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New Girl-Paradise by the Dashboard Light

Life-changing revelations, rampant bribery, vehicular sex, addiction, international intrigue, threats of violence (nay, murder!), a valiant act of self-sacrifice, an unsolvable love triangle, and even a bit of original music. It may not have seemed like it, but New Girl‘s season 3 premiere had all the elements of a classic high drama. Admittedly, it didn’t all fit together perfectly. But, New Girl, you’ve never let me down before. Like Nick, Jess, and one of Winston’s puzzles, there are good, solid foundations there. I’m confident that over the course of the next 20-odd episodes, everything will fall into place (maybe with the help of an almond or two).

So, as we learned last week, this year’s opener began exactly where last season closed:  Jess and Nick were in the car — amorous, “weirdly all-in,” and — after some backseat love-makin’ — unsure what to do next. They decided to head back home, but, doubt set in as soon as they approached the loft door. Were they really ready to live together after only 30 minutes (or so) of dating? Simultaneously, they were hit by a barrage of text messages from Schmidt — who was still very much in the throes of a love triangle with Cece and Elizabeth (more on that later). Despite only receiving about 10 of Schmidt’s average of 40 texts a day, they became convinced they’d never make it as a couple without some time alone. So they gave their roomies the slip, got back into the car, and drove once more into the night. Nick woke up the next morning with the sounds of mariachi music and a waft of churro-y deliciousness in the air. ¡Viva Mexico!
After picking up a piñata shaped like a monkey, the young lovers spent the next four days “getting to know each other,” ripping off parts of their wedding outfits, working on their tans, and (in Jess’s case) getting sassy hair braids. In short, they were ignoring their problems. Other things they were ignoring? General hygiene, the feral dogs watching them have sex, and Schmidt’s calls. Somewhere amid all the sexytimes, they’d transformed the back of Jess’s Volvo into a sweet little hovel, which was shaded by woven blankets and stocked with Jarritos (Naranja y Fresa!). True to character, Jess was beginning to accept that this set-up wasn’t sustainable. But Nick, God love him, wasn’t ready to surrender his “mega-chill” Paradise self yet, and he convinced Jess to sneak into the swanky beach resort about 200 yards up the beach.


The big changes: Nick and Jess will be a couple this season, a move that’s met with mixed reactions from others in the loft. The big non-changes? We’re in for fun adventures, great guest stars and general hilarity. For the details, courtesy of star Zooey Deschanel and exec producer Liz Meriwether, read on…

+ Jess and Nick’s challenges as a couple will take center stage, at least in the beginning of the season.
“It’s just added a lot of great things for Zooey and Jake [Johnson] to play, and the way it changes the dynamic in the loft has been really funny,” says Meriwether of making Jess and Nick a couple. “We’ve gotten a lot of great comedy out of the struggle of having a couple as roommates, which has been really funny to write to.”

Their first struggle? In the premiere, we see Nick and Jess make the impulsive decision to head south of the border together “in the excitement of getting together,” but soon “some shenanigans ensue and they need some rescuing,” Meriwether says.
Their friends may be able to help them out in Mexico, but when it comes to their relationship, Deschanel says they’re on their own and will have to be up for the task. “I think both of them are just on the edge of breaking up the relationship by being mature. But I think that’s what’s exciting; it’s like watching a tightrope walker.”

+ Schimidt makes a decision in the premiere
Cece (Hannah Simone) or Elizabeth (Merritt Wever)? That’s the choice in front of Schmidt (Max Greenfield) as the new season begins, and the premiere will see him make a choice, says Meriwether. “I think he has a real dilemma in front of him in the premiere, and hopefully the audience will go with us for the choice he makes. I don’t know; we’ll see,” she says. But will his pick be a surprise? “I think it is,” Meriwether says. “I think it’ll be a little bit a surprise.” For the record, Simone isn’t going anywhere, and Nurse Jackie‘s Wever is set to appear in three episodes. (Should we read into that?)

+ Speaking of Schmidt…
He’s not happy with Nick and Jess being in a couple. “There’ll be battles with Schmidt a good part of the year,” says Meriwether. “He’s actively trying to break them up, so they have to contend with that.”

+ Prepare for the return of Coach!
Yes, Damon Wayans Jr. is currently set to return in the seventh episode of the new season as Coach, a character last seen in the pilot. (Back in the first season, Wayans’ Happy Endings was renewed, preventing him from continuing on New Girl.) And Meriwether couldn’t be more thrilled. Someone who won’t be so happy? Winston (Lamorne Morris). “What I think is fun is that he’s this Alpha male character. [Other than him there] are three weirdo guy characters, and he’s going to bring this very male, confident energy to the group. How that challenges all three of the guys will be fun to watch, especially when Winston is very insecure about him coming back,” teases Meriwether.

+ Speaking of Winston…
“I think we’re having fun with Winston and him trying to find love in all the wrong places,” says Meriwether. But the difference this season is “he’s trying to embrace his weirdness and not try to be anything for any girl. What I’m trying to say is that he’s letting his freak flag fly, I guess,” says Meriwether with a laugh. “He’s learning how to be a little true to himself with women and not get so nervous about being cool. He’s still on that journey.”

+Bonus scooplets…
- Relationship issues will come their way, but Jess will also have some work problems to deal with — namely her struggle trying to fit in with her co-workers, played by Angela Kinsey and Dreama Walker. ”Jess was a nerd in high school and Nick was kind of cool, so he’s offering his advice on how to be cool,” previews Deschanel.
- Jess is getting a sister! But just don’t look for Deschanel’s real-life sister Emily Deschanel to take the part. “That would be funny, but I don’t think we’re going to be able to,” says Meriwether. “I would love to have her on the show in another way at some point — just probably “
- The loft has a new furry friend! No, none of the guys are getting a goatee … we’re talking about a cat. “Winston steals his ex-girlfriend’s cat, and the loft has a cat now named Ferguson,” says animal lover Deschanel. “It’s a really, really cute cat.”