The above was my final note for this week’s episode. So how exactly did the writers mellow me out on Coach? Let’s discuss "Basketsball" and find out!
This week we found Jess attempting to become actual friends with Coach rather than just be his “friend’s girlfriend.” While not the worst thing that could be said about someone, it does suck to only be known or acknowledged in that capacity. With a clue from Nick, she tries to bond with Coach over basketball (or as Jess thinks it should be called, basketsball. She does kind of have a valid point there.). Nick is initially all on board this plan until Jess decides to come to bed in a Pistons jersey. Her refusal to take it off results in Nick declaring the tap off and initiating a sex standoff. I have to say, I have to side with Nick here. Sports teams are sacred things. You can’t just be a bandwagon fan and you don’t wear your clothing from your significant other’s rival team (with the exception of game days – but never to bed). If my hubby showed up to bed in Michigan garb (although he’d have to have had some serious head trauma to ever consider that), I’d kick him out too. Nick and Jess both attempt to turn each other on and get the other to cave, to no avail (I sometimes forget how terrible they both are at trying to be sexy). After watching several games and not getting any deeper conversation out of it, Jess cuts the cable cord in an attempt to force Coach into regular conversation. He, of course, suggests going out for food and takes her to a sports bar where he proceeds to just watch the game. Jess gives up and returns to the apartment. Nick comes to the bar looking for Jess (in a Pistons jersey no less because apparently fantasizing about Winston is where he draws the line) and tells Coach how to be Jess’s friend. Nick finds Jess waiting for him in a Bulls jersey. The standoff officially comes to an end, and Coach shows up to tell Jess that he would love to be her friend.
The other main storyline centers around Winston’s search for a new career. He decides to shadow Schmidt for a day to see if he would like marketing (or even be good at it). Schmidt also ends up having to show Ed, an older gentlemen hired by Schmidt’s firm to combat an ageism suit around. Schmidt gets cocky and tells Ed his big idea that he’s going to pitch the next day. But, Ed has game, and pitches the idea as his own before Schmidt can. Schmidt, of course, wants to revenge and turns to Winston for help while delivering the longest and most confusing metaphor ever (and probably the first involving minnows and toast…) Winston, using the notes he’d taken, had already pegged Ed and the end up getting an idea from the “oldest” man they know: Nick. After a rambling spheel about how you can’t trust technology and hard copies being the only thing you can rely on, Schmidt knows how to combat Ed. He jams every printer in the building, so Ed’s only option is to do the presentation on a laptop. He fakes a heart attack to get out of it and Schmidt gets a temporary victory. While celebrating at the bar, they figure out Winston’s career path: he’s going to the police academy!
Side Notes:
--- I need to see Winston in onesie PJs ASAP. Someone make this happen right now.
--- Of course, Nick would turn himself on. Those two couldn’t be sexy if their lives depended on it. But they’re so freaking adorable.
--- Getting fired at 45? Yeah, definitely wouldn’t wanna work at Schmidt’s company.
--- Selfies on a disposable camera…. God, Nick is SUCH an old person.
--- Schmidt and CeCe were hanging out like regular people guys! Hopefully that means more CeCe in the coming weeks.
--- Older or not, what person in the marketing field can’t use technology?!?!?!?
Quotes of the Week:
“I’d hug you but you smell like a public library.” – Hmm, can’t say I’ve ever detected that smell on an older person but ok.
“I’ll make an ass man out of you.” – Oh Schmidt….
And thank you to the lovely people at EW for doing this so I didn’t have to, I present you Old Man Nick’s rant on technology: “Where are you guys getting your photos developed these days? I’ve got these beefcake selfies that I want to dangle in front of Jess. … These are sexy, sensual private pics. I don’t want ‘em beamed right into Snowden’s pocket. I’m not going through Wiki-weeks, man. It’s not for me. Analog — it’s the only thing you can trust. Here’s the reality: You never know what’s going to happen with a phone. The hinges that hold the flip together, they get loosened over time when they get wet, and then, once you open it, it’s easier for people to go in there and see your passwords and, you know, see your codes. And once the screen breaks, you’re information’s all out there in the Twitterverse, man. And it’s all out there for everyone to see — all these little monkey-elfs, man, all these kids. That’s all they do — get your information, man. Bottom line is, you can’t control your technology. That’s what’s going on in Japan with all these robots. Not for me, man. That’s why I trust a hard copy. Plain and simple.”
All in all, this was another really solid episode for me. I’m starting to get really hopeful you guys! What did you all think of “Basketsball”? Is Coach growing on you? Do you feel like the show is finally getting back on track? What do you think about Winston as a cop? Share it in the comments!
