‘New Girl’ Cast Fought to Get Lamorne Morris On Board for Iconic Comedy

Zooey Deschanel, star of the hit Fox comedy series ‘New Girl’, recently reminisced about the casting process for the show and revealed that the cast had to ‘fight’ to get Lamorne Morris on board for the role of Winston Bishop.

During an appearance on the Zach Sang Show, Deschanel shared that Morris had initially auditioned for the role of Coach, but he never advanced due to taking a job on another pilot that ultimately failed. However, when the part of Winston was created, Deschanel knew they already had their man.

Deschanel recalled saying, ‘What about Lamorne? That guy is so good,’ after reading with ‘so many’ guys for the role of Winston. She added that her co-stars, Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield, also loved Morris and had all been in the audition process together originally.

However, the studio and network were initially hesitant about Morris for the role, with Deschanel revealing that they had to ‘kind of do this thing where I wrote to the heads of the studio and the network.’ She explained that everyone was writing to someone different, so the cast decided to put in their two cents and advocate for Morris, who they all believed would be perfect for the character.

Deschanel was adamant that she couldn’t see anyone else playing the part of Winston, saying, ‘I was like, I can’t see anyone else playing this part.’ Her persistence ultimately paid off, and Morris went on to become an integral part of the show, earning an Emmy award for his portrayal of Deputy Witt Farr on FX’s Fargo in 2024.

Created by Elizabeth Meriwether, ‘New Girl’ aired from 2011 to 2018 on Fox and starred Deschanel, Morris, Johnson, Greenfield, and Hannah Simone. The show was a critical and commercial success, and its impact can still be felt in the world of comedy today.

Despite the initial doubts from the studio and network, the cast of ‘New Girl’ remained committed to their vision, and it’s clear that their hard work paid off in the end. Lamorne Morris’s portrayal of Winston Bishop remains one of the most iconic and beloved characters in the show, and it’s a testament to the cast’s dedication and perseverance.

It’s a reminder that sometimes, it takes a little bit of fighting to get what you want, and in this case, the cast of ‘New Girl’ fought for the right actor to bring their vision to life.

A Timeline of the ‘New Girl’ Casting Process

• Lamorne Morris initially auditioned for the role of Coach but didn’t advance.
• Morris took a job on another pilot that ultimately failed.
• The part of Winston was created, and Deschanel knew Morris was the perfect fit.
• The cast advocated for Morris to the studio and network, writing letters to express their support.
• Morris was ultimately cast as Winston Bishop and went on to become an integral part of the show.