Jamie Lee Curtis says she "hated" filming 'New Girl' due to single-camera format
Los Angeles, August 12
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis has shared her candid thoughts about her experience filming the popular sitcom 'New Girl', saying she "hated" working on the show because of its single-camera format and lack of a live studio audience, according to E! News.
Curtis, 68, appeared as the mother of Zooey Deschanel's character on 'New Girl' in six episodes between 2012 and 2018. Speaking at NBC Universal's Summer Backlot Experience on August 10, Curtis said she enjoyed the show itself but did not like the experience of filming a single-camera comedy.
"I did a single-camera show, which I hated," Curtis said, according to video captured by Entertainment Weekly. "It's a good show, but doing it is just like doing a movie. You've got a camera crew, and nobody laughs. It's silent and it's awful. For me, awful," according to E! News.
Curtis clarified that her criticism was not directed at the cast or the quality of the comedy, which also starred Deschanel, Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris, Jake Johnson and Hannah Simone.
"Single-camera comedies, for me, not fun," she said.
Curtis said she has much fonder memories of working on the multi-camera sitcom 'Anything But Love', which she has previously described as her "favorite job ever."
"It was fantastic," she said during Variety's Actors on Actors interview with Mariska Hargitay in June. "I'd never been in front of a live audience."
Curtis is now set to guest star in NBC's upcoming multi-camera sitcom 'Newlyweds', where she will also serve as a writer and executive producer.
Speaking about her role behind the scenes and the creative control she has gained after decades in the industry, Curtis said she is enjoying being in a position of authority.
"I'm 68 years old. I've wanted to be a boss my whole life. I've been waiting my whole life, literally, to be able to manifest ideas and bring what I love about what I do into the workplace I go to," she added, according to E! News.
Curtis further said that she had spent much of her career working without being in charge and now enjoys having greater autonomy.
"I've been doing it not as a boss for a long, long time, and now I'm a boss, and I love it," she said, according to E! News.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, I get her point. Filming without any feedback from an audience, just silence after every take, must be so draining. How do you even know if the jokes are landing? As someone who appreciates both formats, I think the live audience adds that 'desi adda' vibe to comedies. Good on her for being honest! 👏
Respect her honesty, but I have to disagree with the 'hated' part. 'New Girl' was hilarious and the single-camera format helped build that quirky, cinematic feel. Shows like 'The Office' and 'Modern Family' are single-camera and they're masterpieces. But I also love our Indian serials with live audiences - both have their own charm!
Her comment about finally being "the boss" after so many years really resonates. In Bollywood and Indian television, there's a lot of creative suppression, especially for women. Glad she's finally getting her due recognition and control. Also, missing the 'New Girl' days - Zooey and the gang were pure gold! ✨
As someone who edits videos, I think single-camera is technically superior - you get better close-ups, better lighting control, and more flexibility in editing. But I get it, the vibe isn't the same. Watching old episodes of 'FRIENDS' or 'Seinfeld' with that live audience laughter was infectious. She's right about that energy, but the world has moved on.
I actually watched 'Anything But Love' back in the day! It was
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