Netflix’s latest rom-com, Nobody Wants This, starring Kristen Bell as an agnostic sex-and-relationship podcaster and Adam Brody as a laid-back rabbi, has defied expectations, emerging as one of the streamer’s surprise hits. Despite a chaotic first season marked by delayed scripts, scrapped episodes, and creative disagreements, the show debuted on September 26, 2024, to rave reviews and quickly soared into Netflix’s Top 10 list. By the end of the year, it had been streamed 57 million times and earned nominations at the Emmys, Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and Writers Guild Awards.
Creator Erin Foster, whose journey to the show was far from straightforward, admits that the production faced “a lot of different visions.” Foster, a first-time showrunner, often had to advocate fiercely for her ideas. But once the series premiered, critics and audiences alike embraced it, praising the chemistry between Bell and Brody and the show’s witty, culturally specific humor.
Before Nobody Wants This, Foster’s career had been rocky. She tried acting in guest roles on shows like The O.C., co-created the VH1 reality parody Barely Famous with her sister Sara, and sold a semi-autobiographical sitcom pilot in 2018 that never made it to air. It wasn’t until her own Jewish conversion and personal life experiences inspired a script that she found the foundation for a show worth pursuing. Netflix greenlit the project after seeing its potential for relatability and heart, though the network requested a bigger star in the lead, leading to Bell’s casting. Brody was brought on board thanks to Bell’s insistence and their proven on-screen chemistry.
The show’s original title, Shiksa, was changed due to concerns over audience understanding and global appeal. After exploring other options, the team settled on the ironic Nobody Wants This. Production was turbulent: scripts were rewritten, preplanned breaks extended, and multiple executive producers cycled through the project, including Steve Levitan, Jack Burditt, and Craig DiGregorio.
Despite these challenges, the cast navigated the uncertainty with humor and professionalism. Lupe, who plays Justine Lupe’s character Morgan, recalled struggling to understand the evolving sexual tension between characters due to script changes, while Bell admitted to frequent self-doubt during filming.
Season one’s release transformed perceptions on set. Memes, Halloween costumes inspired by the characters, and audience enthusiasm quickly established Nobody Wants This as a cultural phenomenon.
Ahead of season two, which premieres October 23, Erin Foster has been joined by Jenni Konner and Bruce Eric Kaplan, veterans of HBO’s Girls, to help streamline production. The team has focused on maintaining the original tone while giving the narrative room to breathe. Season two promises continuity for fans, with some characters, like Jackie Tohn’s Esther, upgraded to series regulars.
Foster says that feedback and criticism, particularly surrounding the depiction of Jewish women, have been addressed creatively without compromising the story. Konner emphasizes, “We didn’t come in to be the Jewish police — we’re here to protect the vision while helping Erin navigate the process.”
With season two underway and discussions for a third already in early stages, the cast and crew are embracing the success while keeping the humor alive. As Brody puts it, “As silly as awards may be, recognition is nice, respect is nice, opportunity is cool.”
Whether it’s navigating a production fraught with tension or pulling elaborate pranks like Lupe’s months-long April Fools’ joke on Bell, the set of Nobody Wants This is a testament to creativity, resilience, and sheer luck — proving that sometimes, chaos is the perfect ingredient for a hit.