2 Broke Girls - Pilot

Network: CBS
Time: Mondays, 8:30-9:00pm
Cast: Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs, Matthew Moy, Jonathan Kite, Garrett Morris, Noah Mills

Summary: Max and Caroline, two struggling waitresses at a Brooklyn diner, try to save money to open their own cupcake shop. In the opener, Max is disgusted when once-wealthy Caroline starts working at the diner, but the two soon hit it off and become roommates.

Review: Well, this was a pleasant surprise.

I put 2 Broke Girls on my schedule reluctantly. After hearing both EW.com and TVLine.com rave about it, I figured it couldn’t hurt to watch the first episode. Worst case scenario, all I’ve wasted is a half hour.

Instead (and a little unfortunately, considering how many shows are on said schedule), I found myself sucked in right from the first moments. Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for a show with a smart, sarcastic female lead (yes, I still miss Gilmore Girls). Maybe it’s because Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs have oddly fantastic chemistry. Maybe it’s because the cast of characters featured in this show is wonderfully eclectic. Or maybe just because it’s a good show.

The premise is this: Max (Dennings) is a waitress/nanny, living with her boyfriend in Brooklyn and baking fantastic cupcakes. Caroline (Behrs) is a trust fund baby from Manhattan who lost everything when her daddy’s ponzi scheme was discovered and now has to support herself somehow. When Caroline gets a job at the diner, Max is… less than impressed. But Caroline’s earnestness wins her over (somewhat), and Max lets her spend the night, during which time Max’s boyfriend hits on Caroline, has sex with another woman after Caroline turns him down, and gets kicked out by Max. Max, looking for a new roommate, offers to let Caroline stay with her.

There were a lot of bits that made this series premiere enjoyable. Dennings’ Max is tough, responsible and confident, though she let some vulnerability show. Behrs’ Caroline looks like Trust Fund Barbie, but it can’t be forgotten that she went to the Wharton School of Business (it really can’t be forgotten… they said it four or five times), and she clearly has quite of bit of her conman father in her. The supporting characters are quirky, with the potential to turn into downright funny, especially when combined with their obvious chemistry with Max. And there’s a horse in the backyard of a Brooklyn apartment.

Sure, the episode was a little stiff at times, and some of Behrs’ lines felt forced, but it did everything it needed to do as a pilot episode: it hooked me. I’ll be back next week to see how much more money they earn towards their cupcake shop.

Rating: 4/5

Favorite line:
Caroline (after tasing Max): "Sorry, I didn't think it'd hurt so much, it's pink!"
Max: "It didn't feel pink!"