Hollywood is a weirdly small town. You’ve got people who crossed paths twenty years ago on a teen drama set suddenly resurfacing in each other's lives to create one of the biggest streaming hits of the decade. That’s basically the deal with Adam Brody and Erin Foster.
If you’ve been bingeing Nobody Wants This on Netflix, you know the chemistry between the "Hot Rabbi" and the podcasting blonde is basically electric. But what most people don’t realize is that before Erin Foster was the powerhouse creator behind the show, she was actually in the trenches with Adam Brody back in the early 2000s. And no, they weren't dating—well, not exactly how the rumors might make you think.
The O.C. Connection You Probably Missed
Back in the mid-2000s, Adam Brody was the king of the world. Seth Cohen was the blueprint for every "indie-sleaze" boyfriend, and The O.C. was a cultural juggernaut. During that same era, Erin Foster was trying to make it as an actress.
She actually had a guest-starring role on The O.C. as Heather. Remember the girl who was basically a teen bully? That was her. She was even there for the legendary car crash scene where Mischa Barton’s character, Marissa Cooper, met her end.
Erin recently joked in interviews that she looked so different back then—different hair, different nose—that she was terrified Adam wouldn't recognize her when they started working on Nobody Wants This. When a reporter eventually told him, Adam’s reaction was classic: "Oh my God, the iconic car crash!" He’d actually forgotten it was her, thinking it was her sister Sara instead.
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Did They Actually Date?
Let’s clear this up because the internet loves to get messy with timelines. Adam Brody and Erin Foster never officially dated. While they moved in the same social circles for decades, their romantic lives were on completely different tracks. Adam famously dated his co-star Rachel Bilson (the Seth and Summer dream was real for a while) before eventually marrying Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester.
Erin, on the other hand, had her own high-profile dating history before meeting her husband, Simon Tikhman. She’s been very open about the fact that before Simon, her love life was a bit of a disaster—which is exactly what fueled the writing for Joanne in the show.
The "Affair" Rumors that Weren't
When Nobody Wants This premiered, the chemistry between Adam Brody and Kristen Bell was so intense that even Erin Foster started questioning things. At the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, Erin admitted she jokingly asked the crew, "Are they having an affair?"
The chemistry was just that good. But she quickly followed up by saying that as soon as the cameras stopped rolling, they went right back to being "like brother and sister." It’s just great acting, folks.
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Why Adam Brody Was the Only Choice for Erin
When Erin was developing the script, which is loosely based on her own life and her conversion to Judaism, she knew the male lead had to be perfect. The character of Noah needed to be:
- Soulful and deep
- Actually funny (not just "sitcom" funny)
- The kind of guy your mom would love, but also "hot rabbi" material
Adam Brody ticked every single box. Erin has mentioned that Kristen Bell, who is close friends with Adam, was the one who really pushed for him to take the role. It turned out to be the smartest casting move of 2024.
Reality vs. Fiction: The Simon Tikhman Factor
While Adam Brody plays the lead, the real inspiration is Erin’s husband, Simon Tikhman.
Unlike the show, Simon isn't actually a rabbi. He's a successful music executive and the co-founder of The Core Entertainment. However, the core conflict of the show—a Jewish man telling a non-Jewish woman he can only marry someone of his faith—is 100% real.
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Erin actually converted to Judaism for Simon. That scene in the show with the giant sunflowers? That actually happened. Simon brought an oversized bouquet to meet Erin's mom, and Erin was secretly freaked out by how much he cared. She thought it was a "weakness" at the time. Honestly, we've all been there.
The Secret to the Show's Success
The reason the collaboration between Brody and Foster works so well is the authenticity. Erin writes from a place of "this happened to me," and Adam plays it with a level of "nice guy" sincerity that he’s perfected over twenty years.
The show isn't just about a rabbi; it's about the friction of modern dating. It's about how hard it is to change for someone else without losing yourself.
What’s Next?
With the show already renewed through Season 3, the Brody-Foster partnership is far from over. If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Nobody Wants This, here are a few things you should actually do:
- Listen to "The World's First Podcast": This is Erin and Sara Foster’s actual podcast. If you want to hear the real-life version of Joanne and Morgan’s banter, this is it.
- Watch the O.C. Season 3 Finale: Just for the kicks, go back and find Erin Foster’s cameo. It’s a fun "I knew her when" moment.
- Check out Adam Brody's "Armchair Expert" episode: He talks extensively about the casting process and his friendship with Kristen Bell.
The Adam Brody and Erin Foster story is a reminder that in Hollywood, your former co-worker from a 2006 guest spot might just be the person who helps you land your biggest career comeback two decades later.