Best Friends Forever ‘Single and Lovin’ It’: Human Boner Repellent

Now this is an episode of a comedy I’m interested in seeing more of. For the first time in its short four-episode run, ‘Single And Lovin’ It’ relaxes into its characters and plots, feeling much more like an organic episode of comedy with a handful of hilarious jokes, and a story that actually feels like a step forward for the new house dynamic of Lennon, Jess and Joe. In other words, a big step forward for Best Friends Forever in its very brief first season.

The improvements to Jess’s character in ‘Single and Lovin’ It’ were much needed: her constant whining and refusal to accept any sense of reality was all but erased in the opening scene. For once, Jess really felt like someone trying to re-establish herself in life, less of a negative person sulking around, and more like someone’s who excited to redefine themselves in their new lives. Best of all, she’s actually funny! She still has some dialogue that falls flat on played jokes or goofy references (like the Bob Dylan karaoke joke) that probably sound funnier in St. Clair & Parham’s much-discussed improvisational sessions then on film, but by toning down her incessant screaming and white-girl ‘crazy faces’, she feels much more like a real person we’d actually want to hang out with for a little bit.

By turning down the volume on Jess’s narcissism, plot lines can play off some of her less appealing qualities, and be a whole lot funnier and a lot less grating. The running gag of Jess continuously walking in on Lennon and Joe trying to “work their bodies over” (as they both call it) leads to a bunch of funny situations that don’t feel over-thought, staged, and super-frenzied. It also gives us great moments with sexually frustrated Joe, from stealing other people’s gyros (“I need this. I’m having some bedroom issues”) to other funny physical gags like the kitchen scene (“They should show this on the Food Network”) and his attempts at stripteasing.

I think the improvements in the jokes of ‘Single and Lovin’ It’ come from the slower interactions between Lennon and Jessica. They are still both high-energy women – especially together – but the smallest tweaks to their line readings (and consonant counts of said lines) give all of the jokes more room to breathe. Without them shouting over each other at machine-gun pace, we can actually hear what they’re saying, and have time to react to funny lines – the quality of which saw a noticable improvement in this episode as well.

Top it off with not ONE, but TWO Party Down cameos (Ryan Hansen as Keith ‘Meaty Calves’ and the guy who played Landry Jones in the NFL Draft episode as a fraternity douche), and ‘Single and Lovin’ It’ felt a lot less like St. Clair And Parham’s Improv Half-Hour and a lot more like a great ensemble comedy about relationships for people in their young 30s, younger than Cougar Town but a little older than New Girl.

Grade: B+

Other thoughts/observations:

– I hate the little black girl’s character. It’s really odd the only minority character is a nine-year old black girl whose parents are never seen or heard from. She’s not funny, doesn’t read dialogue well, and feels like a really random addition to the cast. Sorry Q, but your character stinks.

– Lennon always has great throwaway lines in the background: “You need to learn your education!!!”

– “That was a new song that  I don’t like and don’t care about.” You’re the man, Joe.

– on a related note, the dancing by everyone involved was SO AWKWARD.

– great to finally see Rav and Joe hang out to give the show a small dose of man friendship. Their sex talk about gyros was quite entertaining (“tease it a little”), and it was nice to see Joe have someone to relate to.

– could’ve done without a lot of the last two minutes and the whole “I want my dad to accept me, so be my cougar” and then “You’re too young” felt like the writers saying ‘Fuck, we have no idea how to close this.’

What did you think of ‘Single and Lovin’ It?’ Think it was a big improvement, or still safe on BFF? There’s only two episodes left in the seri- season, so stop back next week, when Lennon’s former (and possible lesbian) dance partner pays a visit. Feel free to leave your comments/thoughts below!