Nobody Wants This cast: Who stars alongside Kristen Bell and Adam Brody in season 2?
Where have you seen the cast before? And who do they play?
In the first season of Netflix's Nobody Wants This, Kristen Bell's Joanne, an agnostic sex and relationships podcaster, and Adam Brody's Noah, a rabbi on the brink of promotion at his temple, ignored the haters and doubters when they started dating after meeting at a friend's dinner party.
From a disapproving Jewish mother to wildly different worldviews, the hurdles were relentless—and it looked like their differences had gotten the better of them in the finale. But just before the credits, Noah raced to find Joanne, who had broken up with him so he could become head rabbi, and chose her instead.
The end. Except it isn't.
Erin Foster's comedy returns for its second season, and while the chemistry is still sizzling, the reality of Joanne and Noah's tricky situation continues to weigh heavily on them.
"Well, they made a commitment to each other. It's a very fresh relationship and anyone who has been in a relationship longer than three months knows that there's a whole host of exciting things and challenges that come around," Brody said during an interview on TODAY (via Marie Claire).
"His job is certainly a big factor and obstacle, maybe an opportunity, for them."
The official synopsis for season 2 is as follows (via Tudum): "Joanne and Noah [are] deep in the honeymoon phase of their new relationship. You know, the phase where if someone wants to make plans with Noah, he says, 'I gotta check with the boss.' (The boss is Joanne. Obviously.)
"And while they have begun to have the difficult conversations around whether agnostic podcaster Joanne will be able to convert to Judaism for her rabbi boyfriend Noah, it appears they might not be on the same page after all."
Bell and Brody lead the cast – and they're also joined by a bunch of other stars from The Good Place, Gossip Girl, Succession, The Studio and more.
Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Nobody Wants This season 2.
Nobody Wants This cast: Full list of characters and the actors who play them
The cast list for the series is as follows:
- Kristen Bell as Joanne
- Adam Brody as Noah
- Justine Lupe as Morgan
- Timothy Simons as Sasha
- Jackie Tohn as Esther
- Tovah Feldshuh as Bina
- Stephanie Faracy as Lynne
- Michael Hitchcock as Henry
- Paul Ben-Victor as Ilan
- Sherry Cola as Ashley
- Leighton Meester as Abby
- Arian Moayed as Dr Andy
- Miles Fowler as Lenny
- Seth Rogen as Rabbi Neil
- Kate Berlant as Rabbi Cami
- Alex Karpovsky as Big Noah
- D’Arcy Carden as Ryann
- Stephen Tobolowsky as Rabbi Cohen
- Emily Arlook as Rebecca
- Shiloh Bearman as Miriam
For more information about where you've seen the cast before and who they play, keep scrolling.
Kristen Bell plays Joanne
Who is Joanne? She hosts a sex and relationships podcast with her sister, using it to unpack her terrible taste in men and a string of disastrous dates. That all changes, however, when she meets Noah at a dinner party in season 1. Sparks fly instantly, and they soon start dating. But despite their relationship being great in so many ways, Joanne isn't Jewish, and by the end of season 1, she breaks up with him – unable to commit to converting, and unsure she ever will be. But in true romcom fashion, Noah decides she's more important than the obstacle, and they seal their commitment with a kiss. By season 2, however, the honeymoon phase is well and truly over.
What else has Kristen Bell been in? Bell's extensive career includes comedy The Good Place, mystery drama Veronica Mars, comedy-drama House of Lies, Heroes, and Netflix's The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window. She's also the voice of Gossip Girl and Anna in Frozen.
Adam Brody plays Noah
Who is Noah? Shortly after ending his long-term relationship in season 1, Noah, a 'hot rabbi,' meets Joanne, and they are instantly drawn to each other. But Joanne isn't Jewish, which seems to spell trouble. Despite several wobbles along the way, the pair commit to making it work by the end of the season. But are they really in it for the long haul?
What else has Adam Brody been in? Most people will know him from teen drama The OC. He's also appeared in films Jennifer's Body, Shazam!, Ready or Not, The Kid Detective, Promising Young Woman and American Fiction, and drama Fleishman Is in Trouble.
Justine Lupe plays Morgan
Who is Morgan? Joanne and Morgan are sisters, best friends and business partners. Their dynamic is built on brutal honesty – sometimes too brutal.
What else has Justine Lupe in? Most people will recognise Lupe from Jesse Armstrong's Succession.
Timothy Simons plays Sasha
Who is Sasha? Noah's older brother. He is described as "outlandish and eccentric", with an "unstoppable, delusional confidence". In season 1, he grew close to Morgan, but could their weird flirty friendship develop into something more?
What else has Timothy Simons been in? He's best known for political satire Veep. Simons has also appeared in The Handmaid's Tale.
Jackie Tohn plays Esther
Who is Esther? Sasha's wife, who is also best friends with Noah's ex. She instantly disliked Joanne and Morgan, but while gradually mellowing towards the former, she is still calling the latter "Whore Number Two" at the beginning of the show's second season.
What else has Jackie Tohn been in? You might recognise her from Netflix wrestling comedy-drama GLOW.
Tovah Feldshuh plays Bina
Who is Bina? Noah and Sasha's mum. Bina is a formidable matriarch who is firmly against Noah and Joanne's relationship.
What else has Tovah Feldshuh been in? Her credits include NBC miniseries Holocaust, The Walking Dead, Just My Luck with Lindsay Lohan, Law & Order, and more recently Harlan Coben's Shelter.
Stephanie Faracy plays Lynn
Who is Lynn? Joanne and Morgan's mum. In season 1, she was adjusting to life after her decades-long marriage ended. Lynn was described as having a "New Age propensity for the mystical".
What else has Stephanie Faracy been in? You might recognise her from films Hocus Pocus, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and The Great Outdoors. Faracy has also appeared in sitcom True Colours and comedy-drama The Lot.
Michael Hitchcock plays Henry
Who is Henry? Joanne and Morgan's dad. He was married to Lynn for years, but ended their marriage because he's gay.
What else has Michael Hitchcock been in? You might recognise him from mockumentary Best in Show, comedy drama United States of Tara, romantic musical comedy-drama Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Christmas comedy EXmas and Ryan Murphy's Glee.
Paul Ben-Victor plays Ilan
Who is Ilan? Noah and Sasha's dad. Ilan just wants a quiet life and will always defer to his wife.
What else has Paul Ben-Victor been in? You might know him from The Wire, US drama In Plain Sight and season 5 of Entourage.
Sherry Cola plays Ashley
Who is Ashley? Joanne's gay best friend, who also works on the business side of the podcast.
What else has Sherry Cola been in? She has appeared in comedy film Joy Ride, US drama Good Trouble, Prime Video series I Love Dick and dark comedy Claws.
Leighton Meester plays Abby
Who is Abby? "Joanne's nemesis from middle school who is now an Instagram mommy influencer."
What else has Leighton Meester been in? She's best known for Gossip Girl. You might also know her from Single Parents, The Weekend Away and The Roommate.
Arian Moayed plays Dr Andy
Who is Dr Andy? "A charming, highly regarded (particularly by himself) psychotherapist who might just be the perfect match for Morgan."
What else has Arian Moayed been in? You probably know him from Succession. He's also appeared in Inventing Anna, Spider-Man: No Way Home and Madam Secretary.
Miles Fowler plays Lenny
Who is Lenny? "Noah's Matzah Ballers teammate who gets set up with Morgan and "brings such a cool and confident energy to the group," says Foster.
What else has Miles Fowler been in? His credits include A Man on the Inside and The Resident.
Seth Rogen plays Rabbi Neil and Kate Berlant plays Rabbi Cami
Who are Rabbi Neil and Rabbi Cami? They interview Noah for the head rabbi position at their very contemporary, new-age temple, but he's unsure whether it's the right fit.
What else has Seth Rogen been in? His extensive credits include The Studio, Platonic, The Interview, The Disaster Artist, Knocked Up, Superbad and Steve Jobs.
What else has Kate Berlant been in? Her CV includes Don't Worry, Darling and Duck Butter.
Alex Karpovsky plays Big Noah
Who is Big Noah? "An overly confident rabbi at Noah's temple, who Foster calls a "dream".
What else has Alex Karpovsky been in? He's best known for Girls. You might have also watched him in Homecoming.
Additional Nobody Wants This cast includes:
- D’Arcy Carden (The Good Place, The Handmaid's Tale) as Ryann - a close friend of Joanne's.
- Stephen Tobolowsky (Groundhog Day, The Goldbergs, One Day at a Time) as Rabbi Cohen - Noah's boss. Cohen offers him the job of head rabbi, but on one condition: his partner must be Jewish.
- Emily Arlook (Grown-ish) as Rebecca - Noah's ex-girlfriend and Esther's best friend.
- Shiloh Bearman (Home Economics) as Miriam - Sasha and Esther's teenage daughter.
Nobody Wants This season 2 arrives on Netflix on 23rd October – sign up from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
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Authors
Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.
