Netflix's Lev Levenson, played by Max Greenfield, is the ultimate Nice Jewish Boy
"Running Point" is such a delight.
If you’re in need of a TV palate cleanser, might I suggest the Netflix show “Running Point,” the streaming platform's delightful answer to “Ted Lasso?” It stars Kate Hudson (an IRL Jewish nepo-baby of sorts) as Isla Gordon, who gets tasked with running the family business, the fictional basketball team the LA Waves, when her brother (played by Justin Theroux!) has to go into rehab.
I can’t say that the show is as good as the Brett Goldstein Apple TV+ hit, but I can say that I adore it. The humor is smartly written and wonderfully delivered by its excellent cast that plays these really very delicious colorful characters, and since this happens to be Jewish TV Club, I’d be remiss not to mention that one of them is also the genuinely nicest of Nice Jewish Boys I’ve seen on TV in a while.
His name is Lev Levenson, which is honestly the most adorable version of Jewy McJew I’ve ever seen but also almost feels like a joke name still. Who came up with this name?! I’d love to have a conversation!
Anyway, Lev is played by a person who gave us some of the best Jewish lines ever delivered on a TV comedy. I’m talking, of course, about the icon, the star, Max Greenfield, who played Schmidt in “New Girl.”
While Schmidt is kind of the “Nice Jewish Boy” who thinks of themselves as an NJB and a catch but can also be a bit of an asshat, Lev, a pediatrician and Isla’s longtime fiancé, is the Jewish embodiment of the cinnamon roll romance trope — a pillowy fresh cinnamon babka out of the oven kind of man (yum). He’s his fiancé’s #1 fan. He embraces Isla and her wild family, her very intense brothers, and he believes she can fill the very big shoes she’s been put in. He is so patient and sweet and supportive.
And even though his (stereotypically kvetchy about travel) parents would love her to convert to Judaism, Lev wants Isla to do it on her own terms and only if she wants to. Yes, he calls her a “shiksha” (very lovingly) but he also calls her his bashert (his destiny!), and makes the dreamiest of speeches about it. Greenfiled literally had me swooning a little in some of these episodes.
I don’t want to spoil too much about Lev, but um, it’s possible that he’s actually just too much of an NJB for Isla??? And I don’t mean that she needs a bad boy and he’s just too nice and not sexy enough, but just that he’s maybe putting more into the relationship than she is, and he deserves the best. I would definitely watch a whole spinoff show about Lev Levenson, is what I’m saying.
Have you watched “Running Point?” Let me know what you think of Lev and the show!
Can’t afford upgrade, now. Love you anyway!
I’m for that spin off. He deserves better and I want to see him get what he deserves. Also, watched the entire show in 2 days. Couldn’t stop.