Corny comedy on last legs

The Show: 2 Broke Girls, Season 6, Episode 3 The Moment: The arm-wrestling contest

Waitress-roommates Caroline (Beth Behrs) and Max (Kat Dennings) want chic customers at their new dessert bar, but instead they’ve been overrun by raucous lady arm wrestlers. The wrestlers’ leader, Big Reba (Dot-Marie Jones), makes a deal: her squad will split if Caroline out-arm-wrestles her.

“You got this, Caroline,” Max says, by way of motivation. “You’ve been wrestling with disappointment for years.”

“And I’m losing,” Caroline counters. (Canned laughter.)

Max continues motivating: “You haven’t had sex in a year! And I think you know I’m being quite generous there!” Caroline roars and inches Big Reba’s hand downward. (Louder canned laughter.)

“It’s working!” urges cashier Earl (Garrett Morris). “She’s lonely!” (Canned laughter escalates.)

“You chased a dollar under the third rail of the subway and you didn’t get it!” Max hollers. “Baby Barbara will get married before you do! Six years ago you had a billion dollars and now — I’m gonna say it — Old Navy is out of your price range!” Caroline slams Reba’s hand down. (Canned laughter explodes!)

When I heard that Season 6 would be this series’ last, I was amazed — that it was still on the air. I thought the era of laugh-track-laden, set-up-punchline shows had ended years ago. I guess I underestimated the appeal of non-stop nudge-wink innuendo. It’s the televisual equivalent of greasy comfort food. 2 Broke Girls aired on City and CBS. Johanna Schneller is a media connoisseur who zeroes in on pop-culture moments. She usually appears Monday through Thursday.