Adam Brody and the creator of “Nobody Wants This” talk about their rom-com series

In Nobody wants thatA rabbi and a chic guy are not exactly a match made in heaven – but Joanne (Kristen Bell) and Noah (Adam Brody) try anyway.

Netflix's new romantic comedy, with 10 episodes dropping Sept. 26, follows Bell's central lifestyle podcaster as she navigates a complex, passionate romance with Brody's progressive religious leader in East Los Angeles. Along the way, they must reckon with a number of obstacles – the shadow of a vengeful ex, a plethora of familial tensions on both sides and, perhaps most importantly, career-related concerns, as Joanne's show hinges on saucy Carrie Bradshaw-esque musings on affairs and Noah probably can't get promoted to chief rabbi while dating a goy.

Nobody wants that is loosely but clearly inspired by the real-life experiences of creator Erin Foster, who appeared in shows like The OK And Lock before creating and starring in VH1's satirical reality show parody Hardly famous“'Write what you know' is a cliché in writing, but it's true: If you've had an experience, you can draw specificity from it,” says Foster Weekly entertainmentand explained that she actually converted to Judaism after meeting her husband, music manager Simon Tikhman. “When I went through the conversion process, it felt like this was a fascinating impetus for a really good show.”

Foster's real-life partner is not a rabbi, so the difference between fiction and reality is immediately clear; however, she wrote the original version of the pilot with the intention of starring herself. “Kristen said to me, 'I know you wrote this for yourself, so I don't want to take a project and a job away from you,'” Foster recalls. “And she was very kind. And I said, 'Honestly, I want to have a baby. And I'm 40 years old, acting is not my thing right now. I don't want to be in a hair and makeup trailer at 5 a.m., I really want to be a mother. And so I would be very honored if you would take on the role.'” Bell accepted the role afterward, and Foster gave birth to her first daughter during last year's writers' strike. “It worked out perfectly for everyone!”

Brody – who also House of Lies, CHIPSAnd Scream 4 alongside Bell – was thrilled to work with her again. “She's a flawless actress,” he tells EW. “She's such a gifted comedian, but also so emotionally available and honest and sharp. Her attitude permeates the set and it's a fun and positive attitude that creates a really beautiful atmosphere.”

After Bell was cast in the role, finding the right Noah proved a little more difficult. “I think we auditioned every single Jewish actor in the world,” jokes Foster. “I had this person in mind, and he has to be charming, soulful and deep, but also have a really sharp sense of humor, a sense of sarcasm and the ability to give her s—. He had to be personable and lovable, but also hot, but also the kind of guy your mother would love. Adam was the only one who really checked all the boxes.”

Foster said Bell was overjoyed to be reunited with Brody on screen. “They're friends,” she says. “They were both super excited to work together and it was perfect. It's still funny because they have such hot chemistry on camera and then you realize they're just normal friends off screen.”

The former OC The star says he was initially drawn to the show's accessible portrayal of religion. “When I read the role and the character, at first I thought, 'Oh, OK, so the point is that he's so modern, casual, not preachy at all – he just happens to be a rabbi and really just a modern guy from LA.'” Seems like a perfect fit for the actor, who is Jewish but hasn't practiced much in his life: “I had my bar mitzvah, but that was about the last time I was in a synagogue.” But the strength of Noah's faith becomes clearer as the series progresses, which meant Brody had some work to do. “I went to synagogue, I went to Shabbat dinner, and I did some research – a lot of books, documentaries and podcasts about all things Jewish.”

Brody says his extensive research included “a pretty deep dive into the Holocaust, a couple of books on Israel and Israel-Palestine, and a lot of research into the history and lineage of the people and the religion.” The actor now has a new understanding of the importance of ritual. “So often it's been a religion without a nation or a persecuted minority or a fractured group, so it's like keeping that thing alive and tracing it back and making sure we're all looking in that direction at the same time. We can't always be in a temple, but we can all celebrate Shabbat, you know what I mean? Wherever you are, you can make your home your temple, so to speak.”

Like all great romantic comedies, Nobody wants that surrounds its central couple with a hilarious supporting cast, including Justine Lupe as Joanne's sister and co-host, Timothy Simons as Noah's goofy brother Sasha, Tovah Feldshuh as his overprotective mother Bina, Sherry Cola and D'Arcy Carden as Joanne's nosy friends, and Stephen Tobolowsky as the chief rabbi of Noah's synagogue.

Foster is particularly proud of the sibling relationships on the show – she drew from her own experience hosting a podcast with her sister, but reimagined the dynamic so that Morgan's disapproval of Noah creates further tension. “In real life, my sister loved my husband as soon as they met and they became best friends and that made my life a lot easier,” she explains. “But I liked the idea of ​​Morgan feeling threatened by Joanne getting into a serious relationship. I think that in real life, when two people are stunted or unable to find love and then one person does a healthy relationship, it really makes the other person feel let down. And I've experienced that in past friendships – when people would settle down in front of me, it felt really threatening if they found out before me.”

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And Simons is one of the strongest comedic forces in the ensemble. “He's funny before he even says anything,” says Foster about the Veep Star. “Tim and Adam don't look alike at all, do they? Tim is about 6'4″ and doesn't look like they're related at all. But when they were in a room together, there was something about their chemistry that immediately felt like brothers, and the way Tim tells a joke with such a blank face, it's like he's not even trying.”

Brody, meanwhile, was impressed by the actor who played his mentor. “My family watched And every day the groundhog greets you so much lately, so for me Stephen Tobolowsky is the star of the show,” he says. “'Phil? Phil Connors!' I've watched him so many times, so it was a pleasure to get to work with him.”

While the season certainly offers a satisfying romantic arc, Foster hopes Joanne and Noah's story can continue beyond these first 10 episodes. “I definitely want another season of the show,” Foster says. “And I definitely wrote it with a second or third season in mind because I have plans for Joanne.”

All 10 episodes of Nobody wants that Premieres Thursday, September 26, on Netflix.