Fan Forum - View Single Post - New Girl News Thread #1 ~ We can't wait for our show to air! Premieres TUE 9/20 at 9/8c.

ElectricHearts · 08-05-2011, 12:09 PM

tcas today! so lots of news to come

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........."We were really happy with the pilot," says executive producer Brett Baer, explaining how it won't be re-shot. "We thought the chemistry that was there was what we wanted to show. [With Morris], we just wanted to bring in a new character that would bring in a new energy to show."

Wayans' "Coach" is being written out in a nondramatic way, befitting, as creator Liz Meriwether insists, of the late-20s fluidity to the characters' lifestyles.

"We wanted it to feel as real as possible," says Meriwether of Winston's episode 2 introduction. "[Coach] was subletting from Winston. Winston was in Latvia, playing Latvian basketball."

Producers also dodged the racial Catch 22 of replacing one African American character and actor with another, admitting that Morris had been originally considered for a role on the series until he had another commitment.

But back to that Zooey. The actress says that while the role of Jess may appear indiscernible from her own public image, it wasn't made for her.

"I'd like to think it was written for me, but I don't think it was," she says, laughing. "I obviously need to play this part, it's me -- or a part of me. A secret part... If there's any character I want to play forever and ever and ever, it's this one."

Deschanel's sister Emily has been playing a character for the television-equivalent of forever (seven seasons) on another FOX series. So when one of the less-swoony critics brought up the "Bones" actress, he asked Zooey if her sister had given her pointers on how to deal with "the idiocy" of the network.

"She gave me hints on how to deal with the delightfulness of FOX," Deschanel responded over a roll of laughter and gasps.

Adorable and diplomatic.

'New Girl' Zooey Deschanel melts grumpy critics, Damon Wayans Jr. stays in the pilot - From Inside the Box - Zap2it

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The indie darling was, well, adorable, in her responses, including blushing in dismissing the adorable label. "I don't think I've ever read a role as good for myself," she said of her part on the show. The producers talked about the casting change, with Lamorne Morris replacing co-star Damon Wayns Jr. who had to pull out after the pilot due to his commitment to ABC's Happy Endings. Instead of making this a straight recasting, the producers decided to keep the pilot as is with Wayans Jr. as one of Jess' roommates and then have his character move out and introduce Morris in Episode 2 as a new roommate. "We were really happy with the pilot, the chemistry was where we wanted it," executive producer Brett Baer said. "So we wanted to bring in a new character that would really bring a new energy to the show." Added Jake Kasdan, director of the pilot and executive producer of the series, "We thought the overall dynamic was very rich and were looking to preserve that but tailoring to a different actor."

Responding to question why a Black actor, Wayans Jr., was replaced with another Black actor, Morris, executive producer Dave Finkel said, "(The decision) had nothing to do with race." The producers said that they read about 200-300 actors of different races for the role, and Morris was an early standout during the casting of the pilot but became unavailable after he booked another comedy pilot, CBS' The Assistants. Then after the upfronts, Wayans, who had been cast in second position to his bubble ABC series Happy Endings, had to drop out when Happy Endings was renewed, and Morris became available after CBS passed on The Assistants.

Creator/executive producer Liz Meriwether admitted that "it was a challenge to start the show" with a major casting change. But the producers found a silver lining. "We wanted to make the show feel as real as possible, and when you are in your 20s, you move around all the time." The dynamic of the show will not change much because the 3 guys still know each other, Kasdan said. Added Meriwether, "all characters are in that moment of their lives where they are starting over."

http://www.deadline.com/2011/08/tca-...-keep-it-real/