MINNEAPOLIS — Prince’s guest spot on “New Girl” doesn’t rank among his most spectacular achievements. But to the cast and crew of the Fox sitcom, his appearance was a game changer.

In the book “Who’s That Girl: The Untold, Definitive History of New Girl,” author Thea Glassman dedicates a lot of ink to that 2014 post-Super Bowl episode, one that rejuvenated the show’s ratings and spirits during a bumpy third season.

The book doesn’t come out until July 28, but the Hollywood Reporter posted a generous excerpt Tuesday on its website. Among the highlights:

—Prince wanted star Zooey Deschanel to look like Stevie Nicks. Before his arrival, a box from an unnamed store in Minneapolis showed up, containing a “crushed ombre dress with ribbons and feathers” that her character would wear in a key scene. The artist also brought some of his own clothes for Deschanel to wear during a fashion montage.

—Producers were so worried that their big-time guest wouldn’t show up that they toyed with the idea of having Fred Armisen of “Saturday Night Live” on standby to sub in with his impersonation.

—The crew had to shoot Kris Jenner’s cameo separately because Prince didn’t want to do an episode with any of the Kardashians. He apparently had a deep dislike for Jenner’s daughter, Kim Kardashian.

—Prince brought his table tennis paddle to set and challenged anyone to a match, always coming out victorious. It’s telling that one of the most memorable scenes he shot featured a match with cast member Hannah Simone, who played the Deschanel character’s best friend, Cece. His crush on the actor was a significant factor in his desire to do the sitcom.

—Prince had turned down an offer to appear earlier in the show’s run as a rock star to whom Simone’s character lost her virginity. Showrunner Liz Meriwether thinks the storyline was probably too racy for Prince.

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