Key Takeaways
- Zooey Deschanel insists that Lamorne Morris is irreplaceable as Winston Bishop on New Girl.
- Morris originally auditioned for the role of Coach before the Winston character was created.
- Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, and the rest of the cast actively advocated for Morris, writing to studio and network executives to secure his casting.
- The collective effort highlighted the strong chemistry and camaraderie among the original cast members.
- Morris later earned an Emmy Award in 2024 for his performance as Deputy Witt Farr on FX’s Fargo, underscoring the lasting impact of his talent recognized during New Girl.
When Zooey Deschanel appeared on the Zach Sang Show, she reflected on the casting process that shaped one of television’s most beloved ensembles. She emphasized that it is virtually impossible to imagine New Girl without Lamorne Morris in the role of Winston Bishop, a character whose presence became integral to the show’s dynamic. Deschanel recalled that Morris had initially come in to audition for the part of Coach, a role that eventually went to Damon Wayans Jr. After the writers decided to introduce Winston—a former basketball player and childhood friend of Nick Miller—Deschanel felt an immediate conviction that Morris was the perfect fit.
Deschanel described the moment she first saw Morris’s potential: after reading with “so many” actors for the Winston role, she turned to her co‑stars Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield and said, “What about Lamorne? That guy is so good.” Both Johnson and Greenfield shared her enthusiasm, having already encountered Morris during the earlier audition rounds for Coach. Their unanimous approval created a strong internal consensus that Morris possessed the comedic timing, warmth, and authenticity needed for Winston.
Despite this enthusiasm, the path to securing Morris was not entirely smooth. Deschanel noted that there was a period when the studio and network were uncertain about casting him, expressing hesitation with remarks like, “Oh, I don’t know.” In response, the cast mobilized a coordinated effort to champion Morris’s candidacy. Deschanel explained that she personally reached out to the heads of the studio and the network, while Johnson, Greenfield, and others each wrote to different contacts. The message was uniform: a heartfelt endorsement that Morris was “the best, best, best” for Winston and would be a tremendous addition to the show. Deschanel summed up her feelings by saying she could not envision anyone else inhabiting the character.
The behind‑the‑scenes advocacy paid off. Morris was ultimately cast as Winston Bishop, and his portrayal became a cornerstone of New Girl’s eight‑season run on Fox, which aired from 2011 to 2018. Created by Elizabeth Meriwether, the sitcom also starred Deschanel as Jess Day, Jake Johnson as Nick Miller, Max Greenfield as Schmidt, and Hannah Simone as Cece. The ensemble’s chemistry, bolstered by Morris’s earnest and often hilarious take on Winston, helped the series earn a devoted fan base and critical acclaim.
Morris’s success did not end with New Girl. In 2024, he received an Emmy Award for his performance as Deputy Witt Farr in the FX anthology series Fargo. This accolade highlighted the versatility and depth he first demonstrated while navigating the comedic landscape of New Girl. Deschanel’s reflections on the Zach Sang Show serve as a testament to the impact that a united cast can have on shaping a show’s destiny, and they underscore how Morris’s initial audition—though not for the role he ultimately played—set the stage for a career-defining opportunity that continues to resonate in television today.