Zooey Deschanel (Reuters file photo)

Zooey Deschanel has both a task and a fling on TV in the next few days.

First the task: On Saturday, Feb. 11, the "adorkable" Deschanel will try to pump some much-needed comedic life into Saturday Night Live (NBC, Global), when she hosts alongside musical guest Karmin. It has been a frighteningly flat season for SNL thus far, even though it's an election year in the U.S., so anything Deschanel can do to brighten things up would be appreciated.

And then the fling: In a new episode of Deschanel's sitcom New Girl, airing Tuesday, Feb. 14 (Fox, Citytv), Deschanel's newly single character Jess is determined to have a one-night stand on Valentine's Day. The would-be hookup hunk Jess meets at a bar is named Oliver, played by Ryan Kwanten, who is best known for his role as Jason Stackhouse on True Blood. Pretty good-looking guy to find randomly in a bar, not to mention single on Valentine's Day, don't you think, Zooey?

"Not really so bad," Deschanel said. "I mean, (someone like Kwanten) is probably not who you would meet."

To which New Girl creator Liz Meriwether added, "It's great to be on TV."