The world is divided into two groups: Those who like Zooey Deschanel's shtick and those who don't. If you like it, you don't need to read this post. You will watch New Girl, and you will like it. Enjoy! (I mean that in all sincerity.)
But I think the answer is less clear for those who aren't Zooey fans. (I feel weird even saying that, because it's not like I dislike her. I don't know her. I just don't like her carefully-cultivated public persona.) I'm really not, and expected to hate this pilot, but I found it surprisingly charming - even delightful. Part of this was due to Deputy Leo from Veronica Mars being one of the main characters. Part was that they make decent use of the emotional capital they invoke by having a Dirty Dancing thread through the episode. Part of it was that this show, unlike most of the sitcom pilots I've seen this year, had jokes that I mostly didn't find ridiculously offensive and occasionally even found funny. But mostly, I think I'm a sucker for "unlikely people become friends" stories. (Yes, I know, welcome to every show on TV, Kate.) The characters are drawn pretty broadly so far - they have to be, in 21 minutes - but the sparks of real friendship and caring between them by the end of the episode (and the way it seems this show might actually put some value on being a decent person) made me want to spend more time in New Girl's world.
I was already a big Zooey fan when I watched the pilot, but I agree with your comments about how it's a story with decent people in it. I like how Zooey's character is super nerdy but also sweet and knows how to stand up for herself and speak her mind (she also seems to be an eerily accurate twin one of my close friends, so I can tell you that these magically happy, singing people really do exist in the world). I'm looking forward to seeing where they go with this story. Also, have you noticed that they seem to have re-cast the actor who plays the Coach for the episodes beyond the pilot?
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