Just like any individual who is single and a bit older, Erin Foster has her fair share of cringe-worthy dating experiences. These awkward stories, when recounted over brunch, can easily turn into captivating tales that grip everyone’s attention.

There was one date with an emergency room doctor, whom she initially liked for his detachment from the entertainment field. As the daughter of Grammy-winning musician David Foster, she has acted in shows like “House,” “The O.C.,” and co-created a series named “Barely Famous” with her sister Sara, which humorously depicted their lives. However, she soon learned that this doctor had some unexpected ambitions.

“On our date, he actually told me, ‘You really should check out this script I wrote. I’m also a comedy writer,’” recalls 42-year-old Foster. “I thought, ‘This can’t be real. You’re an ER doctor! Why delve into comedy? Just stop!’”

But at 35, after becoming tired of men with “quirky fixations,” she encountered Simon Tikhman in a surprising location: the gym.

“I don’t normally exercise, so I have no idea how that happened!” Foster expresses in astonishment. As a hopeful romantic, I’ll just consider it destiny.

Foster and Tikhman tied the knot on New Year’s Eve in 2019, after she converted to Judaism for him, a co-founder of The Core Entertainment management company. Their marriage has blessed them with two new additions: daughter Noa Mimi Tikhman, born in May, and the Netflix comedy “Nobody Wants This,” premiering Thursday.

The show’s first season opens with Joanne (Kristen Bell) at a dinner party where she unexpectedly connects with Noah (Adam Brody), a man who stands in stark contrast to her personality. While they have an immediate and strong chemistry, their relationship is complicated due to differing beliefs; she is agnostic, while Noah is a rabbi aiming to find a Jewish wife to please both his family and followers.

“My husband isn’t a rabbi, and thankfully we didn’t have enough differences for that to be the base of our story,” remarks Foster. “To spice things up, we had to make her a bit more daring and him more traditional.”

Bell can relate to the feeling of being drawn to someone who doesn’t perfectly match her. She and actor/podcaster Dax Shepard, who have been together since 2007, have openly discussed their experiences with couples’ therapy to navigate their differences.

“From my perspective, having married someone so vastly different from me, I cherish every disagreement because it keeps life interesting and challenges us to grow,” Bell, 44, reflects. “I genuinely believe there is no perfect match. It’s a myth. Anyone who believes they will find it is kidding themselves.”

“If you make a connection with someone, it’s about deciding if it’s worthwhile, and growing together, which ideally leads you closer. In the rom-com genre, we’re treading a delicate line because we don’t fully represent this reality, but what I truly admire about this show is it highlights the dilemmas that arise when someone isn’t your ‘ideal match’, prompting you to consider whether the fight for the relationship is worth it.”

Bell also put effort into connecting with her character, Joanne, a woman who might abruptly end a date if she suspects too much closeness or becomes uncomfortable if a man repeatedly refers to his “sport coat.”

“I viewed Joanne as somewhat of a hot mess, and in preparing for the role, I decided to embrace her decisions,” Bell explains. “Her choices often stem from a fear of not being accepted. Once I recognized that core emotion, it made sense why she could be so brash or seemingly rude at times; she’s just guarding herself.”

As for Brody, he playfully remarks that Noah “is the role I’ve been putting off for a lifetime.” Although he currently identifies as an atheist, he recalls that his parents held onto certain Jewish customs while he was growing up, even having a bar mitzvah that happened “six months late because I didn’t study well enough.”

“My background was quite different compared to Noah’s,” Brody admits. He honed his character by incorporating elements he researched and enjoyed.

The chemistry between the two lead actors creates a spark reminiscent of a July Fourth celebration, likely resonating with millennials and invoking that familiar feeling of Chrismukkah season.

Bell and Brody portrayed romantic partners in the Showtime series “House of Lies” (2012-2016) and were also seen as former lovers in the film “Some Girl(s)” released in 2013. In their current collaboration, even Shepard commented on their visible chemistry. “If there’s anything in this show that stands out as a hit, it’s the connection between you two,” Shepard remarked during the September 16 episode of his podcast, Armchair Expert, featuring Bell and Brody as guests.

Brody emphasizes that Joanne and Noah’s deep relationship is one that deserves to be preserved, despite the many challenges they face. “What are we here for if not to love?” Brody, who has been married to actress Leighton Meester for a decade and shares two children with her, expressed. “The bond with a partner is a truly unique connection. If you’re not willing to fight for that, what else matters?”