Nobody Wants This
Genre
CreatorErin Foster
Showrunner
Starring
ComposerDuncan Blickenstaff
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Num seasons2
Num episodes20
Executive producer
Cinematography
  • Adrian Peng Correia
  • Wesley Cardino
Editor
  • Maura Corey
  • Keenan Hiett
  • Jen Rosenthal
  • Catherine Cloutier
  • Varun Viswanath
  • David Dean
  • Taichi Erskine
  • Michael Scotti Jr.
Runtime21–31 minutes
Company
NetworkNetflix
First airedSeptember 26, 2024
Last airedpresent

Nobody Wants This is an American romantic comedy television series created by Erin Foster, starring Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe, and Timothy Simons, centered on the unlikely relationship between an outspoken, agnostic woman and a handsome young[1] rabbi.

The series premiered on September 26, 2024, on Netflix to positive reviews from critics. The series has received several accolades with the first season earning three nominations at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, for Outstanding Comedy series and acting nominations for Bell and Brody. In October 2024, the series was renewed for a second season, which was released on October 23, 2025. In November 2025, the series was renewed for a third season that is set to premiere in 2026.

Premise

Nobody Wants This follows the love-at-first-sight relationship between a young American rabbi, Noah (Adam Brody), and an irascible agnostic woman, Joanne (Kristen Bell). Joanne co-hosts a podcast, with her sister, Morgan (Justine Lupe) about relationships; Noah, who hopes to be promoted to chief rabbi of his synagogue, has just ended his long term relationship with a Jewish woman.

Cast and characters

Main

  • Kristen Bell as Joanne Williams, a sex and dating podcaster
  • Adam Brody as Noah Roklov, a rabbi introduced to Joanne by her best friend Ashley
  • Justine Lupe as Morgan Williams, Joanne's younger sister and podcast co-host
  • Timothy Simons as Sasha Roklov, Noah's older brother
  • Jackie Tohn as Esther Roklov (season 2; recurring season 1),[2] Sasha's wife

Recurring

Notable guest stars

  • Ryan Hansen as Kyle, a former fling of Joanne's
  • Leslie Grossman as Rabbi Shira[4]
  • Alex Karpovsky as Big Noah (season 2),[5] the head rabbi that Rabbi Cohen chooses over Noah Roklov
  • Miles Fowler as Lenny (season 2),[6] Noah's friend
  • Leighton Meester as Abby (season 2),[6] Joanne's former middle school friend who is now a mom influencer on Instagram
  • Seth Rogen as Rabbi Neil (season 2),[7] a reform rabbi who offers Noah a job at his congregation Temple Ahava
  • Kate Berlant as Rabbi Cami (season 2)[7]

Production

Development

On March 1, 2023, it was announced that Netflix had greenlit a comedy series created by Erin Foster based loosely on Foster's real-life experiences. It was also announced that Kristen Bell would have a main role in the series, along with Steven Levitan serving as co-executive producer on the series along with Foster and Bell.[8][9][10]

On May 15, 2024, the series was given the title Nobody Wants This.[11]

The series is executive-produced by Foster, Kristen Bell, Steven Levitan, Craig DiGregorio, Sara Foster, Danielle Stokdyk, Oly Obst and Josh Lieberman for 3 Arts Entertainment. Production companies involved with this series are Steven Levitan Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment, and 20th Television.[8][9]

On October 10, 2024, Netflix renewed the series for a second season, with Jenni Konner and Bruce Eric Kaplan as new showrunners, replacing Foster and DiGregorio, who were the first season's showrunners.[12] On February 7, 2025, at the 30th Critics' Choice Awards, Jackie Tohn revealed that the second season is scheduled to begin filming on March 3, 2025.[13] Filming for the second season wrapped on May 12, 2025.[14]

On November 4, 2025, Netflix renewed the series for a third season.[15] Filming for the third season began on March 24, 2026[16] and concluded on May 21, 2026.[17]

Casting

In the initial series announcement in March 2023, it was announced that Bell was starring in the series.[8] In April 2023, it was announced that Adam Brody would star in the series as Noah, and Bell's character would be called Joanne.[18] In January 2024, it was announced that Justine Lupe and Timothy Simons had joined the main cast as Morgan and Sasha, and Jackie Tohn, Michael Hitchcock, Paul Ben-Victor, Sherry Cola, Shiloh Bearman, Stephanie Faracy, Tania Raymonde, and Tovah Feldshuh had joined as recurring cast.[19] In May 2024, it was announced that Emily Arlook had replaced Tania Raymonde in the role of Rebecca.[11] In February 2025, Tohn was promoted as a series regular while Leighton Meester and Miles Fowler were cast to guest star for the second season.[2][6] In March 2025, Arian Moayed and Alex Karpovsky joined the cast in recurring capacities for the second season.[5] In September 2025, Seth Rogen and Kate Berlant were cast to guest star for the second season.[7]

Soundtrack

The first season features songs such as Dua Lipa's "Levitating", Rihanna's "Love on the Brain", and Olivia Rodrigo's "Obsessed" and "Brutal". The soundtrack for the second season consists of original songs from a variety of genres, and was assembled by Simon Tikhman, who is married to Foster.[20]

Release

Nobody Wants This premiered on Netflix on September 26, 2024.[11] The second season premiered on October 23, 2025.[21] The third season is scheduled to premiere in 2026.[15]

Reception

Critical response

Season 1

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 95% approval rating for the first season with an average rating of 7.8/10, based on 56 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Contrary to its title, Nobody Wants This proves to be a welcome binge thanks to Kristen Bell and Adam Brody's irresistible chemistry and some thoughtful considerations of interfaith romance."[22] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 73 out of 100 based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[23]

Glamour senior editor Jessica Radloff published an essay stating that the show's Jewish characters "come off as controlling, marriage-hungry women who want to plan dinner parties and alienate anyone who doesn't share those same dreams." She also took issue with the use of shiksa in the first episode "Pilot".[24] In response, Foster has stated "I think we need positive Jewish stories right now. I think it's interesting when people focus on, 'Oh, this is a stereotype of Jewish people,' when you have a rabbi as the lead. A hot, cool, young rabbi who smokes weed. That's the antithesis of how people view a Jewish rabbi, right?"[25]

The Independent's Kate Rosseinsky gave the show a score of 4/5, claiming that although there are a "few obvious tropes", there are still many less predictable comedic moments that can be "sometimes hilariously, slightly relatable."[3] The Guardian TV critic Lucy Mangan rated the show 5/5 stars, stating, "Everybody will want this". She feels that there are real emotional stakes and that the majorly opposing cultures of the two main characters are "genuine problems," and although they are blocking paths of happiness with no clear answers, she will be with them to the bitter end.[26]

Season 2

On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season has a 79% approval rating, based on 52 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus states, "In its second outing, Nobody Wants This' sharp humor and warmly chaotic ensemble keep it an engaging and emotionally observant rom-com that still charms even as it stumbles."[27] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[28]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2024
Hollywood Music in Media AwardsBest Music Supervision – TelevisionEste Haim & Zachary Daws[29]
2025
American Cinema Editors AwardsBest Edited Single-Camera Comedy SeriesMaura Corey (for "Pilot")[30]
Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Comedy SeriesNobody Wants This[31]
Best Actor in a Comedy SeriesAdam Brody
Best Actress in a Comedy SeriesKristen Bell
Golden Globe AwardsBest Television Series – Musical or ComedyNobody Wants This[32]
[33]
Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or ComedyAdam Brody
Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or ComedyKristen Bell
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesErin Foster, Craig DiGregorio, Jack Burditt, Kristen Bell, Oly Obst, Sara Foster, Danielle Stokdyk, Jeff Morton, Steven Levitan, Lindsay Golder, Jane Becker, Ron Weiner, Neel Shah, and Noelle Valdivia[34]
[35]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesAdam Brody
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesKristen Bell
Satellite AwardsBest Actor in a Comedy or Musical SeriesAdam Brody[36]
Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical SeriesKristen Bell
Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy SeriesAdam Brody[37]
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy SeriesKristen Bell
Television Critics Association AwardsOutstanding Achievement in ComedyNobody Wants This[38]
Outstanding New Program
2026Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Comedy SeriesNobody Wants This[39][40]
Best Actor in a Comedy SeriesAdam Brody
Best Actress in a Comedy SeriesKristen Bell
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesTimothy Simons
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesJustine Lupe
Golden Globe AwardsBest Television Series – Musical or ComedyNobody Wants This[41]
Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or ComedyAdam Brody
Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or ComedyKristen Bell
Actor AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy SeriesAdam Brody[42]
Satellite AwardsBest Actor in a Comedy or Musical SeriesAdam Brody[43]
Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical SeriesKristen Bell

References

  1. ^ What Kristen Bell and Adam Brody Have Said About Playing Younger in 'Nobody Wants This', Ryan Hudgins, September 30, 2024
  2. ^ Gelman, Vlada (February 10, 2025). "Nobody Wants This Promotes Jackie Tohn to Series Regular for Season 2 (Exclusive)". TVLine. Archived February 11, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  3. ^ LeGardy, Quinci (September 30, 2024). "The Cast of 'Nobody Wants This': Who Plays Who in the Netflix Rom-Com Series". Marie Claire. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  4. ^ Esquibias, Liza (September 30, 2024). "Yes, There's a 'The Good Place' Reunion in Kristen Bell's New Netflix Series 'Nobody Wants This'". People. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
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