Now in its third season, Nobody Wants This, Netflix’s hit series starring Kristen Bell as Joanne and Adam Brody as Noah, an unlikely couple finding love and making it work (she hosts a podcast about sex and relationships; he is a rabbi), is breaking new ground. After all, once the “will they, won’t they?” has become “they will,” what is left? Well, as anyone who’s in a relationship can tell you, there’s plenty more.
That’s where Jenni Konner, best known for her work on Girls, comes in; she joined as showrunner during the second season, helping expand the world and flesh out the characters around them.
Harper’s Bazaar’s questionnaire series, “First, Now, Next,” dives into the past, present, and future of some of our favorite creatives, spotlighting the moments and influences that shaped them. Now that Nobody Wants This’s third season has dropped on Netflix, Konner shares the things she’s learned from the show and which Girls cast member she’d like to work with again.
What’s the first television show that cracked something open in you?
My So-Called Life cracked something in me creatively. Winnie Holzman touched on the truth of being a teenager in a way that really spoke to me. And of course Claire Danes was perfect.
Who was your first true friend in the industry?
I was lucky to have a writing partner, the great Ali Rushfield, walking in.
Have you had a failure that ended up changing your career?
I can’t think of one that changed my career but I have had many and after each you just get back up and start over and it usually makes you better.
What was the first project you worked on that made you take yourself seriously
Help Me Help You was a sitcom Ali and I created. We had the good fortune to work with Ted Danson, who is the most hilarious and kind human—tied only with Jen Garner.
Who was the first person to ever make you laugh really hard?
My parents. Hilarious people.
How did you define success at 16? How would you define it now?
Not failing out of high school (just made it). And now, this is so obvious, but working with great people, with clear unique voices, who are also kind.
What are you saying “no” to now? What are you saying “yes” to?
Saying no to working with assholes. We (my producing partner Nora Silver and I) vet the hell out of people we want to work with before we even meet.
Yes to working with my husband again. He directed my favorite bottle episodes of Girls and now he is directing my favorite bottle episodes of Nobody Wants This.
If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life and had to pull it out of your closet right now, what would you reach for?
Vintage Levi’s, great white t-shirt (shoutout to Denim Revival), the softest cashmere sweater and The Row loafers. I have been wearing some version of this since the ’90s.
