<P> After `` Normal '' aired , internet sources began to summarize the rules for True American , which the characters described as a mix of a drinking game and Candy Land where the floor is lava ; it also involves shouting the names of American presidents . The idea of True American came from a New Girl writer who played a similar game in college . As she could not remember the game 's exact rules , the writers focused on making the game as funny on the page as possible , but only established chanting `` JFK ! FDR ! '' and walking on chairs . As the cast did not understand the game during shooting , the writers created more rules on the spot , advised the actors to `` have fun , dig in , jump in '' and play it as if `` they 'd been playing this thing for years and years and years . '' The high - energy feel of the game and the amounts of coverage made filming True American more challenging for the actors than normal episodes . Producers Dave Finkel , Brett Baer , and writer Luvh Rakhe , came up with most of the obscure American history facts , but much was cut from the finished episode . Fox subsequently released a set of official rules for the game , which can be summarized `` There are no real rules '' . The characters also played True American in `` Cooler '' , the 15th episode of the second season , in `` Mars Landing '' , the 20th episode of the third season and in `` Wedding Eve '' the 21st episode of the fifth season . </P>
<P> After `` Normal '' aired , internet sources began to summarize the rules for True American , which the characters described as a mix of a drinking game and Candy Land where the floor is lava ; it also involves shouting the names of American presidents . The idea of True American came from a New Girl writer who played a similar game in college . As she could not remember the game 's exact rules , the writers focused on making the game as funny on the page as possible , but only established chanting `` JFK ! FDR ! '' and walking on chairs . As the cast did not understand the game during shooting , the writers created more rules on the spot , advised the actors to `` have fun , dig in , jump in '' and play it as if `` they 'd been playing this thing for years and years and years . '' The high - energy feel of the game and the amounts of coverage made filming True American more challenging for the actors than normal episodes . Producers Dave Finkel , Brett Baer , and writer Luvh Rakhe , came up with most of the obscure American history facts , but much was cut from the finished episode . Fox subsequently released a set of official rules for the game , which can be summarized `` There are no real rules '' . The characters also played True American in `` Cooler '' , the 15th episode of the second season , in `` Mars Landing '' , the 20th episode of the third season and in `` Wedding Eve '' the 21st episode of the fifth season . </P>
when do they play true american in new girl
when do they play true american in new girl
`` Normal ''
`` Normal ''