Long Story Short (TV series)

Long Story Short
Release poster
Genre	Adult animation Animated sitcom Comedy drama
Created by	Raphael Bob-Waksberg
Showrunner	Raphael Bob-Waksberg
Starring	Ben Feldman Angelique Cabral Abbi Jacobson Nicole Byer Max Greenfield Lisa Edelstein Paul Reiser
Music by	Jesse Novak
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	10
Production
Executive producers	Raphael Bob-Waksberg Noel Bright Steven A. Cohen
Editors	Molly Yahr Brian Swanson
Running time	25 minutes
Production companies	The Tornante Company Vegan Blintzes ShadowMachine Netflix Animation Studios
Original release
Network	Netflix
Release	August 22, 2025 (2025-08-22) – present

Long Story Short is an American adult animated, comedy-drama television series that was created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg and premiered on Netflix on August 22, 2025. Before its premiere, it was renewed for a second season.

Premise

Long Story Short is about a middle-class, Jewish family whose narrative is told in a non-linear fashion. The main characters are three siblings—Avi (Ben Feldman), Shira (Abbi Jacobson), and Yoshi (Max Greenfield)—who experience ordinary, adult events while looking back on their childhood. ^{[1] [2]}

Voice cast

Main

• Ben Feldman as Avi Schwooper, the oldest of the Schwooper children. Born in 1982, Avi has extensive knowledge of pop culture and music; he works as a review columnist and, by 2021, for a music streaming service. Avi starts dating Jen in 2004, and they later marry and have a daughter named Hannah. By the 2010s, their relationship begins to break down, and they divorce in 2020, sharing custody of the now-teenage Hannah. In his adult years, Avi distances himself from his Jewish religious heritage due to his frustration at his mother's insistence he followed it, and due to his internalized antisemitism. Avi suffers from pattern hair loss.
• Angelique Cabral as Jen Schwooper, Avi's girlfriend and, later, wife. Jen and Avi divorce in 2020, due to Naomi's passive aggression toward her and undermining her, and Avi's parenting, which Avi usually failed to properly stand up to, and her and Avi growing apart. Jen majored in acting, but after the stress of putting on several failed plays in New York City with her friends, Jen secretly wishes for a more regular job. Jen agrees to move to California after Avi is offered a music-journalism internship, though it is hinted she is ashamed she gave up acting. Jen later becomes a theater manager for Hannah's school and later a wine salesperson.
• Abbi Jacobson as Shira Schwooper, the middle of the Schwooper children, and sole daughter of Naomi and Elliot. Born in August 1984, Shira is a lesbian and is married to Kendra, with whom she raises twin boys, Walter and Benjamin. As a child, Shira was best friends with Rachel "Baby" Feldstein, and had a romantic relationship with Rachel in high school. However, after catching her making out with a man, Shira discovers Rachel saw her as a fling and feels betrayed, which ends their friendship. Shira cannot conceive children due to primary ovarian insufficiency, so Kendra bears the couple's children.
• Nicole Byer as Kendra Hooper, a lesbian and Shira's wife, who converts to Judaism as an adult after lying about being jewish to cover up for a work absence during Rosh Hashanah. Kendra works as a senior manager for B.J Banana Fingers, a children's entertainment fast-food chain similar to Chuck E. Cheese. Kendra gained her role due to her being a former workaholic who over-exerted herself—a habit she picked up from her father—after being accepted into a managerial training program when she was a floor manager. Kendra has a younger brother named David.
• Max Greenfield as Yoshi Schwooper, the youngest of the Schwooper children, and second son of Naomi and Elliot. Born in 1991, he is diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, and executive dysfunction, which cause him difficulties with managing a career in adulthood. In his late twenties, Yoshi starts practicing modern Orthodox Judaism. Yoshi, since infancy, has tried to connect and spend time with his siblings, but being seven years younger, he feels like an extra child. Yoshi has a noticeable beauty mark on his face.
• Lisa Edelstein as Naomi Schwartz, the matriarch of the Schwooper family, and mother of Avi, Shira and Yoshi. Naomi is the youngest of three daughters; she lives in a cramped apartment along with their parents, has as arguably narcissistic personality and a tendency to gain attention from her family by manipulating them. While Naomi loves her children, she is overbearing and critical. In 2019, her children confront Naomi about her controlling actions toward them. Naomi worked a social worker; to Avi's surprise, during a ceremony for her, Naomi has helped many people in the community, being more open-minded and supportive to strangers than her own children. In 2020, Naomi dies after contracting COVID-19. Naomi is fluent in Norwegian.
• Paul Reiser as Elliot Cooper, a mathematics professor at Midbay University, is the patriarch of the Schwooper family, and father of Avi, Shira and Yoshi. Unlike Naomi, Elliot has unconditional love for the couple's children.

Recurring

• Dave Franco as Danny Wegbriet, Yoshi's shifty, stoner, childhood friend.
• Michaela Dietz as Hannah Schwooper, Avi and Jen's daughter Born in 2009, Hannah has a good relationship with her father but is isolated from children her own age. Hannah finds a friend group at the end of "Wolves". She is passionate about photography, and also has a strained relationship with Jen after her and her father divorce.
• Gina Rodriguez as Rachel "Baby" Feldstein, Shira's bisexual childhood best friend with whom Shira had a romantic relationship during high school. In 2015, Rachel reunites with Yoshi and they spend the night together. Rachel says her former relationship with Shira was "teen stuff" and Shira got mad for "no reason".
• Danny Burstein as Uncle Barry, Naomi's uncle by marriage with her aunt Sylvia, the sister of Naomi's mother.
• Avia Fields as Walter and Benjamin Hooper-Schwooper, the hyperactive twin sons of Kendra and Shira.
• Julie Klausner as Carol Schwartz, one of Naomi's sisters
• Zoe Lister-Jones as Susan Schwartz, one of Naomi's sisters

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date	Prod. code
1	"Yoshi's Bar Mitzvah"	Katie Aldworth Jack Shih	Raphael Bob-Waksberg	August 22, 2025 (2025-08-22)	101
In 1996, the Schwooper family are traveling by car to the funeral of Naomi's mother. During the journey, Yoshi cannot stop poking at Shira, and Avi discusses with his parents the Jewish non-belief in the concept of Heaven. In 2004, Avi brings his girlfriend Jen to his childhood home to meet his seemingly dysfunctional family. The couple attend his brother Yoshi's bar mitzvah, where a series of chaotic events unfold at the Jewish Community Center where the celebration is taking place. After the bar mitzvah, Jen and Avi fly back and reaffirming their mutual affection. In 2022, as the episode ends, an older Avi sits alone in a car, with the Paul Simon song "The Obvious Child" playing.
2	"Hannah's Dance Recital"	Aaron Brewer	Kelly Galuska	August 22, 2025 (2025-08-22)	104
In 1991, the siblings and Naomi are at Jersey Shore with Naomi's sisters. Avi and Shira play "lifeguard" until Avi's older cousins pressure him into playing with them instead, leaving Shira alone in the water. In 2014, Shira and her wife Kendra want to conceive a child. While attending a Christmas pageant show starring Hannah, Avi and Jen's daughter, Shira asks Avi to donate his sperm, leading to an awkward falling out between the siblings.
3	"There's a Mattress in There"	Ben Bjelajac	Jordan Young	August 22, 2025 (2025-08-22)	103
In 2006, Naomi and Elliot learn of Yoshi's diagnoses of ADHD and executive dysfunction, and the psychologist reveals, in rare cases, they can be caused by cleaning a baby's pacifier by rubbing it on a shirt—to which Elliot sheepishly admits, infuriating Naomi. In 2013, after being dismissed from his latest job, Yoshi finds short-lived success in selling inflatable mattresses. Mayhem ensues in the Schwooper household after an unexpected product design flaw comes to light.
4	"Shira Can't Cook"	Katie Rice	Mehar Sethi	August 22, 2025 (2025-08-22)	102
In 2012, Shira meets Kendra Hooper at the supermarket after they argue over Kendra having too many items for the express lane. They find common ground when they discover they are both Jewish. In 2021, Shira and Kendra are preparing to enroll their twin boys, Walter and Ben, into elementary school. Despite being a poorly skilled cook, Shira plans to impress the administration of an upmarket school by cooking knishes, using recently deceased mother's recipe, for a prospective parents' potluck. She tries several times to follow the challenging recipe, much to Kendra's dismay.
5	"Yoshi & Baby"	Katie Rice	Laura Donney	August 22, 2025 (2025-08-22)	106
In 1998, Shira and Rachel "Baby" Feldstein play a basketball variant called "Horse." Yoshi wants to play but Shira will not let him because it is a "teenager game." Shira finally lets Yoshi do one shot because Rachel is hoping Yoshi will help her score. While trying to make a shot, he accidentally causes Shira to have a nosebleed. In 2015, Yoshi is getting ready to help Shira and Kendra conceive a child by donating his sperm. The night before the donation, he runs into Rachel, and they spend the next few hours together.
6	"Wolves"	Katie Aldworth	Keyonna Taylor	August 22, 2025 (2025-08-22)	105
In 1997, the family tries to play Avi's fantasy board game; Avi gets annoyed because they do not understand it. The game ends when Naomi discovers the game is set in Germany. Avi explains the game is European. In 2021, Avi tries to get Hannah's school to remove some wayward wild wolves, but he accidentally sparks a movement with some busybody parents.
7	"Kendra's Job"	Ben Bjelajac	Rachelle Williams-BenAry	August 22, 2025 (2025-08-22)	107
In 1993, Kendra's father gives her a princess party room at BJ Banana Fingers, a children's birthday funhouse, for her birthday. Kendra does not enjoy the gift due to her tomboy style. A princess sees Kendra not having fun and takes her to the skateboarding room, which she enjoys more. In 2007, before she meets Shira, Kendra is a competitive floor supervisor at "BJ Banana Fingers". Kendra spends so much time working she pays scant attention to the rest f her life, including her former girlfriend and her younger brother David, and this gets more intense when she is accepted into a managerial training program.
8	"The Intervention"	Aaron Brewer	Elijah Aron	August 22, 2025 (2025-08-22)	108
In 1959, Naomi tries to get her parents and big sisters' attention, but they are all absorbed in their own arguments or tasks. She takes a butterfly brooch and stabs herself in the leg in it to get attention, and cries when her family comforts her. She stops to reveal she rode her bike for an entire block. In 2019, the family meets at Los Angeles for Naomi and Elliot's anniversary; this meeting is a is a front for an intervention because Naomi believes Yoshi is addicted to some substance. Tensions to rise because of Naomi's fussiness.
9	"Honoring Naomi Schwartz"	Katie Aldworth	Taryn Englehart	August 22, 2025 (2025-08-22)	109
In 2014, Avi and Naomi are at the playground with Hannah; they discuss Hannah's biting of a kid in her class. Naomi blames Avi for not giving her siblings.[ clarification needed ] Later in the conversation, Naomi talks about the all-female, sibling rock band HAIM, and how she wishes her own children were close enough to do something similar together. In 2002, the family attends a celebration for Naomi at the Jewish Community Center, where Avi learns more about his mother, Shira leaves to be with Rachel, with whom she started a relationship at the high-school prom, but realizes Rachel never liked her in a romantic way. Yoshi tries to hide from his overbearing great-uncle Barry, and eventually gets drunk with his friend Danny.
10	"Uncle Barry"	Katie Rice	Raphael Bob-Waksberg	August 22, 2025 (2025-08-22)	110
In 2000, Naomi and Avi are visiting Uncle Barry in New York. Barry is planning to move from New York to Las Vegas because he cannot afford to live in a big, expensive house since the death of his wife, Sylvia. Barry invites Naomi to take items from the house; she finds the butterfly brooch that belonged to her mother but Barry wants to keep it. In 2022, Uncle Barry dies and his funeral is held in Las Vegas. The family go to a motel to hold a memorial for both him and Naomi, who died in 2020 from COVID-19.

Production and release

Long Story Short was created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, the creator of BoJack Horseman , who was also the executive producer of Tuca & Bertie and Undone . Long Story Short was commissioned as a series in August 2024. ^[3] Bob-Waksberg serves as the showrunner, and the show is executive-produced by Bob-Waksberg, Noel Bright, and Steven A. Cohen. The production companies are The Tornante Company and ShadowMachine. The main voice cast includes Ben Feldman, Abbi Jacobson, Max Greenfield, Lisa Edelstein, Paul Reiser, Angelique Cabral, and Nicole Byer. ^[4] Each episode's credits contain the disclaimer "This Program Was Made By Humans", denoting generative AI was not used in production. ^[5] Shortly before the show's release, it was renewed for a second season. ^[6]

Long Story Short premiered on Netflix on August 22, 2025. ^[4]

Reception

The review-aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating based on 36 critic reviews. According to the website's critics' consensus: "Tackling emotionally mature themes with an ingeniously zany sense of humor, Raphael Bob-Waksberg's Long Story Short welcomes viewers into a highly specific—and extremely relatable—family unit". ^[7] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave a score of 89 out of 100 based on 17 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". ^[8]

Jenna Scherer of The A.V. Club gave the show's first season a rating of A− and wrote: "The series is all about how people change over the years—and the fact that, no matter how far you run, the past always returns to haunt the present". ^[9] Reviewing the series' first season for The Guardian , Stuart Heritage gave a rating of 4/5, saying it "reminds us that everything is an echo of what came before. This is a testament to Bob-Waksberg's writing. This level of granular, non-linear character development must have been a feat to construct, and yet it feels effortless." ^[10]

References

1. Zahed, Ramin (July–August 2025). "'Long Story Short' Supervising Producer Lisa Hanawalt Delves into the Bonds & Memories Behind the Show". Animation Magazine . Vol. 39, no. 6. pp. 29–31. ISSN   1041-617X . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
2. Murray, Noel (August 6, 2025). "The Best Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix in August" . The New York Times . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
3. Otterson, Joe (August 22, 2024). "'BoJack Horseman' Team of Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Tornante Company, ShadowMachine Reunite for Netflix Animated Series 'Long Story Short'". Variety . Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
4. Milligan, Mercedes (May 5, 2025). "Netflix Reveals Cast of 'Long Story Short' from 'BoJack Horseman' Creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg". Animation Magazine . Retrieved August 19, 2025.
5. Kessel Odom, Dani (August 23, 2025). "Netflix's New BoJack Horseman Replacement Features A Sad Reality About AI". ScreenRant . Valnet. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
6. Gillis, Drew (July 31, 2025). "Have an early season 2 renewal with this Long Story Short trailer". The A.V. Club . Paste Media Group. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
7. "Long Story Short: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved September 18, 2025.
8. "Long Story Short: Season 1". Metacritic . Retrieved September 18, 2025.
9. Scherer, Jenna (August 22, 2025). "Just like BoJack, Long Story Short feels entirely new". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
10. Heritage, Stuart (August 22, 2025). "Long Story Short review – TV so funny and clever it could run for ever". The Guardian . Retrieved August 26, 2025.

External links

• Long Story Short on Netflix
• Long Story Short at IMDb