And the One Night Stands
Overview: In and a one night stands, Max joins Caroline on an emotional trip to visit her father in prison, turning what should be a simple birthday wish into another chaotic adventure. Along the way, the episode explores Caroline’s complicated past, Max’s growing loyalty as a friend, and the awkward humor that follows them wherever they go.
Air date: 2/27/2012
Directed by: Scott Ellis
Guest Stars: Jennifer Coolidge as Sophie Kachinsky, Bridget Everett as Shonda, Jeremy Rowley as Jefferson, Tim Chiou as Edwin, Brain Robinson as Irish, Hal Devi as Guard #2, Dan Warner as Guard #1, Malcolm Devine as Bus Driver, Nadia Sloane as Model.
Review By: Jason Schulte
Rating: 
In 2 Broke Girls Season 1, Episode 18, “And the One Night Stands,” Caroline’s birthday becomes the center of the story. Everyone around her seems excited about the idea of celebrating, but Max quickly finds herself under pressure to pull together a party for her best friend. The funny part is that Caroline herself is not really asking for much, which makes the growing panic around the situation even more entertaining.
One of the best parts of the episode is the way the diner crew reacts once the birthday pressure starts building. The group blame scene is easily one of the funniest moments in the series so far. Watching everyone try to shift responsibility onto someone else turns into a perfect little storm of awkwardness, guilt, and comedy. It is one of those scenes where the whole cast gets to bounce off each other, and it works incredibly well.
Underneath all the jokes, Caroline’s birthday wish is actually pretty simple. She wants to see her father. That request gives the episode a little more emotional weight, especially because Caroline’s relationship with her old life is still such an important part of her character. She may be trying to move forward with Max and the cupcake dream, but her past is never too far behind her.
Of course, this is 2 Broke Girls, so even a heartfelt birthday wish does not stay simple for long. The episode takes a sharp turn into more adult humor, including the “bang bus” storyline. That part of the episode is a mixed bag. Some of the jokes land, but the humor can also feel a little heavy-handed. Depending on what you enjoy about the show, this may either add to the chaos or make the episode feel less balanced.
Overall, “And the One Night Stands” is a decent episode, but not one of the strongest of the season. The adult humor will not work for everyone, and without the brilliantly funny blame scene, this episode would probably rank lower for me. Still, that one standout moment, along with Caroline’s simple but emotional birthday wish, gives the episode enough charm to make it worth watching.