Jamie Lee Curtis admitted that she “hated” filming the popular Fox sitcom “New Girl,” despite acknowledging its quality as a show. Curtis, who appeared in five episodes as Zooey Deschanel's onscreen mother, Joan, described the single-camera shooting style as an environment she disliked.
"I did a single-camera [comedy], which I hated," Curtis stated at NBCUniversal’s Summer Backlot Experience in Los Angeles. "It's just like doing a movie. You know, you’ve got a camera crew, and nobody laughs. It’s silent, and it’s awful. For me, awful. Single-camera comedies, for me, not fun."
Curtis, 67, clarified that her aversion was to the production method, not the show itself. She called “New Girl” a "great show" and "very funny."
The actress has a history of seeking out sitcom work, having previously starred in the ’80s ABC sitcom “Anything But Love” opposite Richard Lewis. She called that experience her "favorite job I’ve ever had."
"Every single year, all I’ve ever said to my agents is ‘I want to do a sitcom, all I want to do is a sitcom,’" Curtis shared. "I love the whole part of it, every aspect of it, the dance with the cameras, the idea that you actually get to rehearse something and work it and learn a joke and play it."
Her desire to return to sitcoms has led to a new project. Curtis is co-creating, executive producing, and guest-starring in NBC's new series “Newlyweds.” She described her new role as "HBIC. Head bitch in charge," expressing satisfaction in taking on a leadership position.
"New Girl" aired from 2011 to 2018 and gained further popularity after becoming available on Netflix. The show also featured cast members Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, and Lamorne Morris.