle was ten days off, but her stupidity in thinking that her lumpy misshapen boobs was a valid plan was not worth that small payoff.

[bilgistic]

I liked it. But did any other Breaking Bad fans see the bag of white crystals and think, that's not meth, it's not blue? Just me? And I think bath salts would have been more believable than aquarium rocks.

There was no real-life blue meth before Breaking Bad "introduced" it, so said Vince Gilligan.

[scrb]

Watching it now, waiting for it to end.

 

Tedious.

 

Go back to the couples screwing around and trying to hide it from the roomies.

[JenMcSnark]

I had to watch it twice.  I watched it the first time and couldn't get into it so I talked on the phone the whole time.  Tried again today and, although it took me a little while to get into to it, I ended up enjoying it.  Jess was definitely the weakest link.  But everything else was very funny. I immediately said "decorator rocks" as soon as she pulled them out, so I don't get how she's so stupid. 

[ElectricBoogaloo]

In honor of Nick's confession, I give you Chunk from The Goonies:

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Writer's room for this episode:

http://youtu.be/VBSrMJqv6Hc

[me5671]

People didn't like this one?! I thought it was the best in ages.

 

I totally agree, I thought this was one of the funniest episodes they've done in several seasons.  I loved Jess thinking that she had gotten high through her boobs.  I loved when she tried to tell them it was "medical meth".  And I loved Nick confessing every wrong thing he's ever done in his life to the background check lady.  Sure, the storyline was a tad far-fetched with them all confusing aquarium rocks with meth, but it wasn't totally unbelievable and it led to so many funny scenarios that I honestly didn't mind.  Well done, show!

[TheHappinessHotel]

Does anyone else think this episode is the beginning of the end of Winston on the show? The cast has grown, as witnessed by the inferior new opening credits, and it seems like they're starting to write him out.

 

I really hope now.  Nick and Winston are my two favorite characters.  I really wish we would see MORE of Winston since he is hysterical.

[Wouldofshouldof]

There was no real-life blue meth before Breaking Bad "introduced" it, so said Vince Gilligan.

I know, Bilgistic, and I had to keep reminding myself that real meth is, in fact, white.

[WasntMe]

I hate the new opening title.  I get why they did it, but I loved the visual of everyone walking away from Jess after taking part in her lunacy.

 

Why did they do it?  Just b/c it didn't include everyone?  Boo.

 

I didn't care for the Jess being an idiot, what to do with the meth stuff, but I loved everything about Nick in this episode.  Everything.  And also, the Mark Paul Gosselaar bit was perfect. 

 

Laughed out loud repeatedly, and I cannot complain about anything that does that.

[Racj82]

That episode was full of slapstick humor - which meant basically no humor at all. Jess behaved like she just had a lobotomy and was missing a functional brain.

 

This show is going down the drains, and the ratings are definitely reflecting that.

That's an extremely narrow view of comedy. Slapstick humor means there was no humor at all? Airplane and Naked Gun (among other movies) are classics for a reason. It was a silly farce of an episode. Not the end of the world.

[WhiteWave]

I laughed out loud a lot in this episode, which i have not done in a while. I can't help feeling a little sorry for Winston though, especially when he changed out of a perfectly nice outfit into that crazy shirt he found on the street.

[kia112]

Why did they do it?  Just b/c it didn't include everyone?  Boo.

 

That (which I don't really care about), and I think it also didn't quite represent the show anymore.  Because while I loved that the guys walked away from Jess's lunacy in the intro, they definitely don't do it in the show.  They're crazier than she is half of the time.

[iMonrey]

My main issue wasn't that they couldn't easily hide the "meth," but rather that a police cadet would have a superior come to his home to inspect it and interview his roommates. Do they do that? What's the purpose? I don't think they care who you live with so long as you've completed your training.

[ae2]

My main issue wasn't that they couldn't easily hide the "meth," but rather that a police cadet would have a superior come to his home to inspect it and interview his roommates. Do they do that? What's the purpose? I don't think they care who you live with so long as you've completed your training.

 

It was supposed to be part of his background check. I can't say if it is this way for becoming a police officer, but some background checks for certain government positions entail questioning people who know you. I doubt it would be a superior doing it, and I don't think it would happen the way the show demonstrated, but it's not too far from reality.