“Titles we liked better than Cougar Town: Sunshine State, The Drinking Age, Cougar City, Mid-Life.” – Opening Credits Title Card
If you haven’t decided whether or not to give Cougar Town a shot, now is definitely the time to do it.
The season three premiere functions as a perfect starting point for the show, reintroducing the fortunate families in their unfortunately-named town. Though Cougar Town is mildly guilty of updating certain gags from Scrubs, the mastermind behind both shows, Bill Lawrence, never fails to bring out the best and most bizarre of his cast.
Scrubs alum Ken Jenkins (Dr. Kelso) makes his return to Cougar Town, reprising his role as Jules’ father, Chick. Even though Grayson and Jules are already engaged, she wants him to formally ask her father, so Grayson accompanies Travis to Chick’s ranch. Guilty for letting Bobby break Jules’ heart, Chick decides to have a little bit of fun testing Grayson’s level of commitment to his daughter, finally deeming him a suitable suitor after he refuses to shoot what he’s told is a sick horse.
Jules, meanwhile, is busy planning her wedding, making sure to accommodate everyone’s wants and needs. Even though Ellie accuses her of “people-pleasing,” Jules can’t stop and asks Laurie to be Ellie’s co-maid of honor. Ellie finds out that Jules lied to her about why she and Laurie are “co-mohs,” and have to solve their issues the same way Ellie does when she’s mad at Andy.
Apparently when he’s not playing around with is green-screen, Travis is taking photos of Andy and Ellie killing each other for their own cathartic devices. If he ever gets around to making a movie, perhaps a character from Community can somehow repay the fan-nod to last season’s cameos by Travis and Laurie.
In the midst of everything, Bobby is busy trying to make a deeply metaphorical engagement gift for Jules and Grayson to show his approval and support as Jules’ ex-hubby. His symbolic effort becomes entirely literal, however, when he builds a zip-line that connects their two houses. Even though Jules appreciates the gesture, she isn’t the only one physically hurt by the gift, so she makes him take it down. At least they still have the green screen.
Some stats and info about Cougar Town, “A Mind with a Heart of Its Own”
TV SHOW – Cougar Town
SEASON/EPISODE – Season 3, Episode 2
AIRED ON – February 20th, 2012
NETWORK/STREAMING SERVICE – ABC/TBS
GENRE – Comedy, Relationship Shows
CREATED BY – Kevin Biegel, Bill Lawrence
CAST – Courteney Cox, Christa Miller, Busy Philips, Dan Byrd, Josh Hopkins, Ian Gomez, Brian Van Holt
This review originally appeared on TV Geek Army.