New Girl
What About Fred
TV Flash files “What About Fred” as hour 96 of 146 in the TV Flash guide — New Girl (2011–2018) on Fox, season 5, episode 2, aired 2016-01-12, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S05E02: listed hour 96 of 146 in the New Girl guide, hour 2 of 22 in season 5. It aired 2016-01-12 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Big Mama P” (S05E01). Next is “Jury Duty” (S05E03).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Jumping back into the dating pool, Jess finds herself dating a dud (guest star Taran Killam), but falls in love with his perfect parents (guest stars Henry Winkler and Julie Haggerty). Meanwhile, Nick (Jake Johnson) and Schmidt have very different ideas about how to run the bar.
Viewer FAQ
Where does What About Fred sit in the New Girl guide?
S05E02 is listed hour 96 of 146 — hour 2 of 22 in season 5, season 5 episode 2.
When did New Girl S05E02 air?
What About Fred aired 2016-01-12 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Do I need to start at season one?
The loft chemistry is the product. Early episodes teach Jess/Nick/Schmidt/Winston; later slow burns assume you already live there.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Loft hangout comedy at its stickiest: Zooey Deschanel's Jess, Nick's bartender mutter, Schmidt's peacocking, Winston's absurdist side quests. Friend-com chemistry over high concept — the adorkable engine that still streams like a warm Thursday, complete with true-love slow burns and roommate farce that never needed a gimmick.
The loft is the instrument, not the premise. Elizabeth Meriwether's Fox hangout (2011–2018) opens on a bubbly teacher moving in with three guys after a breakup, and the cut cares more about chemistry than a high concept. Zooey Deschanel's Jessica Day, Jake Johnson's Nick and the bartender mutter, Max Greenfield's Schmidt peacocking into an awards-contender breakout, Lamorne Morris's Winston on absurdist side quests, Hannah Simone's Cece, Damon Wayans Jr.'s Coach. Soft jokes, sticky rooms. Friend-com as a whole…
Filed against
- Zooey Deschanel as Jessica Day
Zooey Deschanel’s Jessica Day made New Girl loft hangout comedy at its stickiest — Nick’s bartender mutter, Schmidt’s peacocking, Winston’s absurdist side quests, friend-com chemistry over high concept. The adorkable engine that still…
- Jake Johnson as Nick Miller
Jake Johnson’s Nick Miller muttered New Girl into a loft religion — bartender weather, Zooey Deschanel’s Jess, Schmidt peacocking, Winston side quests. 2010s friend-com chemistry over high concept, adorkable engine with a true-love slow…
- Max Greenfield as Schmidt
Max Greenfield’s Schmidt peacocked through New Girl’s loft like cologne was a plot — 2010s friend-com chemistry, Nick’s mutter, Winston’s side quests, Zooey Deschanel’s Jess as the adorkable engine. Slow-burn true love in a Thursday…
- Hannah Simone as Cece Parekh
Hannah Simone's Cece Parekh gave New Girl its model-cool counterweight — loft hangout comedy, Zooey Deschanel's Jess, Nick's mutter, Schmidt's peacocking, Winston's side quests. Friend-com chemistry over high concept. TV Flash files her…
- Lamorne Morris as Winston Bishop
Lamorne Morris's Winston Bishop turned New Girl's loft into absurdist side quests — Zooey Deschanel's Jess, Nick's mutter, Schmidt's peacocking, friend-com chemistry over high concept. Adorkable engine that still streams like a warm…
- Damon Wayans Jr. as Coach
Damon Wayans Jr. played Coach on New Girl — loft hangout comedy at its stickiest, a roommate in Zooey Deschanel’s adorkable engine before the Thursday ritual fully set. Friend-com chemistry over high concept. TV Flash files him as 2010s…