Max Greenfield and Jake Johnson took the stage at the Ryan Center on Monday to talk about their careers, their experiences on New Girl and life beyond the screen.
The dynamic duo, known for portraying Winston Schmidt and Nick Miller on the hit TV show “New Girl ,” delighted fans with their witty banter and undeniable chemistry that resonated both on and off screen.
The Ryan Center was filled with enthusiastic fans, many of whom grew up watching New Girl and were excited to hear first hand stories from two of the show’s most iconic stars.
“I thought the show was really good,” second-year marketing student Emma Pieklo said. “I’ve watched New Girl a bunch of times and it’s a comfort show for me. I thought it was super funny.”
The night began with the duo discussing their journey into acting. Max Greenfield, who played the hyper-organized and eccentric Schmidt, revealed how he originally auditioned for several roles before landing the part that would define much of his career.
“I went back to about 100 auditions for this one show and when I didn’t get the role, I thought my career was over,” Greenfield said. “But then the next year I booked ‘New Girl’ and it changed my life forever.”
Of course, no discussion about these two actors would be complete without diving into their time on ‘ New Girl .’ Fans were treated to hilarious stories from their days on set, with Greenfield and Johnson openly discussing how much of the show’s iconic moments were influenced by their off-screen friendship.
Both Johnson and Greenfield admitted that many of their reactions on-screen were genuine and often found themselves laughing at each other’s antics.
“I think the writers observed what idiots we were, and just wrote to that,” Greenfield said. “We improvised so much that they put a lot of it in the show.”
This led to a discussion about creative freedom on set, which both stars shared that they were lucky enough to have. Johnson revealed that one of the most beloved plot points of the show, Nick’s silent friend Tran, was his idea that he shared with one of the writers. Both stars agreed that they had the opportunity to improvise and have fun while working with some of their closest friends.
When the moderator asked about guest stars on the show, Greenfield and Johnson lit up and were eager to share their experiences with the many respected celebrities that joined them on set. Greenfield and Johnson couldn’t help but let it slip that Prince was one of their favorite guests on the show.
“It was amazing to find out that he watched the show on his tour bus and he’s Prince, so he wanted to be on the show and he was on the show,” Johnson said.
When asked about their lives after ”Ne w Girl ,” Greenfield and Johnson shared insights into their latest projects and ambitions. Greenfield, who has since taken on more roles in TV and film, spoke about his love for continuing to create art with amazing and talented people. Johnson, known for his work in both comedies and dramas, discussed his foray into bigger things in the industry. He shared that he has written and directed his own movie recently which led to a personal and hilarious story between the two friends.
“I asked what his movie was about, and he said it was about a chili eating contest,” Greenfield said. “The movie was not about a chili eating contest. I wrote three songs for his movie just to find out he lied to me,” Greenfield said.
Despite their individual successes, both actors acknowledged the special place “New Girl” holds in their hearts. They emphasized the lasting friendships they’ve made with their co-stars and how the show continues to influence their lives.
“What’s funny now is that my daughter will be grossed out and tell me I’m trending on TikTok,” Greenfield said.
To close out the evening, the duo participated in a fan Q&A, where audience members got the chance to ask personal questions. A question that was on most fans’ minds was eventually asked, “How do you play True American?”: A notorious game the cast plays in “New Girl,” which resembles a chaotic spin on playing “The Floor is Lava” filled with a slew of patriotic terms.
“There’s no rules to the game,” Johnson said, “We improvised most of it, it’s impossible to play.”
Finally, after the actors shared what they loved about each other, they left a piece of advice for the students at URI.
“And to all of you guys here at this incredible University who are sharing this experience together, cherish this and be together because these are the people you are going to remember the most.” Greenfield said.
For those who had the chance to see them live, it was an evening full of laughs and unforgettable moments that certainly captured the magic of “New Girl” and the talents of Max Greenfield and Jake Johnson.