Zooey Deschanel Says 'New Girl' Cast Fought for Lamorne Morris

Zooey Deschanel says she and her fellow castmates had to fight to get Lamorne Morris cast on the Fox comedy New Girl, according to Deadline. The actor, who played Jessica “Jess” Day, revealed the behind-the-scenes campaign in a recent interview.

Deschanel recalled that Morris had initially auditioned for the role of Coach, which was ultimately played by Damon Wayans Jr. When the part of Winston Bishop was later created, she and co-stars Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield knew they wanted Morris. “What about Lamorne? That guy is so good,” Deschanel remembers saying after reading with many other actors for the role.

How did the cast advocate for Lamorne Morris?

Despite their enthusiasm, Deschanel said there was hesitation from some decision-makers. “He was the one that ‘everybody was like, oh, I don’t know,’” she recalled. In response, the cast launched a coordinated letter-writing campaign. Deschanel wrote to the heads of the studio and the network, while her co-stars each wrote to different executives, all advocating for Morris.

Where can you watch New Girl now?

Created by Elizabeth Meriwether, New Girl aired on Fox from 2011 to 2018. The series, which also starred Hannah Simone, is currently streaming on Hulu and Peacock Premium in the United States. Lamorne Morris, who became a core part of the ensemble, won an Emmy in 2024 for his role on FX’s Fargo.