The title *Chicks & Dicks* immediately feels like something Schmidt from *New Girl* would get penalized for saying – something that would earn him a contribution to the Douchebag Jar. Surprisingly, that was almost the show we were all watching every Tuesday.
According to *New Girl* creator Liz Meriwether, the showâs original title was simply meant to grab attention. She told Glamour in 2018 that with so many pilots being made, a memorable title was a good way to stand out.
It perfectly captures the essence of her idea, which came from her own experiences living in various Craigslist sublets in Los Angeles: a relatable and slightly exaggerated portrayal of twenty-somethings sharing a loft and figuring out their lives.
Meriwether told TopMob News that she started thinking about her close friendships with men, many of whom she’d known since she was 17. She realized she often turned to them for advice and support in ways she didn’t with her female friends. This led her to imagine a scenario – a kind of fantasy – where she lived with her male friends and they playfully directed her choices, like advising her not to contact a certain person or suggesting different outfits.
The show began in a Los Angeles loft apartment, bringing together Jess Day (played by Zooey Deschanel), a quirky and recently heartbroken teacher, with a group of men still finding their way in life. These included Schmidt (Max Greenfield), who acts sophisticated but is secretly endearing; Nick Miller (Jake Johnson), a lovable but clumsy guy; Winston (Lamorne Morris), a kind and loyal friend; and Coach (Damon Wayans Jr.), a confident personal trainer.
With a great best friend like CeCe (played by Hannah Simone), a confusing but fun drinking game, and tons of memorable lines – like “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? No, a summer’s day is not a bitch” – the show quickly became TopMob Newsâ pick for the best new show of Fall 2011.
Around 10 million people watched the first episode on September 20, 2011, making it the most-watched show that night. While the audience decreased over the years, the series finale in 2018 still provided satisfying and happy conclusions for its beloved characters.
Because many new fans discovered the show during quarantine, a reunion isn’t out of the question – as long as Kelsey Grammer is willing to participate.
Morris explained that many viewers connected with the show’s feeling of friendship. He often hears fans say they identify with specific characters – like seeing themselves in Winston or recognizing a ‘Schmidt’ in their own lives. He believes that when people are stuck at home watching TV, they want something that’s either funny or relatable, and New Girl provided that for a lot of viewers.
He also said, with a bit of playful insistence, “You’re going to be on the couch anyway, so you might as well watch something worthwhile. And honestly, *New Girl* is fantastic.”
Okay, seriously, Winston’s pranks? Spot on! They *get* me. And can we just talk about all seven seasons? It’s like, I need everyone to rewatch it with me because, and this is so important, remember when he said, “The economy stinks, bees are dying, and movies are pretty much all sequels now”? That line… it just *hits* different. It perfectly sums up everything! I’m obsessed, honestly.
Zooey Deschanel perfectly captured the role of Jess Day, the lovable and unusual Nancy Drew fan fiction writer, right from the start. According to series creator Liz Meriwether, who spoke to TopMob News shortly after the show premiered in 2011, there was an instant connection. Meriwether said Deschanel read the script and immediately embodied everything she had hoped for in the character.
Meriwether explained that the show’s lead character was loosely based on herself. She shared a funny story: her cousin in Florida, unaware she was involved in the project, recognized the resemblance after seeing a preview. The cousin called their mom and said, ‘It looks like Zooey Deschanel is playing Liz!’ Meriwether felt it showed a strong connection between herself and the character.
Zooey Deschanel clarified that the term “adorkable,” often used to describe her character Jess from *Elf*, wasn’t meant to define her personally. In a 2015 interview with the Huffington Post, she explained that Fox’s marketing team created the term to promote the show’s first season, but it only applied to the character, not to her as a person. She doesn’t identify with the label herself.
For Meriwether, the real problem wasn’t how the show was *received*, but how it was *marketed* from the start. She told Glamour before the 2018 finale that she never intended the show to be seen as âcute,â but thatâs how it was immediately presented. She felt the marketing focused on Jessâs glasses, and if sheâd been in charge, the show might not have succeeded. It was frustrating for her because the final product didn’t match her vision, which was simply a show about quirky people living in Los Angeles.
With the right actors playing them, Jessâs roommates were just as lovable as her relentlessly positive personality. However, the character of Schmidt wasnât originally meant to be someone viewers would root for. Creator Liz Meriwether told Glamour she initially envisioned him as a superficial and foolish character, similar to someone youâd find on Jersey Shore.
Actor Max Greenfield, known from *Veronica Mars*, really impressed us with his take on the character. He was determined to play Schmidt as a fundamentally good person, but with underlying insecurities. This choice added a lot of depth and made the character much more interesting during his audition.
A key piece of advice came from approaching executive producer Jake Kasdan. As Greenfield told Entertainment Weekly, he simply asked them to make the character ‘as not-douchey as possible.’ Kasdan’s response? ‘Just don’t play him like a jerk.’
Greenfield intentionally played up his habit of mispronouncing words. He explained to TopMob News that he chooses to do it on purpose, giving examples like saying “Jay Cut-uh-ler,” “chut-ta-ney,” and “yooths.” He said this stems from his work with dialect coaches to lose his New York accent.
Occasionally, someone will ask me to say a word wrong on purpose, and I always respond that I would never do that – it just doesn’t make sense to me! But I enjoy figuring out whoâs asking, and then playfully doing it anyway, which usually surprises them. Sometimes this happens during table reads, and theyâll say they just wanted to hear how it sounded.
Jake Johnson was asked to lose weight after being cast in his role. He shared on the Slate podcast *Thirst Aid Kit* that he almost cried when his manager told him Fox wanted him to lose 10-15 pounds to play Nick Miller, the sarcastic and broke bartender who eventually becomes Jessâs love interest. However, he wasnât upset about the request – just surprised.
Johnson was on his way to a Mexican restaurant with his wife, Erin Payne, to celebrate a recent booking. He was already planning their meal – chips and guacamole, a blended margarita, a quesadilla to share, and a chicken burrito for himself. He knew Erin would order tacos, and theyâd share a bit of everything. However, he ended up having a simple chicken salad with no dressing instead.
Once he became a regular on the show and maintained a reasonably fit physique, the writers started making jokes about his weight, he explained on *Thirst Aid Kid*. After Liz made a joke, and Max Greenfield followed it up, the cast and crew laughed, and he believes the network felt comfortable with him playing a slightly heavier character. He said that joke was a turning point – after that, he felt comfortable enjoying food and drinks again.
Lamorne Morris initially tried out for the role of Coach, and his audition was⊠memorable. He told Backstage he wore jeggings and a halter top to the audition – it was supposed to be a Halloween-themed scene – and even covered his legs in Vaseline, which he now admits was a mistake. While his performance wasnât the issue, he didnât get the part at first. The casting directors asked him to come back, but specifically requested he *not* wear the same outfit, as it was too distracting.
I was so excited to hear about Morris making it to the final audition for *New Girl*! He told TopMob News that right around the same time, he got offered a pilot with CBS called *The Assistants*. It was a tough decision, but he had to think practically. He explained that he could risk auditioning for *New Girl* and potentially not get the part, leaving him with nothing. CBS was also testing for their show, and if he didn’t lock in that offer, someone else would, and he’d be completely out of luck. It was a smart move, even if he really wanted to be on *New Girl*.
In the end, Damon Wayans Jr. got the part of the self-assured personal trainer, but then surprisingly learned his show, *Happy Endings*, would be renewed for another season. Meanwhile, when Lamorne Morris’s pilot wasn’t picked up, the show’s creators decided to cast him as the charmingly silly Winston Bishop.
Morris said the hardest part of the audition process was having to compete against everyone in town – literally, everyone was trying out! He ended up auditioning for *New Girl* a total of 15 times.
Winston Bishop, nicknamed “Prank Sinatra,” shares a lot of personality with the actor who plays him. As the actor explained, they both have similar backgrounds – both are from Chicago and fans of LeBron James and the Chicago Bulls. To further connect the character to his own life, Bishop was written as a former professional basketball player originally from Latvia.
He acknowledged the show drew heavily from his own experiences, but with exaggeration. “I’m definitely not as clueless as Winston sometimes is,” he explained. “After the show ended, I had to consciously remind myself who I was – Lamorne – and stop acting like the character.”
Damon Wayans Jr.’s return to *New Girl* wasn’t initially sparked by the show’s creators. According to Wayans, it was actually Jake Johnson who first approached him about potentially reprising his role as Coach for the third season. They were filming the movie *Let’s Be Cops* in 2014 when Johnson mentioned the possibility. Wayans told TopMob News that when the opportunity became real, it felt natural, like reuniting with family, especially since Johnson was the one who initiated the conversation.
Morris immediately felt a strong connection with Wayans. He explained to TopMob News that Wayans greatly influenced his character. Morris shared how Wayans would often whisper jokes to him during scenes, adding that Wayans is incredibly funny and a gifted joke writer. Morris said that whenever Wayans suggested a joke, it was always good and he would happily incorporate it into his performance.
Look, when the news about Damon potentially returning started swirling, things got a little awkward, honestly. It wasn’t an issue *with* the actors, but everyone kept asking *me* if I was planning to leave! I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. Why would *I* have to make room for someone else? There’s absolutely space for multiple talented people, and I figured the network had the resources to make it work. It seemed like a totally unnecessary question!
During one Golden Globes red carpet, the questions became so intense that Morris remembered Johnson responding defensively. Johnson pointed out, “Are you suggesting something? Damon only appeared in one episode! Weâre already 20 episodes into the show with Lamorne, so itâs pretty clear heâs part of the cast now.”
During a discussion at the 2020 Vulture Festival, Johnson defended the show’s approach to diversity. He stated, “The questions were terrible,” and added, “It’s not enough to just have one Black actor-we can feature many!”
The show also explored Nick’s friendship with Tran, his quiet neighbor. Showrunner Dave Finkel told The A.V. Club in 2013 that Johnson initially pitched the idea by texting Meriwether, suggesting, “What if I have a Vietnamese friend in a park?” Meriwether then added that the idea was that this friend wouldn’t speak English, and his family would be upset with Nick for spending time with him.
Shortly after, Ralph Ahn was chosen to play a character who appeared in seven episodes, but only said two lines of dialogue.
The cast’s ideas were consistently welcomed and appreciated. Zooey Deschanel explained in a 2012 interview with Collider that she loved the creative freedom on set. She noted that the actors were encouraged to contribute and werenât held back, which isnât always the case. She described the environment as playful, fun, and a great place to work.
She explained that sheâs often had to perform lines exactly as they were written, without any changes, which she didnât enjoy. She believes a key part of acting is being able to shape a characterâs delivery and rhythm. When possible, she likes to collaborate and find a balance between the written script and her own creative input. Usually, they start with the original lines and then add some improvisation or alternative phrasing.
Morris mentioned that a key strength of the show was how Liz Meriwether and the writing team – including Brett Baer and Dave Finkel – skillfully combined their off-screen personalities and behind-the-scenes moments with the characters they created.
The drinking game ‘True American,’ featured on the show, is famously chaotic. While a website now details its rules – first appearing in season one, episode 20 – those rules weren’t created by the show’s writers; they evolved organically among the characters.
Johnson recounted that when they were reading the script, it came to a point where the characters were supposed to play a drinking game. Lamorne Morris then jokingly asked what the rules of ‘True American’ were. According to Johnson, the writers admitted they hadnât really figured it out. The gameâs logic didnât make much sense anyway. Essentially, the rules involved getting drunk, shouting out the names of U.S. presidents, and throwing beer around. That was the extent of it.
The cast had just as much fun off-camera as they did while filming. Morris shared that they took tons of hilarious and memorable behind-the-scenes photos that fans would really enjoy, and they’re considering putting together a photo book in the future.
Despite working incredibly long days – sometimes up to 14 hours – it often didnât *feel* like work. He explained to TopMob News that guest directors would sometimes get annoyed because the cast and crew were always having fun, joking around, and being silly. That energy came across on camera, and sometimes theyâd still be playfully interacting as their characters when filming began, which meant the editor had the challenge of separating the actor from the role.
Despite appearances by big names like Jessica Biel, Adam Brody, Megan Fox, and even Prince, the show’s cast and creators had a long list of other celebrities they wished they could have included.
The producers initially considered Zooey Deschanel’s real sister, Emily Deschanel, known for her role on *Bones*, but scheduling conflicts made it difficult. As executive producer Baer explained to TopMob News, they frequently passed Emily’s soundstage while heading to their own, and she was always busy. Both Zooey and the producers expressed a desire to work with Emily, but ultimately they cast Linda Cardellini as Jess’s sister. Baer stated they were looking for someone beautiful, talented, and funny, and they believe Cardellini was a perfect fit, calling her performance fantastic.
The cast also suggested some fun guest stars. Greenfield wished Ray Romano could play his father, saying, “He’s my hero, the best there is.” Johnson proposed NFL legend Peyton Manning as his boss at the bar, and Morris jokingly asked for both BeyoncĂ© and Rihanna to appear together.
Prince recognized their talent and personally contacted Zooey and Hannah Simone to propose a collaboration, as Baer shared with TopMob News in 2014.
The show’s creator decided against an episode titled “Virgins,” feeling it was too explicit in retrospect, according to Vulture. He suggested a different idea instead, and the timing, right after the Super Bowl, felt ideal, said Baer.
He was excited about his crew coming to his party, but he had one request: he wanted to influence the main romantic storyline. As Baer put it, he really wanted to see those two characters get together!
He had many specific requests for the production, as Meriwether explained to Vulture. Beyond the main aspects of the film, he wanted control over details like the silent chefâs name and clothing, the artwork and bedding, and even the hairstyles. He even had a unique piece of art-a poem shaped like an egg-shipped from Minnesota to be displayed on set, along with specific requests for the pancakes.
During the night shoot, he came to Meriwether with a new idea. He wondered if it would be funnier if, instead of using a flashlight to surprise Jess while she was in a dark closet, he lit a lighter under his chin. Meriwether remembered trying to remain calm, and then agreeing: “Yes, that’s funnier. Let’s do it.” She later reflected that getting to bring Princeâs creative vision to life was always a huge honor.
Taylor Swift is also a fan of *New Girl*! Creator Elizabeth Meriwether told *Entertainment Weekly* that Swift even recited lines from the show during her guest appearance in the season two finale. She played Elaine, the character who interrupted Ceceâs arranged wedding. Meriwether said Swift ânailed itâ and that the show always aims for guest stars to genuinely feel like part of the *New Girl* world, rather than just making a quick cameo.
Johnson confessed he was almost annoyed by how talented Swift was. She was incredibly kind and professional, even though the set was challenging with around 70 extras – a relatively small crowd for someone who regularly performs for much larger audiences. She flawlessly delivered both her original lines and several alternate jokes and lines that Liz offered. “It was just frustrating how good she was!” Johnson exclaimed.
It took a long time for Nick and Jess, and Cece and Schmidt, to find lasting happiness as couples, and there’s a specific reason for that. According to creator Elizabeth Baer, the characters needed to mature and become fully realized adults before they could build healthy relationships. She explained to TopMob News that each person had to grow and evolve into their best selves for a relationship to even have a chance.
A satisfying show needs ongoing conflict, so things wouldn’t be perfect for the couple even after getting together. Baer explained, “Just because they’re in a relationship doesn’t mean their issues disappear. Relationships always bring up big questions about the person you’re with, the same questions you had when you first met them.”
Similar to how Nick and Jess ultimately found their way to each other, Zooey Deschanel and Damon Wayans Jr. had to fight to get a final season of *New Girl*. Damon Wayans Jr. explained on the *Thirst Aid Kit* podcast that Fox told them they didn’t want to cancel the show, but ratings were low.
He explained that he and Deschanel actually emailed the leaders at Fox and 20th Century TV, requesting more episodes for the dedicated fans who had stuck with the show. He felt season six ended too abruptly and wanted Liz Meriwether, the show’s creator, to have enough time to finish the story properly. The solution was to jump ahead to the year 2020 and give each character a satisfying conclusion.
Looking back on the show, there are definitely things I’d change, but creating a highlight reel for our wrap party gave me a new perspective. It was the first time I could actually sit back and enjoy the old episodes. When you’re in the thick of it, you’re exhausted and hyper-aware of every little mistake or joke that didn’t make the cut. But revisiting it later, I realized, ‘Hey, this was actually pretty good!’ I’d completely forgotten how much work went into making it all happen.
Even now, the actors from the show are very close, like a family. Morris explained that they stay in touch through group chats and often get together – some even visit each otherâs families. He said that after spending so much time together, they naturally became very close.
He explained that during the seven years of filming, the cast and crew became like a second family, as they spent more time together than with their own families. He added that they all truly enjoyed each otherâs company, and that bond remained strong even after filming ended.
Okay, so listen, a reunion isn’t *impossible*! Seriously, everyone rediscovered how amazing the show is during quarantine – and honestly, it’s just so brilliantly silly! As Greenfield told TopMob News, it’s just⊠99% pure, ridiculous fun, and you can’t help but escape into it and laugh. And because of that, people *want* more! There’s definitely a buzz, and I’m holding onto hope that it could actually happen!
In 2020, Alan Tudyk told TopMob News that if Liz Meriwether could come up with a good story, he thinks it would be great to reunite the cast of *Subverted*. He added that getting everyone back together wouldnât be difficult, as they all stay in touch. He mentioned heâd been texting with Hannah Simone just two nights prior, and still texts with Zooey Deschanel. The male cast members all have a group text chat, and he believes a reunion is likely to happen eventually.
Morris is really enthusiastic about bringing back both *Dexter* and *New Girl*. He told TopMob News that he believes *Dexter* was one of the best shows ever and predicts a revival would be very successful. He’s even more optimistic about *New Girl*, suggesting a final season or even a movie could happen. He’s talked to other cast members who share his enthusiasm, though he acknowledges that a lot would need to fall into place first.
He playfully hinted that something exciting is on the way, promising a return and encouraging followers to watch their social media for clues and sneak peeks.
âWith reporting by Spencer Lubitz
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2025-09-20 10:20