Erin Foster, the creator of Nobody Wants This, used to think love was funniest when it went wrong.
She often found humor in her failed relationships and dating mishaps. “I was always a very cynical writer because I was a very cynical person,” she shares. But meeting her husband changed everything. Now, Foster’s comedy includes happiness and fulfillment too. Her semi-autobiographical show revolves around a Los Angeles podcaster finding true love. “This show really represents how I view love now, which is so different than how I viewed it before,” she says. “Being in a really beautiful, healthy, fun relationship, it made me soften some of my cynicism.”
Nobody Wants This follows Joanne (Kristen Bell), an outspoken woman, and Noah (Adam Brody), an unconventional rabbi. They meet at a friend’s dinner party and feel an instant connection. However, their different views on life, modern-day relationship hurdles, and their meddling families pose challenges. Her sister Morgan (Justine Lupe) and his brother Sasha (Timothy Simons) add to the mix.
Foster mentions, “This show is based on the only good decision I ever made: falling for a nice Jewish boy.” She realized that being happy can be harder than being miserable, so she created this show to depict the struggles of finding the right person.
Fans might find this relatable.
Casting someone to play her was tough. “You have to have an honest view of yourself. You can’t have yourself on this pedestal,” Foster says. Kristen Bell, however, fit the role perfectly. Foster admires how Bell kept true to herself while portraying Joanne’s flaws. “She held onto so much of herself and then also created this character who I really liked, but was comfortable showing the flaws,” says Foster.
For Noah, Adam Brody, known for his role in The O.C., was chosen. He portrays a cool rabbi in this series. “I think when you have that teen heartthrob career when you’re young, you then become an adult who wants to be taken seriously,” Foster says. Brody’s role as Noah proves you can find both excitement and stability in a partner. “You don’t have to be with the bad boy that makes you feel like shit but really revs your engine, or the good guy who’s really boring,” she states.
Joanne and Noah’s relationship also reflects Foster’s real-life experience with Judaism. “The show is not making any political statements because I’m not the person to make that statement,” she explains. She chose Judaism as an adult and wanted to share that perspective.
Foster took years to figure out her life before she was ready for a relationship, saying, “It takes a few decades as an adult to learn who you are and be smart enough to pick the right person.”
She’s proud of how the series shows the complexities of changing identities and perceptions as we grow. “It’s so easy to become cynical. It’s so easy to become really desperate for it to work out. And I had to make a conscious decision to be happy. I did consciously have to be like, OK, I am not going to look at what everyone else is doing and wish I had that. I’m not going to envy those relationships. I’m going to be really happy with where I’m at in my life. How can I make my life as great as it could possibly be? ’Cause that’s all we can do.”
Want more details on Nobody Wants This? Watch the trailer above and keep reading for premiere info and cast details.
When does Nobody Wants This premiere?
All 10 episodes of Nobody Wants This Season 1 will be available on September 26.
What is Nobody Wants This about?
The show focuses on Joanne, an outspoken woman, and Noah, a unique rabbi. It’s about their surprising relationship journey.
Who is in the cast of Nobody Wants This?
Kristen Bell and Adam Brody lead as Joanne and Noah. They’re joined by Justine Lupe and Timothy Simons as Morgan and Sasha. Morgan is Joanne’s quick-witted sister, while Sasha is Noah’s eccentric older brother.
The rest of the recurring cast includes:
- Jackie Tohn as Esther: Sasha’s wife and Noah’s sister-in-law
- Michael Hitchcock as Henry: Joanne and Morgan’s newly out-of-the-closet father
- Paul Ben-Victor as Ilan: Noah’s father and moral guide
- Sherry Cola as Ashley: Joanne’s best friend who is proudly lesbian
- Shiloh Bearman as Miriam: Sasha and Esther’s earnest teen daughter
- Stephanie Faracy as Lynn: Joanne and Morgan’s New Age mother
- Tovah Feldshuh as Bina: Noah’s aloof mother who values family
- Emily Arlook as Rebecca: Noah’s “perfect” girlfriend
Who made Nobody Wants This?
Foster created the series, produced by 20th Television and Steven Levitan Productions for Netflix.
Stay tuned to Tudum for more updates on Nobody Wants This.