He didn't bet on the wrong horse. Happy Endings was filmed and not aired until late spring through summer of 2011. It was considered pretty much dead in the water so Wayans filmed the New Girl pilot in the spring of 2011 well after Happy Endings had finished its original production run.

When ABC unexpectedly renewed Happy Endings, Wayans became contractually obligated to stay with the show as performance talent often signs mutli-year contracts for a sitcom. It wasn't his choice to stay on Happy Endings; there was no choice.

Since Happy Endings had priority, New Girl added Lamorne Morris as Winston to the regular cast for episode two, the first episode filmed after the show was ordered to series.

Judging quality on television by whether or not a show in cancelled is a foolhardy effort. Happy Endings season one was somewhat funny; by season two that show really hit its stride and became one of the best things on TV. It's a shame it only made it three seasons.

I'd say Wayans made out ok. He was a regular for three seasons on Happy Endings before immediately being added back to New Girl once he was available. New Girl benefitted too as I've found Winston to be the absolute funniest character over the last two seasons.

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Posted by LeonPhelps

Member since May 2008

8185 posts

Posted on 6/2/15 at 10:07 am to SCTmo

quote:
Judging quality on television by whether or not a show in cancelled is a foolhardy effort.

Occasionally an good show will get cancelled after 1 or 2 seasons, but most cancellations are well earned. The ones that get cancelled too early develop cult followings that clamor for the show to come back or a movie. I can think of only a handful of shows following into that category, such as Firefly.

I did not know all of that other stuff about Wayans and Happy Endings. Sucks for him, but I think New Girl was far better off without the loud angry black man routine he brought to the pilot.

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Posted by GrammarKnotsi