It’s been one long (read: torturous) year since Deadline announced that Jewish actor Adam Brody would be playing “a charming rabbi” in a forthcoming Netflix rom-com series.
The April 2023 announcement teased that the show “centers on the unlikely relationship between an outspoken, agnostic woman [Kristen Bell] and an unconventional rabbi (Brody).” At the time, we at Hey Alma celebrated. In preparation, we published a list of pop culture’s hottest rabbis. And then we waited. For 383 days, Netflix embodied the meme “go girl, give us nothing” in terms of new information about this extremely important show.
That is, until now.
Yesterday, Netflix gave us a steamy first look at the Adam Brody charming rabbi show. In the photo, Rabbi Noah (Brody) and Agnostic Joanne (Bell) lock eyes, smoldering at each other. He holds her face, thumb under her chin, as if they’re about to kiss. And in a non-descript public location with low-key bisexual lighting!! The announcement also came with the news that the show will be called “Nobody Wants This,” which is ironic as I will say that I, personally, want this show very, very, badly.
“This show is based on the only good decision I ever made: falling for a nice Jewish boy,” co-creator Erin Foster told Tudum. “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. ‘Nobody Wants This,’ but we do, and that’s all that matters.”
We also now know that the show will feature an ensemble of fantastic actors. Justine Lupe from “Succession” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” plays Joanne’s sister, Morgan. Timothy Simons, best known as Jonah Ryan from “VEEP,” is Rabbi Noah’s older brother, Sasha. Jackie Tohn from “GLOW” is Sasha’s wife, Esther. Rabbi Noah’s parents Ilan and the Bina are portrayed by actors Paul Ben-Victor and Tovah Feldshuh, respectively. And finally, Emily Arlook is Rebecca, Noah’s “‘perfect’ Jewish girlfriend” who has “done ‘everything right’ to get Noah to propose.” (Frankly, that last character makes me a little nervous in terms of leaning into stereotypes, but we’ll cross and/or burn that bridge when we get there!)
The 10-episode first season of “Nobody Wants This” is slated to drop on Sept. 26, 2024.
