In of single-camera comedy shows of the 2010s, and the 21st century in general, few are as successful as makes a lot of mistakes and undergoes a lot of growth throughout the seven seasons of the show, Schmidt is, to many fans, the best protagonist the show has to offer.
While Jessica Day was positioned as the main character, there is a lot of evidence that points to her not being the show's true main character and that it is, in fact, Schmidt. Whether it be for stuff he does better than Jess as a central character, or simply who he is translating to audiences better, Schmidt does so much throughout New Girl to make fans see him as being the heart of the show.
The Douchebag Jar
The 'DoucheBag Jar' is a staple of New Girl, introduced in the show's opening moments when Coach, Nick, and Schmidt meet Jess. From that moment, it plays a great role in the show.
Always there providing hilarious moments, the jar is also a factor in Schmidt's growth. It is perhaps the most iconic prop in the show, and with Schmidt getting increasingly more likable from a personality standpoint and less 'douchey' as he grows, the jar is a big part of his character as well as the loft and the show itself.
Homeowner & Financier Of The Loft
One thing that is not spoken about often enough in New Girl is how Schmidt is responsible for just about everything to do with the loft. While his maturity leaves a lot to be desired in other ways, he has more responsibilities than any other character in the early seasons.
Not only does he cook, clean, and maintain the loft, he is also the main financier of it and pays for its contents. He then becomes the first character, with Cece, to buy their own home, a new setting for their new life, which really exemplifies his main character status.
Arguably The Funniest Character
Of the six main friends, there are three camps in which the majority of fans will fall into when discussing the funniest New Girl character; Nick, Winston, or Schmidt.
Schmidt and Nick are a lot less one-dimensional than Winston can be at times, and both together and separately provide some of the show's funniest moments. Schmidt, though, with his pronunciation of words, pretentiousness, and attitude towards the world (pretty much his character in general), is always hilarious.
We Always Root For Him
Schmidt does not always do the right thing. While he is not a bad person, he does make bad decisions on numerous occasions. This plays into him being the main character, though, because fans always root for him no matter what he does, good or bad.
Even when he cheats on Cece and Elizabeth with each other when he fails to break up with one of them, audiences cannot help but feel sorry for Schmidt and root for not only his happiness but his growth in the long term.
His Past & Insecurities
Fans get stories and flashbacks related to Winston, Cece, Coach, and Jess' lives, as well as odd bits of information from their parents, etc. But the characters whose past gets explored the most is Nick, and even more so Schmidt.
Fans find out big life events of all the main character's upbringings, but not issues and insecurities like Schmidt. How his former weight affects him (as much as this isn't always dealt with in the best way), his unpopularity, his reliance on Michael Keaton all add to his backstory and character, and how they are threaded throughout his adult life put him at the forefront of the show in of development.
His Close Bonds With The Rest Of The Group
Like in most arguments for Schmidt being the main character, the only person who even challenges Schmidt in regards to having the best relationships within the group is Nick, and it is a close call.
Schmidt has a unique and close relationship with every one of the central six characters, something that can only be said about Nick and him. His bromance with Nick is iconic, his relationship with Cece likewise. He also has a solid repertoire with Winston, with the whole who is the real Winston debacle, and Schmidt getting easily frustrated with Winston's eccentric ways being standout aspects of the pair's dynamic. Schmidt also manages to forge a close connection to Jess throughout the show, he was the main er of her moving into the loft after all, and he is in love with her best friend. As for Coach, as Schmidt relays in the pilot, Schmidt is the house that Coach built.
Far More Of An Interesting Character Than Jess
While New Girl becomes an ensemble piece after the first couple of seasons, focusing on the group as a whole, Jess was still always positioned as the main character, even to the show's detriment, forcing her into stories she had no right to be in.
The unfortunate fact of the matter is, Jess was not that interesting, at least not compared to the likes of Schmidt, Nick, Winston, or even Cece. Schmidt has more of an arc, a higher quality of arc, more complex character layers, and is a far funnier, more memorable protagonist than the all rainbows and sunshine Jessica Day.
So Many Iconic Quotes & Scenes
New Girl has a plethora of phenomenal scenes that get fans excited for every time they rewatch, and while each of the six main characters gets their fair share of moments, only Nick is on the level of Schmidt in of iconic moments.
Schmidt not only has the 'DoucheBag Jar' and all the accompanying moments, but there are the moments with Cece, the nonsensical shouting about white men, driving moccasins, and mixing spices, and a slew of others, creating a catalog of evidence that Schmidt is the main character of the piece.
His Growth
Schmidt's growth truly is a sight to behold, and a major factor in any argument that says Schmidt is the show's main protagonist. The difference between season one Schmidt and season seven Schmidt is far bigger than any other characters.
At his core, Schmidt is still the same obsessive, loud, slightly pretentious individual. But, he has matured incredibly. He has dropped a lot of his former ideals on business and becoming famous and a socialite, and has managed to find happiness and contentment as husband to Cece and father to Ruth.
His Relationship With Cece
Speaking of Cece and Schmidt, while it would be easy to assume Nick and Jess are the central romance of New Girl, there is no doubting Cece and Schmidt is the relationship more fans are invested in and have fonder memories of.
With Jess lacking the character development and interesting nature of the other characters, which both Schmidt and Cece have in abundance, Nick and Jess, while lovable, do not have the intensity, nor do they induce the same level of care as Cece and Schmidt. Their wedding is iconic, the proposal is emotional, their journey is one of the show's best arcs, and fans are rooting for them non-stop—a true main character romance.