After emerging as a buzzworthy hit in its first season and as a critical darling late in its second, FOX’s “New Girl” ran into difficulty in its third year. Its core fanbase remained passionate and several of its episodes drew praise, but it ultimately failed to elicit the raves and excitement garnered in the previous two years.
It also, despite receiving coveted post-Super Bowl exposure, slipped to scary ratings lows late in the season. After only once slipping below 4.5 million viewers in its first season and never going below 3.5 million in its second, “New Girl” spent its last five season three episodes below the 2.5 million mark.
Benefiting from premiere curiosity and a lack of rival network competition, last Tuesday’s season four premiere moved back above the three million mark (and posted a 1.7 adults 18-49 rating, which represents the show’s best since the Super Bowl episode). A welcome improvement, the (likely artificially inflated, due to the aforementioned factors) performance nonetheless solidifies the notion that “New Girl”‘s days as a ratings force are over. Attention now must turn to the show’s success as a creative product.
The effort to reignite critical and fan acclaim continues Tuesday, when “New Girl” delivers the “Dice” episode. The episode’s central plotline involves Schmidt helping Jess navigate the world of Tinder-esque dating app Dice. It also features Nick and Cece coaching Coach through his first marijuana experience just as Winston commands their assistance at a police party.
Rather broad and obvious, the two arcs nonetheless provide ample opportunity for the talented cast to deliver the show’s signature breed of witty dialogue (the Dice storyline) and physical comedy (much of the marijuana storyline). Whether the episode resonates with viewers remains to be seen, but FOX was confident enough in teh humor to issue a screener to the media.
Not wanting to entirely roll the dice on the audience generating its own excitement for the episode, FOX also issued promotional backstage photos from the taping. Those follow.
The “Dice” episode of “New Girl” airs at 9PM ET on September 23.