Thirtytsomething the TV series

I never really watched the show, but thought Ken Olin was so handsome.

I generally liked it. I rewatched it about 12 years ago and it held up.

Me too, R1, but have you seen pics of him lately?

I was born in 87 and remember my mother always watching this show f when I was very young.

I thought Olin was handsome as well.

I also found Corey Parker (who played Melanie Mayron's BF) and Peter Frechette (David Marshall Grant's BF) sexy

I went with a friend while they auditioned for a small role in Crocodile Dundee 3. We were sitting in the hallway on the floor as there were no chairs. Mayron comes in and plops down opposite me and pulls out a script. I politely interrupted her and said that I loved "Melissa" the most, even though I was more like Michael as I was in advertising. She was so warm and gracious. Since I don't see the film on her IMDB, I guess she dodged a bullet as did my friend when he wasn't cast either.

It definitely captured the zeitgeist of the late 80s. Very enjoyable at the time. I rewatched much of it in the early 2000s and yes, it has held up fairly well.

Ken Olin was super hot.

Peter Horton was sizzling.

Timothy Busfield was meh.

It also introduced us to David Marshall Grant who went on to be a longtime favorite of mine.

Tasteful friends...

I loved the Gary storylines - I bawled my ass off when he died!

Mel Harris, who played Hope, was SO frauey in that series (and a perfect match for Ken Olin, married IRL to Patricia Wettig), but in reality she's been married like 4 times and sounds like kind of a train wreck as far as relationships go. Like a less-together Ellyn.

Ken Olin must have been starving himself to stay thin the whole time he was in front of the camera.

As soon as he got behind the camera, he let himself go and apparently started eating anything and everything.

Remember when Nancy has cancer and gets her new out-there, seemingly no boundaries, cancer friend, who at first is welcome for her familiarity with what Nancy is going through and in getting Nancy to loosen up, but then it goes off the rails and Nancy realizes she still has responsibility for others and cancer friend reveals she has lot of other shit going on than just dealing with cancer.

That Michael and Elliot were in advertising was so 80s. The whole arc with Michael become (more of?) a yuppie and climbing the ladder and all episodes with the Miles Dentrel character were gold. David Clennon nailed that character. It really is an 80s time capsule.

Agree! In the mid-10’s I found a “best of” dvd (at WalMart!) that had about twelve episodes. I too was impressed how good it was, still. It also really took me back. Sooo peak 80’s.

There was no internet then so no spoilers. Gary's death came as a shock.

The leads were nicely balanced. Hope is easy to dismiss as frau-y, uptight, and brittle, which she was, but there were layers there. It was never one of those shows where there's no one I actually liked. Many of the characters could be annoying at times, but I never really disliked any of them. I found Nancy more annoying than Hope at first for some reason. I LOVED the dynamic that Susannah brought to it when she was introduced.

Never saw it. Not going to watch it now.

My parents loved this show. Even at 12 years old I could see it was self-reverential Boomers masturbating to themselves.

I’ve always been curious about this show since it shared some of the same producers as My So Called Life, which is one of my favorites. Now that I’m in my thirties, I should check it out. How is everyone watching? Is it streaming somewhere?

I was in college in the late 80s when this aired - my friends and I loved it. Melissa and Ellyn were our favorites., the single ladies who couldn’t find a way to be happy. There was a great episode when they went to a video dating service (which is so 80s).

I also loved the actors they cast as everyone’s parents: Phyllis Newman as Melissa’s mom, Shirley Knight as Hope’s mom, Barbara Barrie as Michael’s mom.

I have season one on DVD, maybe I’ll watch it again.

Was the show a serial or was it everything wrapped up each episode?

Even though the tone was vastly different (and it wasn’t necessarily a comedy), I still always saw this show as being in the same realm as MOONLIGHTING.

Is it available for streaming?

I was 19 when I started watching this and I really liked it, and recall eagerly settling down on my pillow back couch in late 80s pastel colors each week. I even liked the opening credits music. To me, it was kind of like an inside look on what it was like to be a "real grown up." LOL

r20 - it was a serial.

TV Guide says it is not currently available anyplace for streaming.

I loved both LA Law and thirtysomething and thought one day my life will be like theirs. Turned out they were just well written fiction.

Here’s nice reunion

[quote]I even liked the opening credits music.

The entire soundtrack is amazing.

You're right, r27. It was almost like its own character on the show.

[quote]I loved both LA Law and thirtysomething and thought one day my life will be like theirs. Turned out they were just well written fiction.

Luckily you avoided the killer elevator.

As a teen, I read that this episode would have 2 men in bed.

I watched.

I spewed buckets of jizz, thinking about this scene.

[quote]Thirtytsomething

Oh, dear.

Whoever said the series isn’t on DVD. WRONG

R10 that Ken Olin compared to 80s Ken Olin is a tragedy.

R63 is obviously an old, bitter bitch.

Just $250, r32.

Loved this show. Watched the whole thing in syndication on Lifetime in the summer of '91, between my freshman and sophomore years of college. Michael and Melissa were my favorite characters. Loved Miles Drentell and the DAA storylines. Really well-written, almost Upkike-ian stories.

The actors who played the characters' fathers were good, too -- George Coe as Hope's dad, Steven Hill as Michael's dad, and Herb Edelman (Stan Zbornak!) as Melissa's dad.

r34, I hope I'm R63, because I am going to write the absolute sweetest thing about you.

Patricia Wettig was brilliant in it.

But then, how many times can you see CATS?

There was a reboot script pre-pandemic that ABC passed on. Here it is.

I played the hell out of the thirtysomething soundtrack album.

Sorry it’s just a treatment not the entire script.

I was in my 20s then and same age as Jennifer Aniston. Friends was my definitive 90s show. This show always looked lame.

My friends and I were afraid they were going to kill off Nancy but while everyone was in her hospital room toasting her remission poor Gary died in a biking accident. It was heartbreaking and I couldn’t sleep that night. Wait, I’ll just MARY myself right now.

It seems that whenever Shout Factory gets involved in licensing video sales of a TV series, the show ends up disappearing from being broadcast in reruns and/or streaming in the U.S.

WEIRD!

OP has copied and pasted my old thread word for word - thought the lingo sounded familiar

r42 - this series ran from 87-91. Don't think it can be called a "90s show."

On top of that, those 2 shows featured completely different stages of life; thus the title "THIRTYSOMETHING." Friends could have alternately be called "Immature 20somethings Trying to Get Their Shit Together and Figure Out How to be Adults."

Once & Again from the same team has aged much better.

Highly recommended re-watch if you liked it at the time.

That IS weird, r45. Who would do that?

Me! I would do that!

Though I didn't.

R46 people on the DL do not care about facts. They only care about spurting out opinions.

Does Busfield's shit bra wearing wife make an appearance, R26?

Only 11 more replies R34 until you don't look foolish.

Nah, you still will.

I think Ken looks great with that beard.

R5@ give it a rest for today and go back to the toilet.

Thirtysomething was Peak Boomer

The breakdown of Hope and Michael’s marriage was very well done, especially the Arizona episode.

Is the issue with song rights keeping the series from streaming?

It was on Amazon Prime for a while. Not sure why it;s not now.

All four seasons are on DVD.

I haven't watched the DVDs or streamed the series, so don't know how much of the music is intact, but the fact it has been available suggests that music isn't the issue.

Hope's friend who was so annoying in the early series really grew and became one of the best and funniest characters. Mayron also really grew. She had some great storylines and she was the "youngest" in spirit. Gary's cold wife who all the others hated, was a good later addition.

i swear i saw at least one episode on Daily Motion a couple years ago.

Yep, link below goes to S01E01 of series. I think they are all on there, it's just a matter of googling each ep.

I read somewhere that it has to do with the same old story regarding streaming. Music rights. That’s why they could never release Knots Landing or WKRP. Too many songs on both to clear.

Nut job Evan Rachel Wood was excellent in Once & Again. I remember being so impressed by her deft for being so young.

I watched all of it when it originally aired and enjoyed it. I just realized that Ellyn's boyfriend, the actor Terry Kinney, is who Fred Armisen reminds me of. Comparing them side by side, they're hardly doubles. But there's something about their facial expressions that has my face-obsessed brain lumping them together.

THE show about entitled white cunts

I love in the Arizona episode when Hope and Michael are having a fight, Shirley Knight (Hope’s mother) pops her head in the door and says, “LA Law’s on!”

I’m pretty sure they were in the same Tuesday night time slot and, of course, LA Law was a big hit.

Thirtysomething aired Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC

LA Law aired Thursdays at 10 p.m. on NBC.

Some shows, like Thirtysomething and Sisters, seemed to be of decent quality but just didn't become popular with newer audiences.

A few shows are limited re: music rights....apparently that's why we'll never see The Days and Night of Molly Dodd.

Of course Ken Olin, Patricia Wettig and a few others were on the Sally Field Programme.

[...]

^^what does this mean, r67? I've been coming here for years and don't recall seeing a reference to this.

[quote]I’m pretty sure they were in the same Tuesday night time slot and, of course, LA Law was a big hit.

Nope. LA Law was on Thursday night.

[...]

R69 it was the nickname someone gave to Brothers & Sisters, which was on ABC in the late 00s. It had a number of the same producers/writers and a few of the same actors.

Patricia Wettig played the whore who was feuding with Sally Field.

Ah, thanks for explaining r72. I never watched Brothers & Sisters.

[...]

I remember my mom watching it and loving it. Didn’t everyone think Patricia Wettig was going to die of the cancer and then they killed off Timothy Busfield very suddenly and she lived? I remember being a gayling and my mom was shaken to her core about that episode.

^^Am I getting senile? I don't recall Timothy Busfield's character (Elliot) being killed off; are you thinking of Peter Horton who played Gary?

I was wrong - it wasn’t busfield it was Peter Horton. Here is the scene. Pretty intense.

Is there anywhere you can watch it?

There appears to be no streaming access, r78. All four seasons are available on DVD at my public library.

Don't you friggin' people bother to read all the comments? Or do you just whip down to the comment box to leave what you think is witty and wisdom, but really isn't.

I'm looking at you R77 and R78.

r78/r79, see my post at r59. It's at Dailymotion.com.

Thanks for posting that, r77. It's probably been more than 20 years since I watched that scene. Still extremely powerful, and very well-acted, especially by Ken Olin.

r70, meet r66.

R82 right? I didn’t even watch the show (my mom did) and I was moved. That was well done.

If it was about the average DLer, it would be called 80something or The Walking Dead.

If it was about R85, it would be called Lonelysomething or That Desperate.

[quote] Some shows, like Thirtysomething and Sisters, seemed to be of decent quality but just didn't become popular with newer audiences

Sisters is pretty much forgotten which is sad because there were some great performances on that show. The DVD sets were released in 2015 and 2016. I bought them because I had and still have the feeling that the show will never been on a streaming platform. However, I didn't watch them until 2020 when my job was moved to remote status and I was home more. I got into the habit of watching one or two episodes before work and usually when I was working I found it easier to listen to music or podcasts. After work or on the weekends, I would watch more episodes. I enjoyed the show for the most part during the rewatch. There were episodes that I couldn't stand like John's weird music career, Frankie marrying Teddy's ex-husband Mitch, Alex temporarily adopting a fan's child, etc. It still sucks that a decent show like that has been forgotten.

Why was Gary killed off? Because the actor wanted to move on, or for shock value?

r88 IMDB had Peter Horton (Gary) listed as being on all 85 episodes, so I don't think he wanted to move on. I think it was just a plotline to advance the significance of losing impt ppl in your life as you age. He continued to appear in flashbacks and as a kind of "ghost" after he actually was killed on the show (IIRC).

He also started a directing career.

I’d like to see just one show to revisit the characters. Sixtysomething?

I liked the third and fourth season and the corporate drama with Miles Drentell and the DAA. That was such a good and interesting storyline. Michael suddenly climbing up the ladder in the company while Elliot was struggling. First time I had seen a drama focus on a big advertising company and not a law firm or finance and I was immediately hooked when Mad Men premiered several years later.

I also loved the Melissa and Lee relationship. They were so cute together. She also had a gay friend, Russell, and as a young gayling it was great that the show had gay characters.

Does anyone remember Michael's colleague Peter? I think he also dated Russell. Did we ever find out if he really was HIV positive or had Aids? I remember he freaked out about a test or a health scare, but don't really remember if he was positive or just scared.

R92 I remember Peter and Russell. The scene of them in bed caused controversy for ABC.

Which main character had the most significant acting career post-Thirtysomething?

Specifically acting, not directing or other entertainment industry careers,

These 30 something gals from a show from 1987 are “now in their 50s”? How’d they do that math. They’re 65 to 74 now if they were 30-something back then.

I haven't seen the Gary dying episode since it first aired. I forgot how good the show was and how good the actors were.

Here's a little trivial for fans of "The Americans" (another outstanding series). The real Russian names of Phillip and Elizabeth were Mikhail and Nadezhda - Michael and Hope.

R86 LOL. Says The Walking Dead. Sure, gramps.

R94, not particularly a fan, but I'd have to say Wettig. Though Busfield worked a lot too. Olin, Mayron and Horton all took up directing.

I have all four seasons on DVD and watched my favorite episode yesterday, "Melissa in Wonderland" which was also a pilot for a potential spin-off for the Melanie Mayron character, and co-starred Brooke Adams, Matthew Laurence and Carol Burnett's daughter, Carrie Hamilton, who died in 2002

^^of lung cancer at 38, no less.

My other favorite episode is "Happy New Year" where Hope finds out her college boyfriend died on New Year's Eve and she says to Michael:

"How many times does that happen in your life? Someone standing in the snow calling your name..."

God I loved Sisters. Remember how they all had male names. As a gayling I found that really clever.

Was Melanie Mayron an out lez during thirtysomething or was that a surprise when she came out after? She was married and had kids with the woman who later broke up Jodie Foster’s long term relationship (Cynthia Mort).

In terms of who had the most successful career post Thirtysomething it would be hard to argue anyone else but Ken Olin. He Exec produced and show ran Alias Brothers and Sisters and This is Us. The guy seems to know what he’s doing.

[quote]My other favorite episode is "Happy New Year" where Hope finds out her college boyfriend died on New Year's Eve

& she was being all weird and cold with him and he didn't know why. I hate people who do that.

[quote]My other favorite episode is "Happy New Year"

It was 1991. Blimey! 31 years ago

As someone mentioned above pre-internet, Gary's death was a huge shock because it was an unexpected accident and when hinted in the promos of a death, people were prepared for Wettig's character died. There was a lot of workplace water cooler talk about it the next day.

The other shocked moments discussed at work around that time was Kimberly alive - wig on Melrose Place and Rosalind falling down the elevator shaft on LA Law (although that might have been a shark jumping moment as well).

Sisters did have some good acting, but it was also melodrama versus a well written show. Not that it was not entertaining and have some effective moments. I will say the mother could be annoying from time to time. It had a loyal following, but do not think it was as big as 30something was in the media etc.

Wasn't the mom on Sisters an alcoholic or am I remembering it wrong?

Melanie Mayron’s character always seemed so bruised and fragile.

With the exception of the pop culture references, the fashion obviously and everyone checking their answering machine for messages the show holds up remarkably well. I bought all seasons on DVD a few years back and had watched the series when it was on the first time and I was completely sucked back in. It's a bit heavy handed at times but on the whole the cancer story, the story of the break up of Elliot and Nancy's marriage, Melissa's journey, Gary becoming a father and Michael were a real pleasure.

The two characters I was most surprised by and have different feelings about are Hope and Ellyn. I always found Ellyn annoying but were some reason in rewatching I really liked her and the evolution of the character. I think she grew the most. And I loved her friendship with Gary and finally finding a husband. I was so surprised how much I liked the character. On the other hand, Hope continues to be an insuffurable cunt. What a god awful character. She should have died. Not Gary.

[quote]always found Ellyn annoying but were some reason in rewatching I really liked her and the evolution of the character. I think she grew the most. And I loved her friendship with Gary and finally finding a husband. I was so surprised how much I liked the character.

Yes, she grew and they made her funny. She had some very funny lines and great story lines. Like when she had the affair with the married guy with the precocious daughter.

[quote] On the other hand, Hope continues to be an insuffurable cunt. What a god awful character. She should have died. Not Gary.

She was the worst and Michael second to her and I seem to be the only homosexual in the Western Hemisphere who didn't think he was so hot either.

In the beginning Hope & Michael were far more central to the show as time went on everyone else was given equal airtime.

Mayron's character seemed to be based on the character she played in the late 70s arthouse movie :"Girlfriends"

The show was a rip-off of the film "The Big Chill" and everyone realized that at the time.

I was always jealous of Michelle Pfeiffer getting to have Peter Hortons cock every damn day...in his prime.

Mary Kay Place planted the seed to her role on My So-Called Life in the "Happy New Year" episode, which was written and created by Winnie Holzman. The houses used for both shows were shot on the same street in South Pasadena

I want Michael and Hope's house.

Ours was the loveliest home in all of Pasadena.

And I loved my children. I mean, one daughter couldn't decide if she was more of a whore or a bitch, and the other one, well, even Helen Keller could see she was an obvious lesbian in training. And my darling, handsome son was a manwhore who worked on nothing but our collective nerves.

But they were my precious little angels.

Can I fix you a drink? I sure need one.

I had my first dirty dream about Ken Olin when I was 14 and Thirtysomething had just gone on the air, for that reason I will always look back on the show with fondness.

I had a crush on Miles Drentell for some reason. Apparently I have a thing for yuppie sociopaths. When he practically attacked Melissa I thought she was one lucky bitch.

^You are very weird.

The obvious Emmy-thirst with the endless Patricia Wettig cancer-theme episodes went on too long and I never re-watch those

Ellyn's character takes on a whole different energy and vibe when her hair grows longer

Ken Olin's ass is always perfectly fitted in his Girbaud pants and is photographed well throughout the series

I would have licked Michael's hairy shitter.

I thought Michael was hot in an understated yet stable way (i.e. he would make a great husband/partner), but Gary was delicious. I'm surprised Peter Horton didn't have a more extensive career.

Thirtysomething never rose above mid to late 30s in the weekly Nielsen ratings but the demographic was highly coveted by advertisers. It was a genuine cultural phenomenon, referred to endlessly by both fans and haters of the show alike. I kind of remember it had a Rolling Stone cover or at least a major feature (see link). It won the Emmy for Best Drama series it’s first season out. When you watch it now, you can see how incredibly influential it was; thirtysomething planted the seeds for what would later become “peak tv”, a golden age of American drama on television.

It deserved another season but a new exec at ABC decided he didn’t like it and literally pulled the plug on it overnight.

[quote]I want Michael and Hope's house.

It's apparently a real house in Pasadena. Why did I think it was on the studio lot?

I was looking at the location of Nancy & Elliot's house and across the road I saw this ⤵️

For some reason the street is a favoured TV/movie location.

Michael & Hope were SO annoying and self-conscious in their scenes together. They made me cringe even back then.

I got the DVDs when they were finally released which replaced my home made videos of the show., I read too that music rights was the sticking point for the DVDs and the one noticeable holdout is "Going to the Chapel" in the episode where Ellyn marries. Instead they have a generic piece of wedding music for the first scene.

Peter Frechette's gay man makes a wrong Barbra reference. He says a line comes from Nuts but it actually comes from What's Up, Doc?

This book that came out in 2017 is a great resource about behind the scenes. It’s interviews with cast and creatives. They talk about the potential fifth season and it sounds like the network was behind it and wanted to do it. It sounds like the cast was also up for it as well. However the creators of the show,Ed Zwick and Marshall Hershavitz were leaving the show to concentrate on making movies. The network wanted the executive producers, Richard Kramer, Scott Winant and Joe Daughterty to over the show. They couldn’t come to terms and so they show was canceled. By the way in that spring of 1991 ABC canceled Thirtysomething China Beach and Twin Peaks. Kind of ironic.

Just bought the kindle version - thanks, R128

There was a 'Thirtysomething' Zoom reunion in which the actors talked about the writers taking inspiration from their lives when creating storylines. Melanie Mayron recounted telling a story about dating Sissy Spacek's gynecologist (she and Spacek have been friends since the early '70s and were in 'Missing' together), and the next week getting a script in which her character said "I'm in love with my gynecologist!" or something to that effect.

In those days I used to write down funny or good lines from movies and TV shows - here's one I remember Elliot to some gurl at his ad agency "Are you sure you're OK?" - "Just get me chocolate cake and some Darvon and I'll be fine."

Mel Harris has been married six times.

Anne Berlin had six fingers.

Miles Drentell was one of the greatest characters in television. I think Michael and Elliot thought he was gay, too, but I could be remembering this wrong. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the show.

In the series’ 4 short years it won 28 awards and got 63 nominations which is impressive.

[quote]Miles Drentell was one of the greatest characters in television.

Are you kidding? He was one note. Same character was written into Once & Again played by the same actor.

[quote]I think Michael and Elliot thought he was gay, too, but I could be remembering this wrong.

You're remembering wrong, but you're gay and projecting, which is quite normal.

[quote]It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the show.

Yes.

Drentell was a lot of fun and Clennon played him a bit tongue-in-cheek, chewing the scenery, enjoying the character's quirks and reptilian nature. But I wouldn't call him one of the greatest character of all time.

Clennon did make that part his own. I remember hoping Miles was in an episode. He was as great a bitch as Alexis.

Hopeless imitation of The Big Chill which ripped off Sayles' Secause 7. Have never understood the sustained interest.

Clennon was great. A great example of taking what was likely supposed to be a one-episode character and elevating him into something memorable. Another good example of this was Michael Emerson who played Ben Linus on "Lost." In fact the two characters were oddly similar in some ways -- cerebral, dry, bitchy.

R138 and yet here you are sustaining interest

Miles Drentell was like a small screen Gordon Gecko.

It was kind of refreshing Michael and Elliot weren't lawyers or investment bankers.

I used to love that show, though I could never figure why the hell they could never seem to finish remodeling that damn house. The show got mocked as self-indulgent, but it was really the forerunner of shows like Grey's Anatomy, Mad Men and even in some respects the Sopranos by showing married couples and their kids as they really were - not Hollywood's idea of what a family is and also how much of every day life at work is consumed by petty bullshit, not really the *big stuff*

[quote]I used to love that show, though I could never figure why the hell they could never seem to finish remodeling that damn house.

If your first house is an old house, the fucking thing is NEVER done! I used to wonder how my friends could live like that, in their unfinished old houses. Then I bought one!

I never watched it. I think I was at the age where I was out partying and not watching much TV. Surprised its not streaming on some channel.

As mentioned previously, it's on DVD.

It's also on Amazon Prime Video, but it's not available to be played in the US?

[quote] This video is currently unavailable to watch in your location

Or maybe it's just not available for anyone yet?

Actors with small roles on the show are Brad Pitt, Patricia Arquette, Angela Bassett, Dana Delany, Courtney B. Vance, Marg Helgenberger, Mariska Hargitay, Faith Ford and Kevin Pollack

Brad Pitt fucked the babysitter on Hope's couch if I remember correctly.

The first time I heard "Tupelo Honey" was when Hope comes home feeling guilty from work and dances to it after the babysitter says "She loves Van Morrison"

My bedtime was 8:30 or 9PM when the show premiered but I do remember watching a few episodes, I remember Michael playing basketball, Melissa with Carly Simon and Elliot asking Nancy if she still shaved her legs.

[quote]It was on Amazon Prime for a while. Not sure why it;s not now.

And it wasn’t too long ago, R57, I put it on my watch list but never got around to it.

^ bad things happen to people who wait.

I always hated this show. So depressing and humorless. Very dated when you watch today.

R151 why would you re-watch a show today that you've always hated, read through a thread about it and post your depressing and humorless opinion about it?

Did Hope fuck, or at least kiss, the environmental guy she worked with? I don't think so, but I can't remember. Wasn't she have feelings for him, or not?

John Dunaway, r153! I can't believe I remember that.

I think it was a kiss, or a near-kiss.

The Return of the Secaucus Seven Redux.

I would like to revisit the episode where Elliott gets a directing gig. It freaked me out at the time, but I can't recall exactly why.

R152 Because, my dear, I was just a kid when the show originally aired. I tried watching a few episodes a few years ago as an adult to see if maybe I would feel differently, but I didn’t.

Does that answer your question?

R157 because you still are very interested to be one-hundred fifty-seven replies deep on a thread of a show you claim you hated immediately and yet rewatched, your overall depressed insufferable vibe does answer the question, my dear

I haven't heard that the "Melissa in Wonderland" episode was intended as a pilot for a potential spin-off. Maybe if the Lee character also moved to Los Angeles as well since it seems it was planned that he marry Melissa.

The Melissa's Men episode was one of my faves - when she has her photographic show and Lee turns up at the end.

I don't see why the revival show had to be about the kids grown up.

Oh god, R155. Have you ever tried to watch The Return of the Secaucus Seven? It's SO badly acted as to be pretty much unwatchable. Like a college graduate film.

People in the thirties seemed so mature and old in those days. Or maybe people in their thirties are immature now.

Recently I turned thirty, and saw a few clips of the show. Can’t relate to it it all.

Thank you, R161! Several years ago I was so excited to get to watch this when it was streaming somewhere. My whole life I'd heard about how it was the original and far superior Big Chill.

Never made it through, it was so bush league.

I've no doubt Lawrence Kasdan ripped it off, but The Big Chill was entertaining and well-photographed and acted, with a fantastic soundtrack. So it wins, in my book.

[quote]The Big Chill was entertaining and well-photographed and acted, with a fantastic soundtrack. So it wins, in my book.

I hated it and it's even worse when I rewatch it (for 25 seconds MAX)

R130 look at R26

R159 It was well written and funny. Could have been good spin off.

There were a couple of episodes I really loved. One that stands out was the third season episode Mr Right when Ellyn and Melissa try a video dating service. Its really wonderful.

The other was towards the end of the 4th season and Peter returns right after Gary dies and Peter finds out he's HIV positive. Susannah also returns to clear up Gary's estate. Its called Closing the Circle. I love it.

[quote]The other was towards the end of the 4th season and Peter returns right after Gary dies and Peter finds out he's HIV positive.

Gee, you sure chose a cheerful one.

I hated Susannah, though not so much I wouldn't watch Sisters, in which Patricia Kalember played Georgie.

[quote] I LOVED the dynamic that Susannah brought to it when she was introduced.

Me too. The way they depicted the progression of her relationship with Gary, and how she was perfect for him after all his other women, was so well done. As was having his true love be someone his friends couldn't stand.

I never liked Ellyn, but I did love how after the absolute catastrophe of her relationship with the married guy (that killer dumped over the phone scene!), she ended up with a guy that she had previously dismissed, because she didn't appreciate what he had to offer before. The wedding episode is great.

[quote] Or maybe people in their thirties are immature now.

Ding ding ding. People are extending their adolescence way past their teen years now, without shame. In the time period of the show, if you were still living with your parents in your mid-to-late twenties, you were a freak.

Fun fact: remember the model from Nancy's art class whom she fantasized about during her cancer arc? That was Eric Rosse, later Tori Amos' boyfriend and the producer of her first two albums.

I was a teen/20s when this was on and.the idea of these yuppie boomer motherfuckers aggravated me. Decades later I happened to see an episode somewhere and went through the trouble of watching the whole series. It was actually pretty good.

[quote]Fun fact: remember the model from Nancy's art class whom she fantasized about during her cancer arc? That was Eric Rosse,

Nancy dated a sexy older guy (older to me at the time) - but Elliot came and won her back. I would have gone with her date. Anyone remember who he was?

I was just out of university, stuck at home, looking for work and watching their navel gazing and angst drove me insane. Eventually the show lightened up a bit and I really enjoyed it. Nancy's recovery and Gary's death were good storytelling and the music was terrific in every respect.

I don't remember the music being so great.

The fantasy sequences were REALLY annoying.

[quote]I don't remember the music being so great.

I bet you just LOVE Madonna.

Ken Olin had gone fully nude in a skinny dipping scene from Ghost Story long before Thirtysomething. Unfortunately it was filmed at a distance so you couldn't see much.

R176 Madonna aka the most critically acclaimed female artist of all time according to Metacritic

[quote][R176] Madonna aka the most critically acclaimed female artist of all time according to Metacritic.

And they're wrong.

Madonna ruined popular music.

R179 they can't be wrong because it's not an opinion, it's based on an artists career reviews by the major music reviewers

She was #26 most acclaimed artist in history overall and the #1 woman

What gets me is why are there NO female artists in the top 25?

Didn't the show feature a lot of music by James Taylor and Jackson Browne? I don't remember much Madonna being played.

According to some of the cast, it isn't the music that is preventing the show from streaming. On another note, Polly Draper looks better than she did then. Mel Harris looks like Belinda Carlisle, and Peter Horton and Patricia Wettig have hardly changed.

I always thought on the show that Melanie Mayron looked like Annie Potts

In fact I remember being a kid in the early 90s and stumbling across thirtysomething and my Mom swearing that Melanie was Annie Potts and that Annie was doing this and Designing Women at the same time

"Like Heather Locklear did " I remember my Mom saying

[quote]According to some of the cast, it isn't the music that is preventing the show from streaming.

Care to share? I'm in the woods on holiday and my signal is pathetic.

@R185, according to the linked interview, it is MGM holding up streaming and not the issues surrounding the music.

^ Thanks. One bar. Even the woods isn't interesting enough to compensate for one bar.

It was about yuppies.

R183 I like Mel Harris' strategically placed cam so that you can see the fireplace burning in the background. So cozy.

[quote] Did Hope fuck, or at least kiss, the environmental guy she worked with

[quote] John Dunaway, [R153]! I can't believe I remember that.

Played by J D Souther, the singer and musician (who wrote a bunch of the Eagles’ biggest hits, produced some of Linda Ronstad’s music, etc.)

One thing I find kind of weird somehow is that Tim Busfield is now married to Melissa Gilbert. There was a thread here about the godawful moldy house in upstate NY that they moved into and renovated.

Holy shit- the actresses in that video look fucking amazing. Even Melissa.

(Mel Harris has a harsh look though- like a bad forehead/brow lift or something)

This show was on before I was even in junior high and I was obsessed with it (I was pretty mature for an 10 year old and only liked shows about adults)

My mom used to catch me watching it on my little black and white TV.

She then started taping it for me.

I thought Ken Olin was the most handsome man ever. I particularly remember SPOILER. ...

the Nancy Cancer storyline and of course Gary's end..

I have not seen this show in at least 20 years (Did it play on Lifetime in the late 90's??)

And I always remember Nancy in the hospital looking out the window after getting good news and saying life seems new and everything is shining, and its just a parking lot..

[quote]it's based on an artists [sic] career reviews by the major music reviewers.

Sweetie, you do realize those are just opinions, not facts. Record sales are facts, but Slim Whitman sold 70 million over his career. Doesn't mean he was good.

R192 ok I'll bite

Madonna is also the biggest selling female artist of all time worldwide and the biggest grossing solo touring artist, male or female, of all time

[quote]Played by J D Souther, the singer and musician (who wrote a bunch of the Eagles’ biggest hits, produced some of Linda Ronstadt’s music, etc.)

J.D. wrote some of Linda's best songs, too: Prisoner in Disguise, White Rhythm & Blues, Faithless Love, Hearts against the Wind, and Simple Man, Simple Dreams.

[quote]Madonna is also the biggest selling female artist of all time worldwide and the biggest grossing solo touring artist, male or female, of all time.

Which means a LOT of people have extremely bad taste. BTW, tell your mom we said hello, Lourdes.

[quote]Madonna is also the biggest selling female artist of all time worldwide

And more people eat Big Macs everyday instead of something good.

Did someone say Slim Whitman! I LOVED HIM in Indira!

r196, oh, dearing myself for "everyday" instead of "every day."

R191 you’re going to be a Spoiler alert on a show that ended more than 30 years ago? LOL ok.

I remember Ken Olin doing a season of Hill Street Blues and half season Falcon Crest prior to thirtysomething

R199- You can't win here, and I figured I would be yelled at by a 25 year old who just bought the DVD's or something..

For instance, I have never seen an episode of "This Is Us" nor do I do anything about it except that fat chick- thanks to everyone here.

^^ know anything about it^^

[quote]or something.

Why did you even add this, R201.

^ Oh, stop hissing about nonsense.

Ken Olin was such a babe. When I was in high school, this show was on syndication and aired regularly (like, maybe every day) on some basic cable channel like Lifetime or A&E. Anyone remember VCR Plus? Well before On-Demand and DVR, we had VCR Plus where you could program in the code of an upcoming airing of a show and your VCR would automatically record the show for you. After everyone had gone to bed, I'd scan through those video tapes in case VCR Plus had captured an episode in which Ken stripped down to his boxers. And, if he did, hallelujah, I had another one to add to the spank bank. Kids today don't know how easy they have it!

R183 totally agree! Polly Draper does not look at all like the same person who played Ellyn, but she looks really good nonetheless!

Patricia Wettig looks great/same, and Olin, for all the aging/gray paunch, I still definitely would. No question whatsoever.

If you like Polly Draper you HAVE to see Shiva Baby. She's so great in it.

Melanie Mayron now looks like your kooky Jewish aunt ...

Ken Olin fucked me in the ass.

In the ASS, baby!

Polly Draper was recently on an episode of Hacks.

There was a Thirtysomething TV movie in 2020?

R210 That was probably the pilot for the reboot that wasn't picked by ABC in 2020.

Here's the review of the pilot script and it was sequel focusing on the some of the kids of the characters from the original show.

I assume the streaming rights will be back on Amazon soon since they bought MGM

R191 couldn’t be bothered to read the actual thread. Not only was Gary’s death previously discussed, someone kindly provided a link to the episode.

OMG I had no idea that was Polly Draper on that episode of Hacks.

[quote]Nancy dated a sexy older guy (older to me at the time) - but Elliot came and won her back. I would have gone with her date. Anyone remember who he was?

Was it this guy, R173?

Timothy Carhart, who went on to rape Geena Davis in Thelma & Louise. (But was it rape rape?)

He also played Mitch in the B’way revival of Streetcar with Jessica Lange, which just seems funny since Mitch isn’t meant to be studly at all.

I’ve never watched it but heard of it.

Judging off the photos, they look like forty and fifty somethings.

Executive producer Ed Zwick started out as a producer and showrunner on DL favorite Family.

It's telling that he didn't ask Sada Thompson, Meredith Baxter-Lesbian or Gary Frank to make a guest appearance on thirtysomething. (Kristy McNichol was on Empty Nest during thirtysomething's run.)

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that the actor playing Ellyn's married boyfriend with the accident-prone daughter is Richard Gilliland - the beloved late husband of DL fave Jean Smart. That makes Polly's stint on Hacks even more kismet since Polly and Richard go way back.

It's too bad the Thirtysomething reboot didn't pan out. I was looking forward to it and it's one of the very few shows that actually makes sense to revisit. I'd be interested in seeing the original characters journey through their sixties and seventies in a world that has fallen short of their countercultural ideals while their children try to figure out their thirties and forties in the 21st century.

I wish the producers would revisit My So-Called Life too. 2022 is the year of the characters' 25th high school reunion and it would've been cool to do like a one-off episode or short film to see what became of Ricky, Rayanne, Sharon, Angela, Jordan and Brian.

From the same era----also rarely seen----->>The Trials of Rosie O'Neill starring DL Fave Sharon Gless....Someone posted a few episodes on YT if anyone cares...It actually lasted Two Seasons...

The thirtysomething reboot wasn't picked up because of money — it would have cost twice as much as any other drama series out of the gate, because they would have had to pay salaries for the original cast members atop the new generation.

Not the kind of reboot people want. People don't know what they want. They have to be told. And also Thirtysomething doesn't sound like a complex, nuanced, well written show at all and definitely doesn't belong on HBO or anything.

R222. LOL! I told you I liked adult shows. I watched The Trials Of Rosie O'Neill too!! I think I was 13 by the time that show started.

It had that pretty song in the beginning

Ken Olin only appears briefly at the end of "Melissa in Wonderland" when she returns back from working with Bernie Joy, and I always assumed his dialogue was improvised: "Is she a bitch or what? So, what's the dirt...does she sleep around?"

Hope and Ellyn were in the show too in a dream sequence.

Mel Harris became pregnant in real life and they incorporated it into the plot for Hope. Patricia Kalember was also pregnant when she was cast as Susannah but had had her baby by the time they had Susannah be showing to be pregnant.

You gurls will like this. I think I even remember when it was on (British) TV.

Ed Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz and the cast talk about thirtysomething.

Last 13 minutes of Gary's death episode.

Shittysomething

[quote]Last 13 minutes of Gary's death episode.

Thanks, I've been dying to revisit that scene.

Ken Olin looks terrible.......but I miss the show........Gary was hot hot hot..........

Thirtyschomething! Gosch, I juscht thought that Russchel wasch huschband material! Melisscha should never have let him get away!

One of SNL's best parodies/faux commercials

Everyone just keeps reposting the same clips over and over. LOL

I always thought Polly Draper was the poor man’s Timothee Chalamet.

[quote]Actors with small roles on the show are Brad Pitt, Patricia Arquette, Angela Bassett, Dana Delany, Courtney B. Vance, Marg Helgenberger, Mariska Hargitay, Faith Ford and Kevin Pollack

Wow! So basically all of the guest stars had huge careers after doing the show while the actual stars went on to disappear!😂

Ahead of its time. Other than the fashion, it easily could have been adapted into a hit show in the 90s

Polly Draper's sons are weird looking, but sort of hot especially Nat.

Polly Draper's son, Alex, was in the movie, Hereditary.

great link, R241!

LOL R242!!!!

R241- Thanks for the link CUNT.

Here's a good pic of Polly's adorkable sons.

The one on the right REALLY has her face. The other one looks like her a bit too, but not as much.

The opening credits for the show used in Season 4.

R87 I saw a few episodes of Sisters and really loved it, but I can't find a place to watch it anywhere. Such a shame...

R47 Once & Again is really an amazing series. It deserved a couple more seasons.

I haven't seen Sisters in decades but loved it when I was a kid. That was a great group of actresses. I've never seen Once & Again but I've always heard good things about it. I'll check it out since since I've always liked Sela Ward.

Patricia Kalember was in Sisters too.

And more on Patricia. Interesting the show never showed Susannah's parents or sisters. IIRC she was meant to have two sisters because she said there were three sisters, like the play.

I was missing up Once and Again with Now and Again. Now and Again was John Goodman's brain being in Eric Close's body, which actually is not bad as it sounds and was a decent show. I think they assumed it was going to get renewed and ended on a big cliff-hanger. I am still bitter about that and Invasion ending the way they did.

Peter Horton was so sexy. Probably still is. Olin was sensitive sexy, back in the day. The only dog was Elliot.

A couple of years ago, I watched an indie movie called Family and Peter Horton played Taylor Schlling's father in it. He still looked great and was believable as her father.

Mel Harris directed the episode Out the Door doing a remarkable job in what was a male-centric plot where Elliot leaves DAA.

The biggest question about the proposed reload was Luke Rossi. we all wanted to see if he is as handsome a man as he was as boy as Ethan. Would be aged 42.

MM's film with Helen Slater, Sticky Fingers, is on Amazon Prime now. Better than I thought it would be.

If this is him, r256, he's not too bad looking. The earrings need to go, of course.

The institution of the American First Lady is stupid. Who voted for her? Why is she in everyone’s faces? Yet, I don’t think most British people really care to comment on that silly institution. If you are bothered by the royal family, get some professional help do that you can wean yourself off reading about it all the time.

Uhhhh ......... I don't think that's him R258. And even if it was, I'm sure the show would recast the role since Luke Rossi doesn't act anymore.

I hated Gary Busfield. So annoying. Never understood him.

Timothy Busfield had an unusually charmed career considering he's not good looking and actually irritating onscreen

Timothy Busfield/Elliot had the thickest cock of the bunch. Not the cutest or most handsome, but the biggest, thickest cock.

R263 = Blocked. You cannot get cock so your every response is about cock...yawn....You probably miss phone sex too...Good Riddance.

R256 Luke Rossi wasn't cast in the reboot; adult Ethan was to be played by Patrick Fugit.

Timothy Busfield is appearing in a play written by Tom Hanks in upstate NY. Not far from me. Here is a review.

We knew Ellyn's father was going to be a bastard because he was played by Charles Cioffi who was the sicko murderer in Klute.

R241 Here. It linked when I first posted it. Weird. Sorry about that.

Melanie Mayron's character was my favorite. Hard to believe she is 70 years old now.