It’s been over a decade since New Girl graced our screens, and somehow, it’s only gotten better with time. For many of us, it’s become the go-to comfort show – a serotonin hit on loop while we pretend to be productive. But as I binged through it for the 547th time this week, I realized there’s a goldmine of sitcom potential we’re all missing out on: a prequel series about Nick, Schmidt, and Winston’s college years. And I’ve got the perfect title:

“NEW GUY”

Before you scoff and ask why we need another nostalgia-fueled sitcom revival, let me explain. Because this idea? This is sitcom brilliance waiting to happen.

1. Nick and Schmidt’s Wild College Dynamic Deserves Its Own Show

Nick Miller and Schmidt’s friendship is the emotional backbone of New Girl. It’s weird, it’s messy, and it’s built on pillars of love, resentment, anger, and whatever dark magic keeps these two polar opposites so damn loyal to each other.

Now imagine an entire show exploring the chaos of their origin story. Nick, an aspiring lawyer at Syracuse University, spends most nights tossing and turning over the existential dread of his future. Cue Schmidt – the obnoxious, overweight roommate who bulldozes into Nick’s life and refuses to leave. Watching these two bond through passive-aggressive banter and weirdly sweet moments? That’s pure comedy gold.

2. Winston Bishop Needs His Time to Shine

You can’t tell the Nick and Schmidt story without Winston Bishop. So, of course, Winston’s got to be part of the gang from the start. Winston, juggling his pro basketball dreams while desperately trying to maintain his “best friend” status with Nick, even as Schmidt forces his way into their circle, could be comedy brilliance.

Plus, it’s Winston. The man wore a badger for a hat and made us love him for it. If there’s one character who deserves more screen time, it’s Winny the Bish.

3. The Age Gap Just Makes It Funnier

We all loved those college flashbacks where the actors were clearly too old for their characters. And now that Jake Johnson (Nick) is 43, Max Greenfield (Schmidt) is 42, and Lamorne Morris (Winston) is 38, the idea of them playing their 20-year-old selves would be even more absurd and hilarious. Greenfield back in the fatsuit, reliving Schmidt’s awkward, desperate-to-be-cool phase? That’s Emmy-worthy comedy right there.

4. Cece Cameos and the Origin Story of Outside Dave

You know Cece would pop up – even if it’s just to roast Schmidt’s relentless awkwardness. They could constantly run into each other or be just across the street from one another for all these years before thew two tie the knot in the main series. Wouldn’t that be a twist? But here’s another twist I would love to explore: imagine Outside Dave as a once-respected Syracuse professor who loses his job thanks to some disastrous Nick Miller shenanigans, spiraling him into the absurd, wild-eyed weirdo we all know and love. And the best part? Neither Dave nor Nick would ever come to realize that Nick was solely responsible for turning esteemed Syracuse Professor Dave into sad, insane, homeless Outside Dave. It’s the kind of random, irreverent subplot that New Girl thrived on.

5. The Cast Still Loves Each Other, So Why Not?

The chemistry between the cast is what made New Girl work. And judging by their constant playful teasing on social media and collaborations on other projects, they clearly still love working together. So why not let them have one more go at it? Give us the awkward, chaotic, and oddly sweet origins of one of TV’s best friend groups.

6. Other Sitcoms Get Spin-Offs, Why Not This One?

Fuller House. How I Met Your Father. Girl Meets World. We live in a world where every beloved sitcom eventually gets resurrected, even if it’s just to be canceled after two seasons. So why not give New Girl the same shot?

Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned from Nick, Schmidt, and Winston, it’s that sometimes, the best friendships come from the most chaotic, dysfunctional beginnings. And dammit, we deserve to see every ridiculous, heartfelt moment of it.

So, Netflix, Hulu, whoever – let’s make New Guy happen. And if you do cancel it after two seasons, just know we’ll all be yelling “You gave How I Met Your Father another shot but not this?!” from our couches for eternity. Now, who the heck do I have to email at one of these streaming services to get this show off the ground so it can be abruptly canceled after two seasons?