In 2024, Netflix released Nobody Wants This, a heartfelt rom-com series that explored an interfaith relationship that struck a chord with many viewers, garnering an impressive 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. The show brought about renewed awareness of the cultural and psychological struggles of navigating an interfaith relationship. It could not be more relevant to today's age, as the number of interfaith marriages is increasing compared to previous years.
However, the attitudes and general acceptance of these kinds of relationships weren't necessarily around before, as almost 50 years ago, a CBS show was canceled for trying to achieve the same thing. Bridget Loves Bernie sparked major controversy for its representation of an interfaith marriage, but the issue wasn't with the content itself, but rather the era’s discomfort with interfaith visibility. Looking back at the firestorm is a testament to how societal attitudes have evolved since then, making it still relevant now.
What Is 'Bridget Loves Bernie' About?
Created by Bernard Slate and inspired by a play called Abie's Irish Rose, Bridget Loves Bernie saw Meredith Baxter and David Birney playing the two titular romantic leads, respectively. Bridget is an Irish-Catholic school teacher who is married to Bernie, a Jewish writer-cabdriver, and their marriage is at the center of this '70s sitcom. Together, they navigate the idiosyncrasies of an interfaith relationship, from the cultural differences that appear within their relationship to handling their family's expectations and judgments.
Their contrasting financial backgrounds are also explored, where Bridget is the daughter of a businessman and socialite, while Bernie's parents owned a delicatessen where they lived. Like your typical sitcom, Bridget Loves Bernie handled these themes sweetly and humorously, like the shenanigans incited by Bridget hiding her faith from her aunt-in-law or accidentally switching a sex education video with an X-rated one, all leading to its positive critical reception.
The Canceled CBS Show Was Surrounded By Controversy
Bridget Loves Bernie first premiered in September 1972 and, according to The Hollywood Reporter, was the fifth most-viewed show at the time the season ended. On top of its viewership success, the show held a coveted slot on the program, between All in the Family and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, two highly popular shows in the '70s. As such, it was a shock when CBS canceled the series just after the first season, where even Baxter tells THR that although she doesn't recall the specific reason for its cancellation, she does remember being shocked: "I was terribly upset and confused, as we had been doing so well!"
Despite the show's success, it sparked heated controversy, though CBS has never explicitly cited this as the reason for the show's cancellation. While interfaith marriage is more accepted today, in the '70s it was considered taboo, even sinful, by many people. But the majority of the outrage stemmed from conservative Jewish organizations. A 1973 article in the New York Times highlights some of the attitudes prevalent at the time, where a Jewish rabbi stated that the marriage "goes directly against Jewish teachings," and condemned the show's "cavalier, cute, condoning" treatment of interfaith relationships and "its inevitable problems as though they're instantly, easily solvable." Because of the "profound discomfort" the show elicited within these organizations, some contacted CBS and urged them to axe the show. Additionally, bear in mind that these statements did not reflect the attitudes of the entire '70s Jewish community.
In response, CBS released the following statement: "From the beginning, we've had Jewish and Catholic clergymen as advisers on the series, in an effort to make sure we would not be offensive. We realize that those who protest are not cranks, but sincere, concerned people. But if we respond to pressure to cancel the show, we do a disservice to the millions who obviously like it. We simply don't know what to do." In the end, the show was canceled, although as mentioned, the controversy was not cited as the reason, but it is interesting to look back on, especially with how societal values have changed since then.
The 'Bridget Loves Bernie' Controversy Is Still Relevant Today
With the recent success of Nobody Wants This, we can somewhat extrapolate how Bridget Love Bernie would be received if it were released nearly 50 years later, suggesting the show was perhaps ahead of its time. While the Netflix series focuses on a Jewish-agnostic couple, portrayed by Adam Brody and Kristen Bell, the idea of two worlds colliding where family and friends hold prejudices against the other "side" is still captured. And considering the series' positive reception and its renewal for future seasons, it resonated with audiences. Another thing to note is that Nobody Wants This has not sparked heated debate, with some concerns about the representation of the Jewish community arising, but certainly not to the extent that Bridget Loves Bernie was at the center of.
The cultural landscape has evolved since the sitcom debuted. With increasing acceptance and tolerance towards interfaith marriages, looking back at the circumstances around the show's cancellation is jarring. Yet it is still significant and relevant to how we view interfaith and intercultural relationships today, as the controversy sets a sort of benchmark on which we are able to compare modern attitudes. It allows us to appreciate the progression while acknowledging certain areas of improvement, like supporting the mental health of people who may be facing discrimination because of their relationship, or have lost important connections due to it. Whether you believe Bridget Loves Bernie was unfairly axed or not, its surrounding firestorm is a cultural milestone that contributes to the evolving attitudes towards interfaith visibility.
Bridget Loves Bernie is unavailable to stream, but Nobody Wants This is on Netflix.
