The ‘Nobody Wants This’ Season 2 Cast Includes Guests from ‘Succession,’ ‘Gossip Girl,’ and ‘Girls’

When Nobody Wants This debuted in September 2024, Erin Foster’s semi-autobiographical series about her conversion to Judaism was inescapable—with its laugh-out-loud gags, larger-than-life characters, and daring depiction of dating across religious divides. The first season earned rave reviews, a slew of Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, Critics Choice Awards, and Golden Globe nominations and wins, along with a highly anticipated second season that’s finally available to stream on Netflix.

The sophomore season picks up right where the first left off, with Foster confirming to Netflix that the new episodes are set one month after the finale. In it, we meet Joanne (Kristen Bell) and Noah (Adam Brody) as they try to merge their wildly different lives, families, and worldviews.

The season also features several special guest appearances, including one by Leighton Meester—Brody’s real-life wife—as Abby, a mom influencer who was Joanne’s school nemesis. Foster even wrote a scene specifically for the real-life couple, with Brody’s character telling Joanne that Abby is “not my type.” Needless to say, we’re hooked. And in case you’re wondering who’s who in the cast, we’ve rounded up where you might have seen them before.

Kristen Bell as Joanne

Who is Joanne? Joanne is an outspoken, agnostic podcast host who falls in love with Noah, a rabbi, after they meet at a dinner party.

What has Kristen Bell been in before? Audiences might recognize Bell from 2008’s seminal rom-com Forgetting Sarah Marshall, in which she played the titular character, or the TV series Veronica Mars. Bell has also lent her voice to the main character of Princess Anna in Frozen and she played Eleanor Shellstrop in award-winning sit-com The Good Place, too.

Adam Brody as Noah

Who is Noah? Noah is the rabbi Joanne meets at a dinner party in the first season, at which point he is fresh out of a long-term relationship. His journey in the show’s second season further develops his role as the rabbi—who chose love over career—and who is now navigating the complexities of an interfaith relationship.

What has Adam Brody been in before? Brody is best known for playing the broodingly handsome Seth Cohen in the seminal teen drama The O.C. He has also appeared in films like Jennifer’s Body, Shazam!, and Ready or Not.

Justine Lupe as Morgan

Who is Morgan? Morgan is Joanne’s sister and co-host of their Nobody Wants This podcast. In the second season, Morgan faces a personal crisis after losing her close bond with Joanne, who is now fully committed to Noah. In her sister’s absence, Morgan fills the void with her new boyfriend, Dr. Andy.

What has Justine Lupe been in before? Lupe is best known for playing Willa Ferreyra in HBO’s Succession. She has also had recurring roles in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and as Holly Gibney in Mr. Mercedes. Her film credits include Frances Ha, Not Fade Away, and Luckiest Girl Alive.

Timothy Simons as Sasha

Who is Sasha? Sasha is Noah’s married brother and the husband of Esther, who also happens to be the best friend of Noah’s ex-girlfriend, Rebecca. This season, Sasha’s marriage is put to the test, and his fan-favorite rapport with Morgan continues to develop.

What has Timothy Simons been in before? Simons is best known for playing Jonah Ryan on HBO’s Veep from 2012 to 2019, earning five SAG Award nominations and one win. His film credits include The Interview, Christine, The Boss, Inherent Vice, and Don’t Worry Darling. He has also appeared in Happiest Season, Candy Cane Lane, Looking for Alaska, and voiced characters in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Jackie Tohn as Esther

Who is Esther? Esther is Sasha’s wife, the disciplined half of their opposites-attract relationship, who goes on a journey of self-discovery in season 2.

What has Jackie Tohn been in before? Tohn is also known for her role as Melanie on Netflix’s GLOW. The Good Place, Veronica Mars, and NCIS are among the other small-screen productions.

Seth Rogen as Rabbi Neil

Who is Rabbi Neil? Rabbi Neil is a progressive rabbi who offers Noah a potential new position at his own temple.

What has Seth Rogen been in before? Rogen is a true Hollywood stalwart. The Emmy Award winner has starred in a variety of hit comedies, including 2008’s Pineapple Express; voiced roles in animated films such as The Lion King and Kung Fu Panda; and flexed his dramatic muscles in The Fabelmans and, most recently, Apple TV’s The Studio.

Kate Berlant as Rabbi Cami

Who is Rabbi Cami? She’s another progressive rabbi at Temple Ahava who works with Rabbi Neil.

What has Kate Berlant been in before? In addition to her stand-up comedic work, you might’ve seen her in Don’t Worry Darling, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, and Prime Video’s A League of Their Own.

Leighton Meester as Abby

Who is Abby? Meester stars as Abby, Joanne’s nemesis from middle school, who is now an Instagram mom influencer. Because she’s married to Brody offscreen, series creator Erin Foster told Tudum that “getting to create such a fun role for Leighton to play, and getting to write her and Adam in a scene together, was such a thrill for the writers’ room.”

What else has Leighton Meester been in? The Gossip Girl alum needs no introduction to a generation who grew up worshipping at the altar of the hit HBO teen drama, in which Meester played Blair Waldorf. She has also starred in The Weekend Away, The Judge, Monte Carlo, and The Roommate, and she has a leading role in Rachel Sennott’s upcoming HBO series I Love LA.

Alex Karpovsky as Big Noah

Who is Big Noah? Without spoiling a subplot of season 2, Big Noah is an overly confident rabbi at Noah’s temple who competes for Temple Chai’s coveted position of head rabbi.

What else has Alex Karpovsky been in? The Girls star is perhaps best known for his role in Lena Dunham’s genre-defining series, but he has also appeared in Homecoming, Angelyne, and smaller-scale films such as Inside Llewyn Davis and Hail, Caesar!.

Arian Moayed as Dr. Andy

Who is Dr. Andy? Dr. Andy is a therapist who plays Morgan’s unconventional love interest in season 2.

What else has Arian Moayed been in? Like his on-screen partner, Moayed also starred in Succession as private-equity manager and Kendall Roy’s friend, Stewy Hosseini. He has appeared in a variety of other projects, including Spider-Man: No Way Home and You Hurt My Feelings, as well as the television series Inventing Anna and The Marvelous Ms. Marvel.

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