She’s probably most recognizable as the irresistible heartbreaker in the ever-so-popular flick (500) Days of Summer, or maybe as one-half of the loveable indie-folk duo She & Him. But now, the wonderfully eccentric Zooey Deschanel has stepped into new territory and has landed the starring role on Fox’s new television sitcom, New Girl.
It’s not too often that celebrities with a high-profile career in the film and music industry take a prominent dip in the television industry; it’s usually quite the opposite. Take Selena Gomez, for example. Her rise to fame was significantly due to her role on the Disney television hit Wizards of Waverly Place. Since the series ended, however, she’s left her Disney days behind and has been focusing on her music career under the moniker Selena Gomez & The Scene, as well as her film career (let’s be honest, Monte Carlo was rather enjoyable). Or how about Johnny Depp? Today, he’s widely recognized as a blockbuster movie star and heartthrob. But even Johnny Depp got his start in the late 80’s with the television industry, when he landed the lead role on 21 Jump Street.
It seems most celebrities would think better than to return to television once they’ve struck jackpot and made it onto the big screen. This isn’t the case for Zooey Deschanel. Considering the level of international success Deschanel has garnered through (500) Days of Summer and She & Him, it’s no surprise that she’s able to attract a sizeable fan base towards her new project, New Girl.
New Girl, as the title suggests, follows the life of an overtly bubbly woman (Jess, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel) in her late 20’s, who after breaking up with her longtime boyfriend moves in with three men she met through Craigslist. Sounds a bit bizarre, I know, but that’s precisely what makes New Girl so absurdly fantastic. In most cases, a character like Deschanel’s would’ve been written as a wacky sidekick who comically aids a much more glamorous lead star. The writers and producers of the show decided against this, nonetheless, and cleverly wrote up the character of Jess in a manner that only Deschanel is unique enough to portray. For those who are already fans of Zooey Deschanel, New Girl is undoubtedly a godsend – Jess is goofy, painfully awkward, charismatic, “adorkably” charming, and she frequently bursts into song. Oh, and then there’s the awkward dancing. Lots of awkward dancing.
Though Deschanel is in the show’s main spotlight, I have to give mention to the character of Schmidt, portrayed by Max Greenfield. Of the three guys who play Jess’ roommates, none of them is as ridiculously captivating as Schmidt, the douchey bro and stereotypical ladies’ man with a heart of gold. Watch out for this dude; Jess may have some memorable awkward moments or one-liners throughout the show, but Schmidt is just as profound in that department as well. Because, well, Schmidt happens.
While New Girl has only recently joined the Fox lineup this fall (with 9 episodes to date), this new sitcom is well on its way to becoming a television classic.
Catch New Girl Tuesday nights on Fox at 9/8c.
