If there’s one thing better than a comedy series, it’s one with an original storyline and two A-list stars like Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. Netflix has delivered such perfect formula with “Nobody Wants This,” poised to be one of the biggest hits of late 2024.
The show revolves around the unexpected relationship between Joanne, an agnostic woman, and Noah, a rabbi. Despite their contrasting worldviews and lifestyles, they share an undeniable connection from the moment they meet at a mutual friend’s dinner party. Though they have countless reasons not to be together, their feelings prove too strong to ignore.
The plot is both highly entertaining and deeply heartwarming, leading viewers to doubt if such a compelling story could be purely fictional. As it turns out, they’re right—it isn’t. Here’s what creator Erin Foster revealed about the real-life inspiration behind “Nobody Wants This”.
The truth behind ‘Nobody Wants This’
We love romantic stories inspired by real-life events, and “Nobody Wants This” draws from a very personal experience—its creator Erin Foster’s own love life! As she shared with Tudum, Netflix’s official news site:
“This show is based on the only good decision I ever made: falling for a nice Jewish boy,” Foster explained. “But I realized that being happy is way harder than being miserable — there’s nothing to complain about. So, I created this show based on all the ways that finding the right person can be so hard.”
Kristen Bell’s character, Joanne, is based on Foster herself, while Adam Brody’s character, Noah Roklov, is loosely modeled after her husband, Simon Tikhman. Although Tikhman isn’t a rabbi, he is Jewish, and when he and Foster fell in love, he expressed how important it was for him to marry someone who would convert to Judaism. As she told Harper’s Bazaar:
“If he had asked me to be in a cult, I would’ve been in a cult. I was 35 and needed to lock it down. So I thought, “Of course I will.” But then when I went through the process and went to the converting classes at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, it was this really fascinating, expansive, cool world”.
Foster has frequently discussed how challenging it was to navigate relationships before finding the right person, a theme that resonates with Joanne’s journey at the beginning of the series. She admitted that it was easier to date toxic people and believe she was perfect while blaming them for the problems. But when someone healthy comes along, it forces you to reflect on your own flaws.
Beyond her own experiences, there are smaller true-to-life details in the title as well. For instance, Foster sought the guidance of her husband to ensure the depiction of Judaism was accurate. As she told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tikhman “read every script.” Plus, Brody, who grew up Jewish but identifies as agnostic, found it interesting to step into the role of a religious character—something he once considered for himself.
