By Nate Bloom
Contributing Columnist
“Nobody Wants This,” “Newlyweds,” Thermos Stories
All 10 episodes of the third season of the Netflix series “Nobody Wants This” will be released Oct. 22. It seems that almost every Jew knows that this series focuses on a romantic relationship between Noah, a rabbi (ADAM BRODY, 46), and Joanne (Kristen Bell), a non-Jewish woman who makes an OK living as a sex and dating podcaster.
Most critics and audiences found the second season not nearly as good as the first season. There are clues that the third season may be much better than the second. Netflix is happy either way — “Nobody” got great ratings in both seasons.
All the previous stars are returning for the third season. This year, an official Netflix webpage, called Tudum, spilled the beans on most of the third season. Here are just some of them: (1) Netflix says: “The new season picks up as Joanne and Noah are moving into a home — and a relationship — that finally feels solid, embracing every exciting ‘first’ that comes with building their life together.” And (2) Joanne finally (!) decides to convert to Judaism and start classes. Three new characters are tied to the conversion class: Sebastian is an enemy of Joanne in class (played by Andrew Rannells); Amber is a single woman in Joanne’s conversion class. She’s obsessed with finding a Jewish husband (Keyla Monterroso Mejia); and Rabbi Eden (SARAH SILVERMAN, 55) is a warm, quirky conversion class teacher. She’s a supportive presence for Joanne and Noah.
Also: ERIN FOSTER, 44, plays a mysterious woman in a cameo shot (maybe more “shots” later). Foster, a convert to Judaism, created “Nobody” and has written some scripts; SADIE SANDLER, 20, Adam’s daughter, plays Denise, a psychic; and STEVEN WEBER, 65 (“Wings,” “Chicago Med”) plays Julian, a funny, grounded, cool and secure divorced dad.
“Newlyweds” premieres Friday, Oct. 23 (8:30 p.m. on NBC). Tea Leoni and Tim Daly, who are married in real life, play a “free-spirited woman” and a “buttoned up professor” who marry after a whirlwind courtship. JAMIE LEE CURTIS, 67, is a producer of the show and will appear now and again in a guest role.
The series was created by GAIL LERNER, 75, and her husband, Colin Campbell, also 75. They have a big roster of writing for, and producing, sitcoms. On Oct. 8, Lerner was fired by NBC. Lerner said only this about her firing:
“There were creative disputes.”
Lerner did add something classy: “No one knows what’s going to happen in our meshuganah business, but I predict this show’s [‘Newlyweds’] gonna be a barn burner. Please check out the first six (and beyond!). If you like them, please let me know!”
Most people know much about the incredibly corrupt Theranos health company. It was founded in 2003 by the then-19-year-old Elizabeth Holmes, a Stanford dropout. She conned $750 million from investors and by 2013 the company was valued at $13 billion. Its hottest “invention” was a small machine that could run many simple and complex tests with just a few blood drops. (It really didn’t work.)
In 2015, the scam was revealed by two professors and a Wall Street Journal reporter. Holmes was penniless by 2016. Investors lost everything. In 2018, she and the company’s president (and her lover) were indicted. In 2022, they were tried and convicted. Holmes was sentenced to 11 years and three months.
“You Can See Everything” is a documentary that is opening in theaters Oct. 13 or Oct. 22. Long story short: Holmes contacted director LANCE OPPENHEIM, 30, and invited him to document her story weeks before she had to go to prison. She also invited Oppenheim to talk to Billy Evans, her partner. Evans is a wealthy man and the father of their two children.
Holmes contacted Oppenheim because she was a fan of “Some Kind of Heaven” (2020), about the Villages, a huge Florida retirement community. Oppenheim directed this documentary.
In 2020, Oppenheim said this about the Villages: “The Jewish community didn’t seem as vibrant to me as compared to, say, where my grandparents are. It’s pretty Christian and there’s a lot of [bad] opportunism for Villagers [like using Christian religion to fleece other Villages residents]. . . . I feel like there is some kind of Jewish humor in the film. Finding comedy in tragedy, and also finding the seriousness through humor.”
“You Can See Everything” has received great advance reviews. Oppenheim and his co-director, Nathan Fielder, 43, managed to get an amazing “pile” of candid statements by Holmes and Evans.
