Why Jamie Lee Curtis “Hated” Filming New Girl

Why Jamie Lee Curtis Despised the Single-Camera Format of New Girl

During an appearance at NBCUniversal’s Summer Backlot Experience in Los Angeles on a Monday in August 2026, the 67-year-old Oscar winner opened up about why working on the beloved ensemble sitcom was deeply unpleasant for her, according to Page Six. Even though she praised the series as a whole, calling it a great show, New Girl, very funny and a good show, the actual process of shooting it left her cold.

Unlike a traditional multi-camera sitcom filmed in front of a live studio audience, New Girl relied on a single-camera setup. Curtis explained to the audience that working on the series was just like doing a movie. She elaborated on the quiet, isolated atmosphere on set:

You know, you’ve got a camera crew, and nobody laughs, Jamie Lee Curtis said

She added that the environment felt starkly empty: It’s silent, and it’s awful. For me, awful. Concluding her thoughts on the format, Curtis stated plainly, Single-camera comedies, for me, not fun, as reported by Page Six.

Looking Back at Curtis’s Five-Episode Run as Joan Day

Jess’s father, meanwhile, was played by the late Rob Reiner. The show’s main cast also featured Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, and Lamorne Morris.

Speaking to Collider at the time, Deschanel recalled, So, we talked about a bunch of people, and these were just beyond my wildest dreams, adding, They’re people that I think would be just so perfect. I can’t wait to start shooting with them.

Her Enduring Love for Traditional Multi-Camera Sitcoms

While her time on New Girl proved frustrating, Curtis had glowing words for her earlier television work, specifically the ABC sitcom Anything But Love, which ran in the 1980s and paired her with Richard Lewis. It was my favourite job I’ve ever had, Curtis declared at the NBCUniversal panel. She noted her age at 68 and shared the relentless pitch she routinely gives to her representatives: And I’m 68 years old, and 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.’

Describing the specific mechanics of the genre that she adores, Curtis explained, 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.

Taking Charge on the New NBC Series Newlyweds

After years of asking, Curtis finally convinced her agents to land her another multi-camera project. That persistence led to the new NBC series Newlyweds, on which she serves as co-creator, executive producer, and occasional guest star. Reflecting on her transition into a position of ultimate authority behind the scenes, Curtis embraced her new title with characteristic humor.

I like to refer to myself as the HBIC. Head b***h in charge, she told the crowd with a laugh. I’m 68 years old. I’ve wanted to be a boss my whole life. She added, I’ve been doing it not as a boss for a long, long time. And now I’m a boss, and I love it.