In order to create a character like Jess on New Girl, played by Zooey Deschanel, you have to be kind of quirky, creative and fun-loving yourself, or at least you should be! Luckily for us, Elizabeth Meriwether is just that. I met up with Elizabeth at the Television Critics' Association event last month where she explained that she shares some similarities with Jess. She also lets us know that there is no mystery behind Schmidt's sexuality. She firmly insisted to me that he's just a metrosexual. He's not gay at all!
Liz also wrote No Strings Attached, which starred Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher; she's written plays for years and is currently developing projects for Universal and Paramount Studios, and she's only 30 years old! Liz was born in Florida but moved to Michigan as a child before graduating from Yale and relocating to L.A. where, unlike every other waiter in the city, she actually secured a very successful entertainment career in Hollyweird!
POTP: People are talking about this new wave of "women in comedy." Do you think that's a new trend?
LIZ: I hope it continues and it stops being a story. I hope it continues because there’s a lot of funny women and there are great shows on the air. I think the new shows that came out this year are great and I’m excited that it’s been a great year for women.
POTP: Can you tell me about Schmidt. People think he’s gay. Is he? Do you like him being ambiguous?
LIZ: He’s just, like, that metrosexual idea. I think he’s a lover [laughs]! He’s a lover of clothes, and things, and hair products, and also women… so he’s not gay.
POTP: Everybody loves the guys. Are we going to see more from them?
LIZ: Definitely! I think the story lines are going to keep getting deeper with the characters as we’re getting to know the guys. I love the guys on the show. I think they’re so funny!
POTP: So well casted.
LIZ: Yeah, great.
POTP: As for Jess and Nick, are we gonna see more of a romance between them?
POTP: Are there any traces of yourself in Jess at all?
LIZ: Oh, totally. I think I’m starting to realize that I’m more like Nick [laughs]. I sort of like to hide behind sweatshirts. Jess was a hundred percent from my own experiences.
POTP: Did you have, like, three guy roommates?
LIZ: I have a lot of guy friends. Some of my best friends are guys, and just like writing about them and them helping me through weird dating situations and stuff like that. I also have broken out in song a lot!
