Then Came Schmidt

"'The Hobbit,' that wasn't very good. If I wanted to watch dwarves have a dinner party in real time I'd have gone to Korea town." — Schmidt, "New Girl"

Comedy is hard. While most of the dramas on TV that are successful follow a rigid formula, comedies don't have that luck. In the late 1990s came "Friends," which was a wildly successful comedy about young adults, their lives, and their struggles to maturity. Since it went off the air in 2004, people have been looking for its heir apparent.

Well, look no further. Now in its second season, "New Girl" is not only the best comedy on the air, it might be one of the best shows on television, period. And it just keeps getting better. Of course, a big reason for that is the strength of the ensemble cast.

When the show was first pitched, it was noted as a starring vehicle for Zooey Deschanel. It is that, and she is good as the titular "New Girl" Jess. But what's helped the show become a great half hour of TV each week is the rest of the cast.

Jake Johnson is great as Nick — a male character with as many quirks and as much likability as Deschanel in the lead role. Lamorne Morris — who was added after the pilot — has been great as Winston, bringing something totally different to the group.

Then there's Schmidt (Max Greenfield), who is the true gem of the show. Schmidt is like a fine wine, he is best in small doses. A character like Schmidt can't carry a show, but he can make a good show great. Greenfield, who should be a perennial Emmy nominee in the role, makes the part fun and dynamic.

There isn't a week that goes by that Schmidt doesn't say something that leaves me in stitches. And that's the beauty of the show, all the characters add to the story and the fun. And all the characters are people you'd like to hang out with.

That's the mark of comedy done right.