New Girl season 5

The fifth season of the American television sitcom New Girl premiered on January 5, 2016, on Fox in its new timeslot of 8:00pm (Eastern). The show briefly aired back-to-back on April 19 before airing the final six episodes, beginning April 26, at 8:00 and 9:00 pm respectively.

Developed by Elizabeth Meriwether under the working title Chicks & Dicks, the series revolves around offbeat teacher Jess (Zooey Deschanel) after her moving into an LA loft with three men, Nick (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield), and Winston (Lamorne Morris); Jess's best friend Cece (Hannah Simone) also appears regularly. The show combines comedy and drama elements as the characters, who are in their early thirties, deal with maturing relationships and career choices.

Production
On March 31, 2015, New Girl was renewed for a fifth season. The show remained in production after wrapping season four in order to get a jump on season 5 ahead of Deschanel's maternity leave. Deschanel was absent in 6 episodes of the fifth season. The onscreen reason for her absence was that her character was sequestered for jury duty.

John Cho was the first guest announced after New Girl was renewed for season 5. Fred Armisen, Stephen Rannazzisi and Ally Maki all signed up to guest star this season.

Megan Fox was cast in the role of Reagan and temporarily filled in for Zooey Deschanel after she pre-taped her episodes last spring before taking a maternity leave. This season did not premiere in the autumn of 2015, but instead in January 2016, with what Fox states to be "its first-ever season of virtually uninterrupted originals." Damon Wayans, Jr. made his return for a two episode arc this season.

Main cast

 * Zooey Deschanel as Jessica "Jess" Day
 * Jake Johnson as Nick Miller
 * Max Greenfield as Schmidt
 * Lamorne Morris as Winston Bishop
 * Hannah Simone as Cece

Special guest cast

 * Megan Fox as Reagan
 * Damon Wayans Jr. as Coach

Recurring cast

 * Curtis Armstrong as Principal Foster
 * Steve Agee as Outside Dave
 * Meaghan Rath as May
 * Peter Gallagher as Gavin
 * David Walton as Sam
 * Nasim Pedrad as Aly Nelson
 * Nelson Franklin as Robby
 * Fred Melamed as J. Cronkite Valley-Forge
 * Rebecca Reid as Nadia

Guest cast

 * John Cho as Daniel Grant
 * Anna George as Priyanka
 * Rob Riggle as Big Schmidt
 * Taran Killam as Fred
 * Julie Hagerty as Nancy
 * Henry Winkler as Flip
 * Sam Richardson as Dunston
 * Fred Armisen as Brandon
 * Stephen Rannazzisi as Todd Ploons
 * Ally Maki as Kumiko
 * Busy Philipps as Connie
 * Sonequa Martin-Green as Rhonda
 * apl.de.ap as himself
 * Kiersey Clemons as KC
 * Bill Burr as Bob
 * Lennon Parham as Carol
 * Ian Roberts as Billy
 * Clea DuVall as Camilla
 * Demetri Martin as Juror 237B/Gary
 * Elizabeth Berkley Lauren as Becky Cavatappi
 * Lucy Punch as Genevieve
 * Gillian Vigman as Kim
 * Kal Penn as Tripp
 * Nora Dunn as Lou
 * Kim Wayans as Susan
 * Caitlin FitzGerald as Diane