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New Girl character guide

Who is Winston Bishop in New Girl?

Nick's childhood friend and the loft's prank-loving wild card, Winston comes home from pro basketball in Latvia, drifts between jobs, and finds his calling as an LAPD cop.

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Show
New Girl
Debut
2011
Network
FOX
Role
Main
Gender
Male

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Show
New Girl
Played by
Lamorne Morris
First episode
“Kryptonite”Season 1, Episode 2, aired September 27, 2011
Role
Main cast
Network
FOX
Occupation
Ex-basketball player turned LAPD officer
Show run
2011 to 2018
Also known as
Winnie the Bish, Winston L'Andre Bishop

Winston Bishop moves back into the loft in New Girl's second episode, fresh off a basketball career overseas and with no idea what to do next. Played by Lamorne Morris, he grows into the show's most delightfully unpredictable character, a man of elaborate pranks, puzzles, and deep love for his cat.

On New Girl, Winston Bishop's story runs through Nick Miller (Childhood Friend), Schmidt (Roommate), Jess Day (Roommate), Cece Parekh (Friend), and Coach (Fellow Roommate).

Winston Bishop from New Girl: Sitcomdle character card

Who is Winston Bishop?

Winston grew up in Chicago with Nick and was one of the loft's original roommates. He returns in "Kryptonite" after playing professional basketball in Latvia, taking the room left open when Coach moves out, and immediately tries to talk Schmidt out of the bigger bedroom.

Back in the States, Winston struggles to figure out his life. He works odd jobs, lands a gig assisting a short-tempered sports radio host, and eventually gets his own late-night radio show before realizing that other people have been making his career choices for him.

Personality and comedy

In the first season the writers were still figuring Winston out, and they came to see Lamorne Morris as a natural voice of reason who, when he finally loses it, gets stranger than anyone. That is the Winston fans love: a man who devotes himself to jigsaw puzzles, wears shirts covered in birds and other animals despite being color blind, and plans pranks that are always either far too small or far too big.

His devotion to his cat, Furguson, who originally belonged to his girlfriend Daisy, is one of the show's sweetest running jokes, and Winston treats the cat as a full member of the loft.

Key storylines

Winston's big turn comes in season three, when he decides to become a police officer. He passes the entrance exam, survives the academy, and in season four graduates and is partnered with Aly Nelson, a tough and kind-hearted fellow officer. The two start dating in season five, and he proposes to her in season six.

Along the way, in season five, Winston briefly dates Rhonda, a soldier who loves pranks as much as he does, and marries her as a prank. The final season jumps ahead three years: he and Aly are married and expecting, and their son is born on the same day Nick and Jess get married. A flash-forward in the finale shows Winston and Aly with five children.

Behind the scenes

Lamorne Morris joined the show in its second episode. Damon Wayans Jr. had played the third roommate, Coach, in the pilot, but he left when his other series, Happy Endings, was renewed, and Morris, who had also read for Coach but was unavailable for the pilot, stepped in as Winston.

Morris stayed for all seven seasons. Years later he co-hosted the New Girl rewatch podcast Welcome to Our Show with Zooey Deschanel and Hannah Simone.

Key Winston Bishop episodes

  1. “Kryptonite”Season 1, Episode 2Winston returns to the loft from playing basketball in Latvia and angles for Schmidt's bedroom.
  2. “Normal”Season 1, Episode 20Winston lands his dream job working for his favorite sports radio host, who turns out to be a jerk.
  3. “Big News”Season 3, Episode 21The gang celebrates Winston passing his police academy entrance exam.
  4. “Shark”Season 4, Episode 12Winston graduates from the academy and is partnered with Aly.
  5. “Operation: Bobcat”Season 6, Episode 16With help from Jess, Winston proposes to Aly on Valentine's Day.
  6. “The Curse of the Pirate Bride”Season 7, Episode 7Aly goes into labor and gives birth to Winston's son on the day of Nick and Jess's wedding.

Season and episode numbers follow the original broadcast order.

Winston Bishop: frequently asked questions

Who plays Winston on New Girl?

Lamorne Morris plays Winston Bishop. He joined in the second episode, "Kryptonite," and stayed through the 2018 series finale.

Why isn't Winston in the New Girl pilot?

The pilot's third roommate was Coach, played by Damon Wayans Jr. When Wayans left after the pilot, Winston was introduced in episode two as an old roommate returning to the loft.

What is Winston's job on New Girl?

Winston played pro basketball in Latvia, then worked in sports radio, eventually hosting his own late-night show. In season four he graduates from the police academy and becomes an LAPD officer.

Who does Winston marry?

Winston marries Aly Nelson, his partner on the police force. They start dating in season five, get engaged in season six, have their first child in season seven, and a finale flash-forward shows them with five kids.

What happened to Furguson the cat?

Furguson dies during the three-year time jump before season seven, and in "Where the Road Goes" the gang gathers for a one-year memorial in his honor.

Test yourself: Winston Bishop quiz

5 questions about Winston Bishop. Think of your answer, then open the reveal to check it.

  1. Question 1

    Which city did Nick and Winston grow up in together?

    1. Chicago
    2. Portland
    3. Detroit
    4. Milwaukee
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Chicago

    Nick and Winston are childhood friends from Chicago, and the gang later travels there for the funeral of Nick's father, Walt.

    See question 6 in the full quiz

  2. Question 2

    What turns out to be Schmidt's long-secret first name?

    1. Nicholas
    2. Maxwell
    3. Julius
    4. Winston
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. Winston

    "San Diego" finally reveals that Schmidt's first name is Winston. He had long ago agreed to go by his last name so nobody would mix him up with Winston Bishop.

    See question 7 in the full quiz

  3. Question 3

    What career does Winston start pursuing in season three?

    1. Firefighter
    2. Paramedic
    3. Police officer
    4. Personal trainer
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Police officer

    Winston enrolls in the police academy and joins the LAPD, where he is partnered with Aly Nelson, his future wife.

    See question 10 in the full quiz

  4. Question 4

    What is the name of Winston's beloved cat?

    1. Mr. Whiskers
    2. Brutus
    3. Furguson
    4. Captain Paws
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Furguson

    Furguson originally belonged to Winston's girlfriend Daisy, and Winston treats the cat as a full member of the loft.

    See question 13 in the full quiz

  5. Question 5

    Damon Wayans Jr. left after the pilot because which other sitcom of his was renewed?

    1. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
    2. Happy Endings
    3. The Mindy Project
    4. Suburgatory
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Happy Endings

    Wayans expected his ABC show Happy Endings to be canceled, but it got a second season, so Lamorne Morris joined as Winston. Coach returned once Happy Endings ended.

    See question 16 in the full quiz

Take the full New Girl quiz (20 questions)

Sources and corrections

Reference pages used for this guide, including character, cast, and episode details.

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