Netflix’s Nobody Wants This has taken the streaming world by storm, and many viewers are surprised to learn that this rom-com isn’t entirely fiction. The heartwarming and often humorous story of Joanne, a podcast host, and Noah, a rabbi, is actually based on the show creator’s own life and relationship with her husband.
What Is “Nobody Wants This” About?
Nobody Wants This follows Joanne (Kristen Bell), an outspoken podcast host, and Noah (Adam Brody), an unconventional rabbi, who meet at a dinner party and instantly feel a connection. But their differing outlooks on life, particularly concerning religion, and the pressures from their families create obstacles as they try to build a relationship. Despite these challenges, the series shows how two people from very different worlds can find common ground in love.
While the story plays out like a classic romantic comedy, fans are wondering: Is this heartwarming tale rooted in reality?
The Real-Life Love Story Behind “Nobody Wants This”
The Netflix series is loosely based on show creator Erin Foster’s real-life romance with her Jewish husband, Simon Tikhman. Erin has been candid about how her love story with Tikhman inspired the series, referring to her husband as her “muse” and describing the show as a “love letter” to their relationship, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“This show is based on the only good decision I ever made: falling for a nice Jewish boy,” Erin said to Netflix 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.”
The couple’s romance, like Joanne and Noah’s, began in an unlikely way. Erin found herself drawn to Simon, a Jewish music executive. Erin, the daughter of music icon David Foster and model Rebecca Dyer, had a podcast like Joanne and also had cynical views on love.
Early in their relationship, Simon told her, “Whoever I marry, she has to be Jewish,” which posed a challenge for Foster, who was agnostic at the time. Despite their cultural and religious differences, they fell deeply in love and navigated the complexities of blending their worlds.
Erin’s journey to understanding and embracing Judaism also influenced the character arc of Joanne in the series. Much like her real-life counterpart, Joanne must come to terms with the cultural and religious differences between herself and Noah.
Erin Foster and Simon Tikhman’s Relationship
While Simon is not a rabbi like Adam Brody's Noah, his connection to his Jewish heritage plays a significant role in their relationship. After a 10-week conversion process, Erin converted to Judaism, marking a turning point in their relationship.
Their journey to marriage in 2019, along with the cultural and familial challenges they faced, closely mirrors the storyline of the Netflix series. As Erin reflected in Harper’s Bazaar, “We couldn’t have been from more different worlds, and those different worldviews really put us in a unique position to have challenges moving forward.”
However, Simon’s parents had their own adjustments to make regarding their son’s relationship. Like Noah’s own parents, Erin explained that they weren't used to someone as outspoken and candid as she was. “His parents weren’t really used to someone being so unfiltered, and uncensored, and saying how I feel all the time,” she shared in the same interview. This led to a period of adjustment for Simon’s family, who questioned, “This is the person you chose to bring into our family? Are you okay, Simon? What are you thinking?”
To bring her story to life, Erin knew she needed the right actors to embody Joanne and Noah. Kristen Bell was her first choice for Joanne, and the actress perfectly balanced the character’s sharp wit with vulnerability. As for Noah, Erin felt Adam Brody’s portrayal of the “cool rabbi” was ideal, as it echoed her husband’s laid-back yet deeply rooted connection to his faith.
Nobody Wants This is streaming on Netflix.
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