Jess' dad chooses the worst day to pay the loft an unexpected visit, forcing a nervous Nick to spend the day alone with him. Jess finds herself with huge opportunity for a new job on the day before Cece's wedding. Schmidt must take a look in the mirror and confront his real feelings about Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Winston psyches himself up for his huge surprise birthday celebration, which no one seemed to remember to throw for him.

Jess has been hired at a new school and is eager to prove herself as one of the cool teachers.

An overabundance of Chinese food take-out menus left at the loft’s front door is the catalyst for an interconnected series of adventures for Jess and the guys.

When Jess has to make a quick decision about her career, her friends all recall how they ended up at their jobs.

Nick struggles to throw Jess the perfect birthday party, while Schmidt works overtime to help out Cece in her new job as bartender and Winston and Coach engage in a bake-off.

Jess hires, then must immediately fire Coach as her school’s new volleyball coach. Meanwhile, Schmidt gets sued and enlists Nick and a procedural television-loving Winston to represent him at the deposition. Also, Cece catches the eye of a much younger man.

When Coach's liaison with the school nurse gets messy, vice principal Jess must enforce a new, "no fraternization" policy among the teachers. But the tables soon get turned when she finds herself attracted to the hot new science teacher. Meanwhile, Nick is enjoying being Schmidt and Winston's secretary, after the loft gets a new home phone

As the gang prepares to depart for the holidays, they quickly find they may be home alone when they are all trapped at the airport.

A class trip turns disastrous when Jess tries to avoid showing favoritism to Ryan; Schmidt develops an ulcer; Winston becomes fixated on wearing a crystal.

Jess eagerly reports to jury duty, until she discovers she may be up for a work promotion. Meanwhile, Nick reaches his limit with Cece's messiness in the loft.

Jess applies for a job at a progressive new school, but things take a turn when she finds out the principal is dating her ex-boyfriend, Sam. Meanwhile, Nick gets a cold and Schmidt quarantines the roommates to prevent himself from getting sick before his big presentation.

When Schmidt and Cece and Winston and Aly invite Jess on their couples glamping trip, members of her singles-only group tag along. Meanwhile, Nick struggles with the next chapter of his New Orleans-set novel after Schmidt gives him "no notes".

When Reagan returns home from a work trip, Jess is concerned that she has been spending too much time being Nick's "girlfriend." Meanwhile, Schmidt and Cece obsess over security in their new home and Aly reveals an embarrassing secret to Winston.

The gang takes a tour down memory lane, which includes a final round of "True American."