New Girl

Season 5

Big Mama P

1. The first episode that Zooey Deschanel's pregnancy is obviously being hidden.
2. In season 2 episode 10, it is said that Cece's parents had an arranged marriage. Yet in this episode, it is said that Cece's mom was a dancer and Cece's dad's parents didn't approve of Cece's mom until seeing her dance.
3. In keeping with the Indian theme, the musical number is shot in the same style of Bollywood musicals.
4. The Bollywood song played at Cece's and Schmidt's engagement is called 'Oo la la tu hai meri fantasy' (Hindi for 'Oo la la you are my fantasy')

What About Fred

1. Nasim Pedrad and Taran Killam were on SNL together from 2010-2014, which is perhaps why the improvisation scene with Aly testing Fred for drunk driving was written in.
2. This episode is titled "What About Fred" and features actress Julie Hagarty who also played the role of Fay Marvin in the 1991 comedy, "What About Bob."

Jury Duty

1. Jess was sequestered for jury duty because Zooey Deschanel was close to the end of her pregnancy and needed an explained absence from the show.

No Girl

1. This is the first episode Jess is absent. In real life, Zooey is out on maternity leave after the birth of Elsie Otter. During this episode, the newscaster mentions the birth of a new otter at this zoo. This is possibly a reference to Zooey's daughter.

Bob & Carol & Nick & Schmidt

1. This episode marks Jake Johnson's directorial debut.
2. Nick's cousin Bobby's wife, Carol, is played by a different actress than the episode in Chicago where Nick's dad dies.
3. The title references Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969).
4. Bear Hunt: Schmidt gives Bob and Carol a Bear's onesy.

Reagan

1. This is the 100th episode of the series
2. Show creator Elizabeth Meriweather appears in this episode dressed as a sailor.
3. The first episode in which Megan Fox's character Reagan appears.
4. Bear Hunt: Bear photo on the fridge behind Winston when he says, "utilities are not included."

Wig

1. Reagan's fake ID name "Suzi Shimizu" in this episode comes from the real-life Suzi Shimizu, who was a production accountant on the show.
2. Bear Hunt: When Nick eats in Schmidt's room, Cece says, "oh, I forgot, you're a bear in pants."

The Decision

1. Schmidt and Cece are told that the wedding venue was available due to Shia LaBeouf cancelling a solitaire tournament. Megan Fox (starring in the episode) appeared with Shia LaBeouf in Transformers.

Heat Wave

1. Reagan tells Nick that she hopes the Chicago Cubs win the World Series when Nick is in a coma. The Chicago Cubs actually win the World Series later that year.
2. Cece asks Winston if he's yelling because he has a cranberry stuck in his ear again. This is a reference to the Season 2 episode, "Santa".
3. Bear Hunt: Reagan mentions the Chicago Cubs.

Goosebumps Walkaway

1. Jess returns from jury duty (Zooey Deschanel's maternity leave).
2. "Sounding like Zuul" is a reference to Ghostbusters.

The Apartment

1. Nick is about to tell Dunston the bathroom is to the left of the popcorn machine, an object that was heavily argued about between Nick and Cece in the fourth season episode "Spiderhunt". Jess thought Cece had a crush on Nick, but they were actually arguing about getting a popcorn machine for the bar.
2. What Nadia actually says at the very end of the episode is, "I'm looking for a cage without tigers where I can rest my bones".

D-Day

1. Max Greenfield once appeared in an episode of the teen drama The O.C., as the younger version of Peter Gallagher's character.
2. Nick's office at the bar features yet another Black Keys poster, like in his room.
3. Peter Gallagher is the second actor who starred in The O.C. to appear as a guest on New Girl. Adam Brody, who played Gallagher's character's son in the teen drama, appeared as Jess' ex-boyfriend Berkley in the Season 3 episode "Exes".
4. Gavin says he's just got into surfing. Peter Gallagher's character on The O.C., Sandy Cohen, would famously surf every morning.

Sam, Again

300 Feet

1. The first time in the series that the name of Nick's bar, The Griffin, is said.

Jeff Day

Helmet

1. Bear Hunt: Sam says "You're a Bears fan?"
2. Kal Penn plays Aly's boyfriend, Tripp, in this episode. Kal Penn and John Cho, another season 5 guest star, are the stars of the Harold & Kumar film series. Harold and Kumar are also Schmidt's names for each of Cece's breasts, referenced multiple times throughout the series.

Road Trip

1. Aaron Takahashi, the car rental employee, and Zooey Deschanel both played main characters in Yes Man.

A Chill Day In

1. The actor who plays Mall Cop, Michael Patrick McGill, plays a nearly identical role in Cougartown s04e13 as Grocery Store Cop who also jails some shoplifters in a grocery store jail.
2. Bear Hunt: Jess says, "You're like a big scary mama bear" to Cece.

Dress

Return to Sender

1. Diane is wearing a trench coat similar to the one Nick did the first time he kissed Jess.
2. The plot centers on Jess's boyfriend Sam and his old flame, Diane. Jess talks through her feelings about Diane's reappearance with Cece at the neighborhood bar where she works. Sam and Diane, of course, were an iconic on-again-off-again couple at another TV show's neighborhood bar, Cheers.
3. Schmidt is wearing a part of the swuit from season 4.
4. Diane (Caitlyn Fitzgerald) and Sam (David Walton) were both in Masters of Sex where David portrayed Caitlyn's love interest.

Wedding Eve

1. Kim Wayans (Susan) is actually the real life aunt of Damon Wayons, Jr. (Coach).

Landing Gear

1. David Walton, who plays Dr. Sam, has been referred to as "Dr. Dick" previously in the film Fired Up.
2. Bear hunt: Schmidt mentions his dad has given he and Cece weed gummy bears as their wedding present.
3. Schmidt would not have had the plane issue in real life as if your plane is grounded and you want to get off it, you can but under the usual rule of once you're off you cannot be allowed back on.
4. Kim Wayans plays Schmidt's soon-to-be step-mom, Susan. She is in reality Damon Wayans, Jr.'s (Coach) aunt.
5. When Dr. Sam (David Walton) breaks up with Jess for good at the end of season 5, it's because he wants to start a new relationship with Diane (Caitlin FitzGerald). In the last several episodes of Masters of Sex, David Walton's character Bram Keller ends up together with Libby Masters, also played by Caitlin FitzGerald.