Long Story Short Cast and Creator Reflect on Family, Traditions, and Nostalgia – INTERVIEW

Long Story Short is a new animated journey from the creator of BoJack Horseman.

Netflix’s newest animated series, Long Story Short, comes from Raphael Bob-Waksberg, the mind behind BoJack Horseman. The ShadowMachine production follows the Schwooper family across decades, jumping between childhood, adulthood, and everything in between. The series strikes a balance between heartfelt nostalgia and sharp comedy, capturing the messiness of growing up.

The voice cast includes Lisa Edelstein, Paul Reiser, Max Greenfield, Angelique Cabral, Nicole Byer, Dave Franco, and Michaela Dietz, alongside Ben Feldman (Superstore) as Avi Schwooper and Abbi Jacobson (Broad City) as Shira Schwooper.

During our conversation, Feldman, Jacobson, and Bob-Waksberg reflected on family traditions, favorite memories, and what makes Long Story Short resonate.

Describing the Schwooper Family

When asked to sum up the Schwoopers in a single word, Bob-Waksberg immediately responded with “hilarious.” Jacobson chose “meaty,” explaining, “There’s a lot to chew on.” Feldman, after some hesitation, landed on “codependent.” The trio laughed about the family’s layered dynamics, with Feldman joking, “They’re a chewy, crunchy bunch. It’s a show about cannibalism.”

Traditions That Stick

The conversation turned personal as the cast and creator shared family traditions that didn’t always bring joy. Jacobson revealed her self-imposed “Thanksgivukkah” tradition, a combination of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah celebrated with her East Coast family. “It’s great, but it’s also a lot of stress, planning, divorced parents, everything,” she said.

Feldman shared his own story of matching red pajamas that his mother-in-law makes the family wear each Christmas morning. “They’re labeled and everything,” he laughed. “There’s a pair that literally says ‘Ben’ on them. We unwrap presents, play in the wrapping paper, and it’s… a lot.”

Smells That Bring Back Memories

For Bob-Waksberg, nostalgia comes in the form of hard-boiled eggs before Passover. “I’m a vegan now, and I don’t even like the smell anymore,” he said. “But I have such a visceral memory of it filling the house before seder.”

Jacobson shared that a certain soap scent instantly reminds her of her grandmother Estelle. Feldman chimed in about “temple smells,” recalling how sensory details carry powerful emotional weight.

The trio even joked about inventing a “Shazam for smells.” Bob-Waksberg laughed, “That’s our idea, don’t take it!”

Why the Series Resonates

For viewers and the team alike, Long Story Short captures the messy, funny, and heartfelt ways families shape us. Feldman and Jacobson agreed they’d both choose “right now” if they could time-jump back to any era of their lives.

“I absolutely love the show because it makes me reflect on my own childhood and brings back a lot of great memories,” Nerdtropolis’ Sean Tajipour told the group. “It’s the perfect series to watch as we get older.”

Long Story Short is now streaming on Netflix.

Read more News on Nerdtropolis. Subscribe to our YouTube.