On Tuesday morning, Sara and Erin Foster, the sisters behind the Netflix series “Nobody Wants This,” joined a video call from their respective homes in Los Angeles. Sara, 43, was wearing an oversize sweatshirt, and Erin, 42, was in a bathrobe.
The sisters are known for their laid-back style, but by any standards they’ve had a busy month.
“Nobody Wants This” premiered Sept. 26, rising to the top of Netflix’s ratings within a week. The show, which is written by Erin and produced by both sisters, was inspired by Erin’s real-life love story of falling in love with her now-husband, the music executive Simon Tikhman, before converting to Judaism. In the Netflix version of the story, Joanne, a blonde, agnostic relationship podcaster played by Kristen Bell, and Noah, a bearded rabbi played by Adam Brody, navigate the various hurdles of getting into a serious relationship.
Last week, with less than a month before Election Day, the Fosters also waded into the debate over reproductive rights and in vitro fertilization. They released a limited edition T-shirt through their fashion brand, Favorite Daughter, with the bold, black words, “IVF, Baby.” (The sisters partnered with CCRM Fertility on the project. All proceeds will be donated to Resolve: the National Infertility Association.)
“They just launched like four days ago, so we haven’t had a chance to run into anyone wearing them yet, but we hope we do,” said Erin, who underwent 20 rounds of I.V.F. before welcoming a daughter in May. Sara, who has two daughters with her ex-partner, the former tennis star Tommy Haas, said sales were higher than expected.
The sisters chatted about this whirlwind time in their lives.
Do you think women are ready to be this open about their I.V.F. journeys with your T-shirts?
Erin: It’s not like a source of pride, because most people want to conceive naturally if they are in a relationship where they can. But if you have to go through I.V.F. — or some people would look at it as a privilege so if you get to go through I.V.F. — I think there is a sense of survivor community. You know if someone else has been through it, you have this intrinsic connection between you. So wearing the shirt helps other people feel seen and connected because it can be a really lonely experience.
Sara: I’ve had a handful of girls write to me who have said: “I am an I.V.F. baby. My mom is going to buy this for me to wear. I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for I.V.F.”
It’s two weeks before the presidential election, in which reproductive rights are featuring heavily. What message do you have for female voters?
Erin: I had conversations with people a few years ago who said: “Roe v. Wade will never be overturned; you don’t have to worry about that. I am looking for tax breaks.” And here we are.
Abortion care, fertility care, health care for women are issues for all of us. It is still considered elective to do I.V.F. by insurance, and I don’t know anyone who is electing to have endometriosis or electing to have fibroids that stop them from getting pregnant. It’s unfortunate that women continue to be left out of the process of health care and not considered. Anything we can do to give women the confidence to use their voice, to protect their rights, we want to be part of. [Note: Insurance rules regarding I.V.F. vary widely by state, so it is not always considered an elective procedure.]
It’s been about a month since “Nobody Wants This” came out on Netflix. What has been the most surprising feedback you’ve received?
Erin: So many women have felt seen and heard by the character Noah and by the romantic themes in the show. It’s been so validating for me, but also gratifying seeing so many women say to themselves, “I want a healthy relationship.”
Sarah: Women are now saying, “I can be attracted to a nice guy.”
Erin: What a concept!
What about the women who are skeptical that such a man exists?
Erin: I had a string of very unhealthy relationships, and I was convinced that was my fate, that I was just doomed to repeat the same thing over and over again. But it takes a lot of work on yourself to find someone who is healthy.
I think these men are everywhere, but women are looking with the wrong lens. You have to be looking for this kind of person. You have to not cast aside the guy who seems really nice, the guy who is emotionally available, the guy who isn’t playing games with you. I am sure he’s on dating apps. He’s in bars. I met my husband at the gym. You can meet your person anywhere in the world, but the only thing you can control is getting yourself ready for the right person.
What other advice do you have for women looking for healthy relationships?
Erin: We had Adam Brody on our podcast yesterday, and we said, “What is your advice for women who want to end up with a nice guy?” His advice was so simple. He said: “Don’t ignore red flags; it isn’t going to get better. Walk away.” How many women do we know who lost years of their lives waiting for someone to change for them? We have to prioritize ourselves.
Speaking of Adam Brody, how do you feel about making the whole world fall in love with him again?
Erin: I mean, you are welcome. We fed him to you on a beautiful, Jewish platter.
Erin, you converted to Judaism in 2019 Sara, you are not Jewish but you have been what you call “an ally” for the Jewish people. How has the last year been for you?
Erin: It only really solidified my feelings around being Jewish and the pride that I have in being Jewish. I feel so fortunate that I am given this platform to shine a positive light on Judaism and Jewish people and Jewish culture. The idea that this show is in any way negatively impacting Jewish people to me is preposterous.
Sara: I’ve been exposed to Judaism through the lens of Simon and his family. The way Judaism has brought our family together in the most beautiful ways whether it’s Shabbat or Passover or Yom Kippur, I’ve been exposed to it. But my advocacy after Oct. 7 was really coming more from a human place. I do think what I always came back to was moral clarity. I wasn’t OK with not speaking my truth.
Did you think about pausing the show after the Oct. 7 attacks?
Erin: It only made me feel like it was the perfect time to make the show. I never thought it was the time to make a political statement in the show, and the show is never making a political statement.
Sara: To show Jewish people like this, for there to be a Jewish romantic comedy that is number one across the world, that is good for Jewish people. There is a very small percentage of people who just want to be mad about everything; they are very small. Also the show is about love.
Some viewers have expressed shock that Joanne, the main character, lives in Los Angeles, but doesn’t seem to know the basics of Judaism. Can you talk about that?
Erin: Joanne, as a character, she’s going to camp with Noah, and she’s really wanting to learn and absorb everything possible. She’s heard the word “shalom,” but she doesn’t know exactly how to use it. That’s what she is saying — what does shalom mean? How do I use it in a sentence? When would I use it? I don’t think it’s that unrealistic that a girl being exposed to a rabbi for the first time wants to understand the language.
A lot of people know the show is inspired by Erin’s love story and your relationship with each other. Has it changed the way people view you?
Sara: People are like, “Oh my God, you are so Morgan,” and I’m like “OK, am I that ditsy?” I think I am a little more grounded than Morgan. I have children, I am the older sister.
Erin and Simon were at Shabbat one night and someone was like, “Simon, you read the prayers,” and he’s like, “I’m not actually a Rabbi.”
It makes sense to draw the comparisons for sure, but we are just the seeds. To draw an audience in for 10 episodes you need conflict, and we, as people, are pretty boring.
The post The Sisters Behind ‘Nobody Wants This’ Are in High Demand appeared first on New York Times.
