If you've been keeping up with Fox's New Girl, you may have noticed that Max Greenfield's Schmidt has made fewer contributions to the "douchebag jar" in recent episodes.
The highly quotable character from the freshman comedy revealed a softer side since secretly pairing up with Jess' (Zooey Deschanel) best friend Cece (Hannah Simone). That development marks a serious departure from the Schmidt of the pilot, something Greenfield seems pleased to see happen so early in the series.
"They could have very easily just had me run around, bounce off walls and scream 'parkour' every other episode," Greenfield tells The Hollywood Reporter. "And believe me, I would have been happy doing that. But they took it in a really nice direction, and I think Hannah and I have created a sweet romance."
Tuesday's episode, the aptly titled "Secrets," decides the course of that romance when the rest of the group discover Schmidt and Cece have been enjoying each other's company for months. The storyline brought a screen-time boost for Simone, who's steadily integrated herself into the series' tight roommate fold after what seemed like only cameos earlier in the season.
"She only becomes a bigger part of it," says Greenfield. "She's so good and a really great actress and I could not have asked for a better partner going through the final couple episodes of our show."
Schmidt does have other affections simmering on the burner. His awkward infatuation with Nick (Jake Johnson) has been a running gag for much of the season, which Greenfield attributes to the innate humor in Johnson being uncomfortable.
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