Why the "Douchebag Jar" was Revolutionary

Through and through, my comfort show will always be New Girl. In high school, I couldn't fall asleep without watching it, and even now, it is the one show I continue to put others on to. In some of the first episodes of the sitcom, the infamous "Douchebag Jar" is introduced as a running joke between the characters. The purpose of the jar is to correct Schmidt's behavior, and much like the more common "swear jar," he has to put money in it when he says or does anything douchebaggy.

While most times he slides a one or five-dollar bill in there, his roommates demand he put up to 50 dollars in the jar at a time, depending on his words or actions. After watching the show, I thought the "Douchebag Jar" was way ahead of its time and actually helped viewers take accountability for themselves and the people around them.

gif from New Girl

I think the idea of the "Douchebag Jar" was a perfect way to incorporate not only male accountability but the concept of holding your friends accountable without any pressure on either party. Especially in comedy shows like New Girl, it's rare to see the stereotype flipped around. Instead of women being the ones to correct their behavior, it was the men's choice to enforce better behavior for Schmidt without any input from their female friends. At the beginning of the show, it is clear to viewers that Schmidt takes pride in everything he does that warrants putting money into the jar, and it is rare that he protests when told to put money in.

image from New Girl

Schmidt is the only character who puts money in the jar throughout the entire series, and most of the time, he's only putting money in the jar because he is being told to. What was so important about the "Douchebag Jar" was that it was a visual representation of Schmidt's growth throughout the seasons; the less full it was, the more mature he was becoming.

By the end of season five, when Schmidt gets married to Cece, he smashes the jar with his foot, officially ending the life of the "Douchebag Jar." In my opinion, the destruction of the jar is perfect symbolism for the fact that Schmidt no longer needs a physical reminder to be a better person, and it just shows how much his character has developed because he is able to correct his behavior all on his own.

Since the "Douchebag Jar" had such an impact on Schmidt throughout the show, my friends and I are considering keeping our own "Douchebag Jar" in my room to keep each other accountable. If you haven't already, go check out New Girl and maybe think about starting a "Douchebag Jar" of your own!