Have you been watching the new season (Season 3) of New Girl? I have. And I am full of disappointment. Many of you know that I became a Zooey Deschanel apologist and defender because I enjoyed New Girl so much the first two seasons – mostly because of Season 1, which (I think) was still the strongest season. But cracks began to show in Season 2, and this current season has been flat-out awful, right? It’s like the writers have no idea what to do with some of these characters. I don’t blame it on Jess and Nick (spoiler) finally getting together – if anything, that’s why I’m still watching. But the Winston and Schmidt storylines have been the pits, and bringing back Coach (the amazingly talented Damon Wayans Jr, who is one of the most gifted comedic actors in TV today) could have been great, but the writers still don’t know what to do with him.
All this time, I had been blaming the writers for the sucky storylines that just seem to go nowhere, but Radar says that someone else might be to blame for New Girl’s current problems. Radar’s sources claim Zooey is being a major pill on the set:
Zooey Deschanel has gone from new girl to mean girl on her sitcom set! The actress — who’s starring on and producing her third season of FOX’s New Girl — has become a nasty boss who treats her co-workers badly, the production insider reveals.
“Although the show has other bosses, including creator Liz Meriwether and producer Katherine Pope, Zooey rules the roost,” the source dishes. “And she gets moody and starts making rules on the set which is upsetting a lot of the cast and crew members.
“The show’s schedule really drives Zooey up a wall, because they’re always running behind when the full cast is on set. So now, Zooey insists on days ending with scenes that just feature her and one other actor. When that can’t happen due to the production schedule, however, she’s unhappy and all hell breaks loose,” says the source.
Her co-workers hope they’ll get a reprieve from Deschanel’s bad behavior when they get a special guest star. As has been reported, former The O.C. star Adam Brody will play Deschanel’s character Jess’ ex-boyfriend for an upcoming episode.
This doesn’t feel quite right. This doesn’t feel like an actress playing The Diva Card, it seems more like Zooey finding her footing as a producer? Because a producer is supposed to keep everyone on schedule, and a producer is supposed to be “the bad guy” and the scapegoat for whatever gripes the crew has. That is, if this story is even true. Maybe Zooey is just in such a bad mood because her once-awesome show sucks. I still think it’s a writers’ room problem, not a Zooey problem.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Zooey’s Instagram.
She’s cute but she’s a bit old to be that twee.
Time to grow up, honey!
In the top photo, she is channeling a bashful 5 year old with that pose.
Isn’t she the one who was complaining that “girly” girls weren’t taken seriously in the industry? I think she has trouble in that area because she comes across as childlike. She needs to catch up with her age and find out who she is as a young woman.
There’s nothing wrong with her image, at least for me. I think she’s cute.
Oh, I so agree. For me, her cutesy, quirky, “That’s Our Jess!” act got annoying after the third episode.
I never liked this show since season 1, I’m sorry but i don’t think it has a strong sense of humour and it seemed to me like the plot was forced and there wasn’t a great chemistry between the actors apart from a few exceptions.
I completely agree with Paola. New Girl never (not even in it’s first season) was funny. It was just better than some of the other crap on TV. The chemistry of the characters was never compelling, the casting was weird from the get go. Yes, I understand the ensemble comedy formula of shows like Friends but Zooey is no Phoebe. Her twee, cute/dumb, awkward act has grown as old as she.
I want to be clear:
I’m absolutely for a TV show with unconventional casting! There are way too many shows with mostly white actors who are only diverse in their hair color. The trouble is that I don’t care about any of the characters on New Girl. The model? Really, there’s a reason why models do just that. If they were so interesting they would have done something else with their lives. The obsessive compulsive former fat kid (neo Monica from Friends)…nothing new there. Nick? Ordinary guy with mafioso dad: not funny.
I’m glad they’ve added the Wayans jr. He is funny (but come on people) no where near the talent of his father or family.
I wish the writers would work harder on the dialogue and push their actors out of their comfort zones because clearly everyone could do better. Sadly when most shows, films fail it’s because of the writing, directing & casting. Third season slump? No, this show never caught momentum. I hope Zooey moves on because anyone could have predicted New Girl wasn’t going to stay “new” very long.
Ita,I saw a couple of episodes of the first season and I don’t get why people love this show so much..it’s not even funny!
How original. Another day, another story about a woman being an alleged “diva” at work. It’s like media outlets only go for the narrative that they think will sell (not you, Kaiser!).
This isn’t the first time Zooey has been accused of being a diva though.
I’ve heard rumors about it, too. Though I’m not sure if it’s because people expect her to be more like her New Girl character or if she’s actually being diva-esque. IRL she seems to be less cutsey and more of the responsible, on-the-ball type.
Yeah, how dare a producer set a production schedule!? This woman bossing everyone around, not being cheerful all the time – what a harpy. Urgh. I don’t care how you feel about New Girl or Zooey D, this is a load of nonsense.
Yeah, the other rumors I’ve read about her “diva” behavior have related to her not wanting an open set, which also seem completely reasonable to me. She’s allowed to be “bossy.” She’s the boss.
I just got done reading this on Radar. I watched her show during the first season, then checked out. I have mixed feelings on this. She’s tiresome with her whole little girl act, she’s a grown women. Dress like one. Then, I don’t think it’s fair to slam her for taking control of the show. She is the producer, that’s what happens.
So it’s a wash for me.
Oh, please, how about you “grow up” and let other people be? What has her being “twee” got to do with your life? Is she in some way hurting you? Your family or friends? No. Relax and concentrate on your own life.
It sucks that New Girl has gone downhill so fast…it was one of the shows that I enjoyed, but it has since fallen by the wayside.
– 1
– 2
– 3
Um, if we all relaxed and got on with our lives, this wouldn’t be much of a gossip site, now would it?
+100,000,000,000,000,000.
Hmm… SB1982
That’s quite a name. You must be new here. It’s a gossip blog site. This is what happens here along with serious discussions. If it’s not for you you’re the minority here.
And the best defense is below the sites name.. Escapism.
If we all lived by that rule in life, no one would ever be able to have a negative or critical opinion about *anyone*. Which is absolutely ridiculous, & as Florc stated, is the exact opposite of what a ‘gossip site’, & even the freaking ‘entertainment industry’ is about. Sounds like you belong somewhere else, where everyone is forced to keep their opinions to themselves & bow to the sort of nonsense you’re spewing.
Always wearing a wig.
Thanks for saying that! I was wondering about her hair…
Really? Huh. And here I thought she had fabulous hair that was all real. Lol :).
Wait, you mean she is unhappy and frustrated about a persistent and costly scheduling problem, and is attempting to find a solution, as she apparently has the authority to do? The harpy witch!
Ding ding ding!
the nerve right?
mark Harmon did the same thing on ncis and I don’t think anyone called him a diva…
This. It sounds like she’s being a professional. I like my co-workers just fine, it doesn’t mean I want to be at work any longer than I need to be. I mean REALLY – we’re still at this place? Where when a man is a boss, he’s just doing his job. When a woman is a boss – she’s making diva demands and making everyone miserable. C’mon.
+100 What’s unreasonable about rearranging the scene schedule so everyone can go home on time. Not only that, she is scheduling herself (her scenes) last for the day. So she is taking some responsibility for wrapping things up on time. All that said, I loved the first season, felt lukewarm about the second season, and i usually paint my toenails during the current/third season, waiting for Mindy to come on. I too, suspect there are some big problems with the writing.
It might be a fun comedy on tv that makes us laugh, but to all the people that work on the show, it’s their JOB. You show up, you get your Schmidt done, and then you go home to your family. When someone’s screwing around, you call them out on it, because again, THIS IS YOUR JOB and you have a life you want to live when you’re off the clock. It’s not part of her job to act like her tv character when she’s in the role of producer. She doesn’t have to be NICE or anyone’s BFF. She’s getting paid to put a scenes on film and get them to the network in time to put together promos and air the episodes. The network deadlines don’t change because everyone had a particularly silly day on set, so as a producer, she has to make up for being behind. If it were Max Greenfield or Jake Johnson doing this instead of Zooey, we’d be praising them for being a badass.
This crap was old years ago, and I say kudos for a lady boss takin’ care of business.
That being said, I’ve never watched the show because I think it sucked pond water from the beginning.
Exactly. It sounds like she’s just doing her job. It probably came from someone who maybe was goofing around or didn’t do their job right and she said something, as a producer should, and it gets turned into her being a diva.
As for the show, I still enjoy it. It may not be quite as funny as the end of season 1, but I still like it. Agree the writers don’t know what to do with some of the characters though.
How irresponsible and inconsiderate of her to make sure everyone is doing their JOB so they can have a successful show and CONTINUE to have jobs.
Totally agree Frida K. As it happens, this poem (written on My Little Pony stationery and sealed with glitter-glue) appeared in my letterbox, just now, slipped there via a very retro carrier pigeon:
I was twee at age three
And very cute at twenty-two
And if I pose with knock-knees
I might go back in time, too!
from Zooey
I love this!
Isn’t it possible that the rest of the cast and crew don’t like her because she’s always been a bit too self-important, long before she ever had any responsibility on the show? Is the picture at the top a candid or cast photo?
This is only instance I can think of where a show really shocked me by being slightly exceptional in the first season, and now during the third, I wish it would make a quiet exit. In every other case, I’ve felt like 3 seasons is not enough and still pine over what could have been! The writing for Winston has always been so bad that I’ve wondered why there wasn’t outrage about it – it’s just embarrassing for the actor. And the fact that they can take Damon Wayans Jr. and make him a one-note/fairly-boring/unoriginal character says everything!! I seriously watch a dvd episode of Happy Endings after I get around to New Girl just to remind myself that he used to have a great part on a great show.
This year’s shows have all been lacking in characters. It was especially evident in having them all go hiking (behind a set on the Fox lot?) for Thanksgiving versus having some great guest stars and interwoven plots. Sometimes I even forget to watch this and only watch The Mindy Project…
I love Damon Wayans Jr. on Happy Endings. Loved his wife on that show. They were so weirdly funny together. And as odd as that show was… it was always entertaining.
Eliza Coupe!! How freaking great were they as Brad and Jane!?
I’m pretty sure I’m in love with Jake Johnson.
I haven’t seen this season yet, but since I’m heartbroken over Happy Endings being cancelled, I’m going to watch it even if it’s horrible just to get my Damon Wayan’s Jr fix. That man is near perfection.
Happy Endings was a great show. I actually lol-ed at times. So many comedies, but so little comedy, if you know what I mean.
Nick Miller is the best part of that show-love the character and Johnson plays him PERFECTLY. Deschanel has her funny moments, but more often annoys me than makes me laugh.
I have a huge girl crush on Hannah Simone.
Me too! I remember watching Much Live, and thinking she was just soooo cool then. I was still in High School when she was on haha. It took me a few episodes to put two and two together.
Zooey’s character can be so annoying, but usually when she is genuinely funny it kind of makes you forget. It’s one of the few light shows that Der and I will watch together – usually it’s just homeland, and Dexter, and things of that nature.
Yeah it seems Zooey has difficulty being both the main actor and producer, and difficulty being perceived as the producer as well as just an actor by the crew.
These stories are just bigger versions of the whispers surrounding her since the middle of season 1. Everyone wrote it off then because the show was a hit. I tend to believe this.
This behavior was fine when the show was a hit, but now that it’s tanking fingers will be pointed.
And on a personal note.. Tuesday nights was New Girl night. I loved the show and laughed until it hurt and then laughed some more. Season 2 had its highs and lows, but when Season 3 came around it was a show that would have been cancelled in the first 2 episodes.
I just want Coach back on the show permanently. Love him! Winston can go. Sorry, but I never warmed up to him! 🙁
I started re-watching the series, and Winston has grown on me way more the second time around. I think the other character’s stories overshadow him unless you’re specifically paying attention to him. He has some amazing lines, but not as frequent as the others.
Yes this! I had recently done the same and there were times I was laughing hysterically at his story lines. Maybe it was because everything was wrapped up in Just Jess and a sort of will they or so they with Nick. Rewatching has given me a whole new appreciation for Winston!
Directions for making a Radar (and sites of the like) story:
– Take one pinch of truth and blend with 3 parts of speculation.
– Then mix in 5 cups of BS.
– Include 1 to 2 “sources”
– Serve warm
Cooking notes:
– As an added option, sprinkle fan-fiction all over the dish.
– If you have a picture that can me misconstrued, include as your main ingredient.
I prefer Mindy.
Me, too. It’s much funnier to me, and I love her clothes.
Yup, Mindy > New Girl.
I only watch it for the Schmidt. That actor is gold, every single thing he says is hilarious. My husband and I sit on the couch reading on our iPads, paying no attention to the show until Schmidt is in a scene. Then we watch for as long as he is on, then go back to reading. He always makes us laugh out loud. So my vote is for the Schmidt Show!!
Schmidt’s always been my favorite too, but I feel like they’re ruining him this season 🙁
Schmidt is so freaking funny. I love how anal he is when he cooks and one of my favorite episodes is when he’s complaining the whole time about too many ladies staying over and making the bathroom perpetually moist. Then they realize they’ve all been sharing the same towel forever lol
The show was surprisingly good both season 1 and 2, but I agree that it has taken a drastic fall in quality this season, and I also agree that it is a writer problem. All these characters, with so much potential, are just rattling around doing nothing – and not being funny at all.
Deschanel probably feels like she’s piloting a sinking ship and is snapping in response to it’s downward dive.
This story is bullshit, but I still don’t like her.
I hope it isn’t bullshit – her being a bitch may actually convince me that her vapid personality is only on TV and she has some depth and strength. Her incessant whine is beyond annoying. I watch it for the guys – and now specifically for DW Jr. I LOVED Happy Endings and it being off the air makes me sad. Also agreeing with those that say they prefer Mindy. Love her. Oh and PS: her singing voice makes me want to claw out my ear canals.
Coach will be back? Cool
It badly needs a major shake up in its plot lines. And yes Schmidt is the best part of the show.
So this story is clearly bullshit, because why on earth would the cast be hoping Adam Brody is going to solve all their problems.
I like Nick & Jess together, but I think it’s thrown off the balance. They try to make sure all four main cast members have somewhat equal screen time, but now Nick and Jess now have most of their scenes together, so the other guy have to have these little side plots that don’t involve Nick & Jess. I’m torn about Winston though. His storylines are idiotic, but the actor is hilarious and I find myself really enjoying the weirdness. Coach is another matter, a completely pointless character.
I used to like her, but now I think she’s full of herself. I saw her in concert over the summer, and it was oozing out of her. She was snippy and bitchy. I honestly can’t even stand seeing her smug mug anymore and turn the channel immediately. Just like I’m going to now leave this post immediately, so I don’t have to look at her anymore.
Excuse you, Winston is the best character on this show.
+1 Love me some Winston!
+ 2
I hope they do get it together bc it’s true, the show sucks this season.
I have no idea why they didn’t let Schmidt and CeCe get together instead of Z and Nick. I don’t seem them as a couple. He’s really unattractive.
And adding the Coach – flat, very flat. They haven’t even been able to define his character – is he a mentor? another broken man/child in the house?
Poor Damon Wayans, Jr. He’s too good for this show–at least, what I’ve seen of it (couldn’t take very much). I’ve seriously considered petitioning Netflix to pick up Happy Endings like they did Arrested Development. #firstworldproblems
Anyway, I think I like Zoey more as a producer than I do an actor, IF this story is true. It sounds to me like she’s trying to make sure she works late every day so everybody else doesn’t have to (right?).
I would cry tears of joy if it got picked up. Loved that show.
I really thought that Netflix would take a run for Happy Endings. That show was so silly and perfect with Netflix’s sensibility.
This season blows. It’s ridiculous for the sake of being ridiculous. The stuff they do doesn’t make any sense. And I do blame some of the mess on the fact that Nick and jess got together. It’s just boring. Plus jess is super annoying. The Mindy project on the other hand is fun writing. Over the top, but believable. Love Mindy.
That top pic says it all. She can’t dress like that anymore.. there comes a time! Somewhere after 30! Women’s bodies change then, whether there is a pregnancy or whatever, they’re just not the same. She is having a hard time coping with losing her ingenue and really, it was only around in ELF!
To me being over 30 and twee is not the problem. Her style, to me at least, is vintage, not childke. Some of the stuff I see her in reminds me of Queen Eliz.
The problem is herr attitude. N plays dumb and that’s never cute. Also her calves are fat so she should lay off the short skirts.
I totally agree with you. Season 1 was phenomenal. Many times I found myself laughing so hard, all alone in my room, while my roommates where like “what the hell is going on in there?”. I just loved the main character’s awkwardness and quirky humor, and the interactions between all cast was great. Plus, there was several other story-lines, like Winston looking for a job, being treated awfully by his boss and making his way into a new romance, Schmidt’s obsession with Cee Cee, Jess’s list of unlikely boyfriends.. it was fun, quick-paced and with lot of insight on every character. In my opinion, it all started to go downhill with Season 2, even if it still had some great moments. Now it’s total crap. Boring, repetitive, no factual events. It feels like they have been dragging the show, awaiting for something major to be happening. How could they ruin it so badly? Seriously, they need to shift the focus from Jess and Nick (they are not doing anything with their relationship anyway) and start coming up with some good ideas, otherwise they’ll keep losing viewers.
Most episodes do suck. Stopped watching when nick and jess got together. The writing and plots kinda suck. Wish it was better bc I do like the cast, I just can’t sit and watch a whole boring episode.
Nope, nope, nope….refusing to believe this.
I’ve never liked her tbh
Perfect. Rename it The Schmidt Show and it’ll really work.
The best scenes are his riffs and the outlandish arguments between the guys.
Nick as a Reality Bites Ethan Hawke character is ludicrous. Guy is homely and charisma-free.
I feel like she’s the type of actress where, if she’s anything other than nice and bubbly, people call her a bitch, but if she is nice and bubbly, they caller affected, twee, and too old to be . Lose Lose.
* too old to be (insert quick here). Lose Lose.
I love New Girl but this season hasn’t been great. And bringing back Damon Wayans just make me depressed that “Happy Endings”(the funniest show that noone watched) was cancelled all over again!
I believe this. I’ve personally worked with Zooey on a show before and I’ve got to say that she was one of the worst actresses that I had to work with. She would ignore you when you spoke to her and never make eye contact. She was such a self entitled bitch the entire show. The director was trying to get Zooey to act in her scene and she was supposed to cry and be mortified that her family was being murdered right in front of her eyes. She just stared wide eyed and couldn’t act worth shit. Even the crew made fun of her horrible “acting skills.” Although, on a previous movie I worked with her, people only had good things to say about her, but then again, it was a bigger budget movie.
I’ve always love her style, I have no problems being 30+ and twee.
That said, I have a friend who worked with her and was really disapointed when she told me she was a whiney pain in the ass.
This season is beyond TERRIBLE. What is this “humor”? Also, Schmidt has always been the one able to pull through an otherwise bad episode and this season they give him no room to play. Bad call. And Nick. I don’t get it. He’s not cute, he’s a loser.
It could just be that ZD is an inexperienced manager, and this situation is the result. As a manager or lead on a project, you can do the following things:
1. Start nice and stay nice.
2. Start as a b!tch and stay a b!tch.
3. Start out as a b!tch but then get nice.
Any of these strategies are possible as a manager; you can pursue any of them to create a productive working environment (#2 will earn you people’s respect but not their friendship, but whatever – you’ll still get things done).
The one thing you absolutely, positively cannot do is to start out nice and then turn into a b!tch. People will never forgive you for it, and it sounds like that is what happened here on the set.
This is actually really good advice for me in my professional life right now!
OH NO, you mean as the boss she’s pushing her own scenes with the fewest amount of actors involved to the end of the day so more people can go home on time?!?! What horribly inconsiderate person.
So let me get this straight: the show is running behind schedule (which is expensive) and she gets mad over that? That bitch. I would hate being sent home on time after a 12 hour day too!
I call bs on this. From what I can gather from interviews and comments from her co-stars, she has a very strong work ethic.
no way! she’s such a sweet heart!
I stopped watching this show. My sister and I miss Happy Endings. As usual if something is good, it gets axed here because it’s on late
I want to like her, I really do, and I have never been able to!! I find her cutesy, hipster act to be so annoying! She is beautiful though and has an amazing voice. *sigh* I’ll just continue in my quest to not be annoyed by every. single. thing. she does.
1. Sounds like she’s the boss & can call some of the scheduling shots. Deal with it ppl.
2. Sounds like the yearling actors that should thank the ACTING GODS for an opportunity to be on a show & STFU. There’s 5,000 Vanderpump Rules type wanna-be actors in every restaurant in LA ready to replace them.
🙂
I have to say that I believe this about her based on the way she acted when she did a concert here. She cussed out fans for taking pictures, refused to continue the concert until everyone stopped taking pictures and took a camera away from a fan (and when the girl started to cry, she told her it wouldn’t have happened if she had listened…she never gave the camera back)