The streaming service Hulu has dropped a new sitcom, Mid-Century Modern, that more than one pundit has compared to The Golden Girls. The show starred Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan and Betty White as four women of a certain age who lived together in a house in Miami. During its seven-year run, it was in the top ten of the Nielsen ratings for six of those, and the awards it picked up were plenty. In fact, each of its four cast members won Emmys. At one point, TV Guide ranked the series as number four in the best sixty shows of all time.
But how does Mid-Century Modern stack up against The Golden Globes? Well, on this matter Lisa and Tandy’s opinions diverge somewhat.
This Hulu offering was created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, the same producing team that gave us the NBC sitcom, Will & Grace, then a groundbreaking series featuring two gay male characters. Since this was network fare, the zingers were of moderate fare, though the program aired at 9PM, an time slot considered to be after young children’s bedtimes.
With their latest sitcom ensconced on a streamer, Mutchnick and Kohan figuratively have let loose the hounds of war. The gags are beyond R-rated and prior to the show’s opening scenes, HULU has affixed an MA-17 caution. In the first episode alone, more than a few jokes contain vivid references to anal sex.
The show stars Nathan Lane as a wealthy man who made his fortune selling specialty bras, Matt Bomer plays a dim-witted flight attendant, and Nathan Lee Graham is a former fashion correspondent reduced to working in sales at a high-end women’s wear boutique.
Each of their jobs is well-within the range of occupations gay men could work in the earlier days of gay assimilation into society. They are flamboyant characters to boot. Here’s what the entertainment publication trade Variety had to say:
Though the show does lean into several stereotypes of the LGBTQ+ community, it’s all done in good humor and with a bit of flair.
A bit of flair is being more than charitable. Oh and the late Linda Lavin. played Nathan Lane’s mother. Lavin died just prior to shooting the final episodes.
Regarding comparisons to The Golden Girls, it’s difficult to see Mid-Century Modern winning any awards save Lamda or Human Rights Campaign recognition, let alone enjoying a seven-year run.
