In the first season, Zooey Deschanel (Jess) and Jake Johnson (Nick) were directed to have as little physical contact as possible. This is because their chemistry was thought to be too distracting.
Damon Wayans Jr. was originally a cast member playing the character of Coach. Wayans was expecting his series, Happy Endings (2011), to be canceled. But when that series was renewed, Wayans was unable to continue with this series after the pilot. He was replaced with Lamorne Morris as Winston. After Happy Endings (2011) was canceled, Wayans was able to return to this series in the third season.
Max Greenfield almost quit acting before he auditioned for New Girl. The role of Schmidt saved his acting career because the character was much like him in real life, and it was tailored to his liking of comedy.
Peter Gallagher plays Schmidt's father on the show. In The O.C., Max Greenfield (Schmidt) played the younger version of Peter Gallagher's character, Sandy Cohen.