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'New Girl': Who Should Play Jess' Sister?

Caroline Langella |
September 18, 2013 | 6:08 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

"New Girl" creator Liz Meriwether and executive producer Brett Baer have both confirmed that in this season of the comedy, fans will get to meet another member of Jess's quirky family. Apparently Jess has a crazy sister that none of us knew about! And we better get ready for her because Liz Meriwether says that she will "wreak havoc on everyone's lives"! We are all hoping that Zooey Deschanel's real-life sister Emily will finally get to make a "New Girl" appearance, but her work on "Bones" is time consuming so it is unlikely. If Emily Deschanel can't be the "crazy" sister, who should it be? Here are some of my suggestions:

Katy Perry 

(wikimedia commons)
(wikimedia commons)

Not only does this pop singer have an uncanny resemblance to Zooey, she also shares Jess's element of crazy as well! We all know Jess as the quirky teacher who loves to sing and always sees the good in people. Could you imagine what it would be like if she had a bubbly sister that loved to sing too? Katy Perry is perfect for this role because even in real life, she wears odd outfits and sings to her heart's desire. But, unlike Jess, who seems to have a sensitive side, Perry seems to have a level of intensity that would make her less lovable and maybe a little frightening to the other characters. Perry could play the sister that Jess sees as her best friend, but to everyone else is absolutely insane. While casting a major pop star like Katy Perry may seem unlikely, its not out of the question. Even Taylor Swift managed to make an appearance in the Season 2 finale, so the possibilities are endless!

Michelle Trachtenberg 

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

If we really want to see this crazy sister wreak havoc, Michelle Trachtenberg is the right girl for the job. Looking back on "Gossip Girl," which ended last year, Trachtenberg played the infamous Georgina Sparks, that girl that everyone loved to hate. Georgina somehow managed to pop out of nowhere each season, only to manipulate the young socialites of the Upper East Side and add that extra dose of drama to the show that kept viewers addicted. Even creator Josh Schwartz described Trachtenberg's character as "basically the evil bitch from hell!" I could easily see Trachtenberg channel her inner Georgina to stir up some trouble between the "New Girl" characters, not to mention that watching her interact with Jess and the roommates would be downright terrifying but also hilarious at the same time.

Mae Whitman 

(imdb.com)
(imdb.com)

While I have a feeling that an older sister or one of closer age will be cast, what if Jess had a little sister that came to visit? Mae Whitman would be a good choice for this role because not only can she play the typical troubled teen but she has a also has a comedic side to her that sometimes goes unnoticed. Her appearances in NBC's "Parenthood" and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" demonstrate that she has perfected the role of a complicated young adult, but her tweets and real-life interviews show that she has a sense of humor. Also, her guest role in Weeds as a weird girlfriend tells us that she could definitely play crazy on "New Girl." Assuming that she would continue to appear on Parenthood, I would love to see Whitman play a lighter character for a change. Her portrayal of Jess's wacky little sister would be fun to see.

Krysten Ritter 

(imdb.com)
(imdb.com)

Since "Don't Trust the B– in Apartment 23" was sadly cancelled, Krysten Ritter is now free to play Jess's sis! In many of her roles, Ritter plays a comical and outspoken character that I usually see as extremely annoying but in the end I am forced to like. The crazy that Ritter brings to her roles would be an excellent match for Jess's new sister. Not only could Ritter have the type of character that is just a little wilder and more unpredictable than Jess, she also has a similar appearance to Zooey that would make the whole sister thing more believable. I think that she is without a doubt a great pick.

Melanie Lynskey 

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

You probably last saw Melanie Lynskey as strange, stalker neighbor Rose on "Two and a Half Men" or as troubled, pedophile Aunt Helen in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". Regardless of where you saw her, it is obvious that Lynskey is good at playing someone who is a little crazy. If she played Jess's sister, I could see her being that weird family member that everyone fails to mention on a daily basis. This would make perfect sense because until now, no one even knew that Jess had a sister! I also think that Lynskey actually looks like she could be older than Jess, so if a mental older sister is what the show needs, then she fits the description exactly.

Be sure to watch the Season 3 Premiere of "New Girl" on Tuesday, September 17 at 9 PM on FOX!

Reach Staff Reporter Caroline Langella here. Follow her on Twitter here.



 

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