Nobody Wants This: From Chaos to Success for New Rom-Com Series

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — The new Jewish romantic comedy series, Nobody Wants This, has had a tumultuous journey from troubled production to critical acclaim since its release on Sept. 26, 2024. The show, which stars Kristen Bell as an agnostic podcaster and Adam Brody as a laid-back rabbi, faced numerous challenges during its first season.

Production was significantly delayed, with entire episodes scrapped and scripts rewritten at the last minute. Erin Foster, the show’s creator and showrunner, encountered hurdles as producers navigated differing visions. “There were a lot of different visions,” Foster said. “I just kept saying, ‘Guys, please trust me.’”

Despite these early setbacks, the entire first season dropped on Netflix and quickly gained popularity. It received praise from critics, with outlets like The New York Times calling it “compulsively watchable.” The show spent six consecutive weeks on Netflix’s Top 10 list, racking up 57 million views by year-end and earning nominations for prestigious awards, including the Emmys and Golden Globes.

Foster’s journey in Hollywood had been rocky before this project. After years of unsuccessful attempts as an actress and writer, she met music executive Simon Tikhman, eventually agreeing to convert to Judaism. This personal change inspired her to write a show titled Shiksa, which would later evolve into Nobody Wants This. Once Netflix picked up the series, they insisted on casting a bigger star at the center, leading to Kristen Bell landing the role of Joanne.

The production of season two, set to premiere on Oct. 23, saw considerable changes behind the scenes, with seasoned writers Jenni Konner and Bruce Eric Kaplan stepping in to stabilize the process. According to Foster, they helped “get the train back on the tracks.” The second season appears to be progressing smoothly, with a more unified vision among the creative team.

Foster reflected on the success of the first season and the challenges she faced. “I was at a place where I thought, ‘This is my only chance to have a show,’ and I wasn’t going to let everybody else convince me that I don’t know what I’m doing,” she said. As the cast and crew look forward to the next chapter, they are hopeful for what lies ahead.