Prince (New Girl)
"Prince" | |
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New Girl episode | |
Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 14 |
Directed by | Fred Goss |
Written by |
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Featured music |
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Production code | 3ATM15 |
Original air date | February 2, 2014 |
Guest appearances | |
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"Prince" is the fourteenth episode of the
After learning that New Girl had secured the post-Super Bowl XLVIII timeslot, writers and producers began preparing an episode that would attract newcomers to the show, as well as creating something special for regular viewers. Around the time of the announcement, Prince enquired about making a guest appearance on the show and it was decided that the episode would be written around him. During production, Prince made contributions to the script and debuted a new song, featuring vocals from Deschanel. "Prince" was filmed in December 2013 and became one of the most expensive episodes of New Girl to be shot. It also features guest appearances from baseball player Clayton Kershaw and models Alessandra Ambrosio, Ana Beatriz Barros and Lais Ribeiro.
"Prince" was seen by 26.30 million viewers, according to
Plot
As their friends give them a moment alone, Prince appears and asks what the problem is. Nick and Jess explain their situation and Prince asks to spend some time alone with Jess. Nick gets drunk and interrupts Winston and Coach's conversation with two supermodels. Over pancakes, Jess tells Prince that she is scared to admit her feelings and is worried that if something goes wrong, it will be too painful. Prince gives Jess a makeover and advises her to tell Nick she loves him back. He also tells her to stop being afraid. Jess returns to the party, where she tells Nick she loves him and he reciprocates. Prince takes to the stage to perform "Fallinlove2nite" and invites Jess to sing with him. The others join them on stage. Back at the apartment, everyone is reminiscing about dancing with Prince, when Jess realises Cece is missing. The scene cuts to Cece, who is still at the house, playing table tennis with Prince.
Production
Conception and writing
On May 13, 2013,
On December 12, 2013, it was announced that Prince would be guest starring in the episode as himself, the only time he appeared in a television series.
At least two scripts were rejected, as they were not in keeping with the show. One storyline had Prince playing the lead singer of a Prince cover band.[3] Meriwether said that Prince's appearance with the main characters also needed to be believable.[7] Eventually the writers, Rob Rosell and Dave Feeney, scripted an episode that would see the characters attending a party at Prince's house, where he would help Jess and Nick say "I love you" for the first time.[6] In a piece for Vulture, Meriwether recalled that Prince was pleased that he would be the person who helps get Jess and Nick to admit how they truly felt about each other.[6]
Prince came up with the idea of helping Jess by giving her a makeover,[7] and asked that the house party on the show was as close as possible to his real house parties.[6] Four days before filming was due to start, Prince pulled out as he was unhappy with changes to the script.[6] Meriwether explained that Fox had asked that the episode ended with a scene at the apartment, so she had Nick and Jess declare their love for one another in the bathroom. After speaking with Prince, Meriwether realised that he needed to be the one to get through to Jess, and promised to revise the script immediately. Prince agreed again to be part of the episode that same day.[6] Meriwether said the episode was "a big milestone" for Nick and Jess romantically, and that the storyline would continue to play out during the rest of the season.[3]
Filming and music
The episode was directed by Fred Goss.[8] Filming took place in December 2013, and "Prince" became one of the most expensive episodes of New Girl to be shot, as a house needed to be rented out and new sets built.[6] Prince was on set for three days.[9] Meriwether recalled that he was "fantastic at ping-pong" and told Simone to practice before their scene together. The musician was surprised when she scored a point off him during the first take.[3] Prince also changed a scripted moment in which he shines a flashlight under his chin to a lighter, as he believed it was funnier.[6] The episode featured cameo appearances from baseball player Clayton Kershaw,[10] and models Alessandra Ambrosio, Ana Beatriz Barros and Lais Ribeiro.[11][12] In May 2016, Deschanel told Conan O'Brien that Khloé Kardashian and Kris Jenner had also filmed cameos. However, their scenes were cut after a member of Prince's team asked about the celebrity appearances and commented "I hope it's not the Kardashians". Prince felt that they would never be at one of his parties.[13]
Prince used his appearance in the episode to premiere his new song "Fallinlove2nite", which features vocals from Deschanel.[14] The actress told Sandy Coen of the Associated Press that the producers wanted her character to go up on stage and sing with Prince, so they asked her to lay down a vocal for the sound department, who sent it to Prince. The following day, her vocal was mixed into the song.[15] Shortly before the scene was filmed, Prince asked producer Erin O'Malley for a megaphone. As the song began to play, Prince used the megaphone to call out "Does anyone want to fall in love tonight?". The crowd of actors and extras gave an unscripted cheer.[6] Meriwether admitted that she teared up following the take.[7] The episode also featured Prince's "When You Were Mine" during the scenes where Prince gives Jess a makeover.[16]
Reception
Ratings
In its original American broadcast on February 2, 2014, "Prince" was viewed by 26.3 million viewers, according to
Following Prince's death on April 21, 2016, Fox decided to replay the episode on April 26 as a tribute to him.[19] The broadcast earned 1.78 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. It drew a 0.7/2 rating/share in adults between the ages of 18 and 49.[20]
Critical response
The episode's plot received mixed reviews from television critics, but Prince's guest appearance was well received. Marc Hogan of Spin found the humour around "characters inexplicably fainting" to be "a bit too FOX sitcom-y", but he called Prince's appearance "pure gold".[16] Lanford Beard from Entertainment Weekly also praised Prince's appearance, in particular describing the makeover scenes "deliciously understated" and "a nice counterpart to New Girl's frequently over-the-top comedy".[21] Chris Morgan of Paste felt that while the episode "certainly wasn't the greatest", it was "a strange, fabulous moment in the history of the series, and also a testament to the kind of life Prince chose to live."[22]
Alan Sepinwall from HitFix found the episode to be "funny and joyful [...] and strange and poignant, all in perfect proportion."[25] Likewise, Erik Adams of The A.V. Club, who gave the episode a B+ score called it "very, very funny".[26] He felt Prince improved the plot and added that his involvement in Nick and Jess's romance was "a new spin on a storyline that countless other TV shows and movies have tried out."[26] Adams also praised the show's editorial team for the montage.[26]
References
- ^ IGN UK. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
- ^ "Fox 2013–14 Schedule Announced: 'Bones' On the Move + 'Sleepy Hollow' Monday, 'Glee' Gets Midseason Break & More (Updated)". TV by the Numbers. May 13, 2013. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g O'Connell, Michael (January 30, 2014). "'New Girl' Creator Liz Meriwether Talks Prince, Super Bowl Pressure and Letting Zooey Sing". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- ^ Justin, Neal (February 1, 2014). "How Prince ended up on the post-Super Bowl 'New Girl'". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- E! Online. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Meriwether, Liz (April 26, 2016). "'Isn't This Funnier?' New Girl Creator Liz Meriwether Recalls the Making of the Prince Episode". Vulture. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ Today. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ^ "Fred Goss Directs Prince On New Girl!". Company Films. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ Justin, Neal (February 1, 2014). "How Prince ended up on the post-Super Bowl 'New Girl'". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ^ Martinez, Michael (January 30, 2014). "Dodgers lefty ace Kershaw to make cameo on 'New Girl'". Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ Bueno, Antoinette (January 31, 2014). "'New Girl' Super Bowl Ep Gets Two Supermodels!". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- Complex. February 3, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ^ Le Vine, Lauren (May 10, 2016). "Prince Reportedly Refused to Have the Kardashians on His New Girl Episode". Vanity Fair. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ^ Grow, Kory (March 14, 2014). "Prince Duets With Zooey Deschanel on New Song 'Fallinlove2nite'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ^ Cohen, Sandy (April 10, 2014). "Deschanel talks fashion, Prince and 'New Girl'". Associated Press. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ a b Hogan, Marc (February 3, 2014). "Prince Serves Pancake and New 'Love' Song on Purple-Centric 'New Girl'". Spin. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
- ^ a b Bibel, Sara (February 4, 2014). "Sunday Final Ratings: 'New Girl' Adjusted Up & Final Super Bowl Numbers". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ "TV Ratings Sunday: (Updated) Super Bowl Sets New Viewing Record, 'New Girl' Strong & 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' Decent". TV by the Numbers. February 3, 2014. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ Snierson, Dan (April 22, 2016). "New Girl episode featuring Prince to rerun on Tuesday". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ^ Porter, Rick (April 27, 2016). "TV Ratings Tuesday: 'Limitless' finale steady, 'Chicago Med' and 'Containment' rise". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ^ Beard, Lanford (February 2, 2014). "'New Girl' recap: A post-Super Bowl episode fit for a Prince". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
- ^ Morgan, Chris (April 22, 2016). "Remembering the Wonderfully Bizarre "Prince" Episode of New Girl". Paste. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ Roots, Kimberly (February 2, 2014). "New Girl Post-Super Bowl Recap: When Loves Try". TVLine. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- ^ a b Gondelman, Josh (February 3, 2014). "New Girl Recap: Dropping the L-Bomb". Vulture. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ^ Sepinwall, Alan (February 2, 2014). "Review: 'New Girl' – 'Prince': I love u but I don't trust u anymore". HitFix. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- ^ a b c Adams, Erik (February 2, 2014). "New Girl: "Prince"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
External links
- "Prince" at IMDb