'New Girl' casting almost changed Winston forever

Zooey Deschanel has revealed that one of the most beloved casting decisions in New Girl almost turned out very differently. Speaking during an appearance on the Zach Sang Show, the actress shared that she and several of her co stars actively pushed studio executives to cast Lamorne Morris as Winston Bishop after they became convinced he was the perfect choice for the role.

Looking back on the long running comedy, Deschanel said it is now impossible to imagine the series without Morris. However, securing his place in the cast required far more effort than viewers ever realised.

New Girl premiered on Fox in 2011 and eventually ran for seven seasons. Deschanel explained that several key roles came together quickly during the casting process. Max Greenfield was cast as Schmidt, while Jake Johnson landed the role of Nick Miller without lengthy delays. Damon Wayans Jr also joined the pilot as Coach after already making a name for himself on Happy Endings.

The situation changed when Happy Endings received a renewal, requiring Wayans to return to that series after filming the New Girl pilot. His departure created the opportunity for Winston Bishop to become a permanent member of the loft, leading producers to search for the right actor.

According to Deschanel, Morris had originally auditioned for Coach but never reached the final testing stage because he accepted another television pilot that ultimately was not picked up. When Winston entered the story, Morris returned to consideration, although executives continued exploring numerous other actors for the part.

Deschanel recalled reading scenes with nearly every finalist before repeatedly returning to Morris as her preferred choice. She remembered telling producers that he stood out because of his talent and natural chemistry with the cast. Johnson and Greenfield, who had already seen Morris during the earlier auditions, shared the same opinion.

Rather than quietly hoping executives would agree, the cast decided to take action. Deschanel revealed that she personally wrote to studio and network executives supporting Morris. Other cast members also contacted different decision makers to express their confidence that he would be the strongest addition to the ensemble.

She explained that everyone delivered essentially the same message, saying they believed Morris was the best possible fit for Winston and would become an important part of the show's success.

Their campaign ultimately worked. Morris joined the sitcom and transformed Winston into one of its most memorable and unpredictable characters, earning praise throughout the series for his comedic timing and distinctive personality.

During the interview, Deschanel also reflected on other casting memories, including her immediate admiration for Hannah Simone's audition as Cece. She said Simone's understated and intelligent interpretation immediately convinced her that she embodied the character perfectly.