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Short run, big names: what happened to Mid-Century Modern
Hulu has quietly pulled the plug on Mid-Century Modern after a single 10-episode season. Announced by series co-creator Max Mutchnick on social media, the cancellation ended a high-profile experiment in multi-cam comedy that boasted an acclaimed cast and heavyweight producers but failed to translate critical goodwill into measurable streaming audiences.
The show — created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan of Will & Grace fame, with Ryan Murphy attached as an executive producer — premiered in March. It starred Nathan Lane and Matt Bomer alongside Nathan Lee Graham and the late Linda Lavin, who tragically passed away in December 2024 before the series even debuted. James Burrows, a veteran of classic sitcom directing, executive produced and directed all 10 episodes for 20th Television.
Premise and reception
Set in sun-drenched Palm Springs, the series followed three older gay friends who form a chosen family after an unexpected death, sharing a mid-century home (and occasional barbed advice about cosmetic procedures). Critics were generally warm: the series collected an 88% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, praised for its cast chemistry and affectionate take on aging and friendship. Yet praise didn’t translate into mainstream viewership — the show did not appear in Nielsen’s streaming Top 10, and Hulu hasn’t released its internal numbers.
Why that disconnect? The cancellation highlights two industry realities: first, even projects with established showrunners and star power can struggle in a saturated streaming market; second, multi-cam comedies—long staples of broadcast TV—haven’t consistently found their audience in the on-demand era.
Comparisons and context Fans and critics naturally compared Mid-Century Modern to the creators’ previous hit Will & Grace and to ensemble comedies like The Golden Girls: all three use found-family dynamics and sharp dialogue to explore relationships later in life. But unlike Will & Grace, which reshaped sitcom norms in the late 1990s, Mid-Century Modern arrived into a streaming landscape that demands immediate, high-volume engagement.
Behind the scenes and fan reaction Insider notes pointed to the show’s traditional multi-camera format and stagey rhythms as charming to some viewers and off-putting to others used to single-camera prestige comedies. Social media carried tributes to Linda Lavin’s final television role and appreciation for the performances of Lane and Bomer.
The cancellation is a reminder that critical acclaim and pedigree don’t guarantee longevity on streaming platforms. For viewers who appreciated its warm humor, the series remains a compact, bittersweet snapshot of late-life friendship.
A short note: for those who enjoyed the show, the entire season still offers an affectionate, if brief, portrait of chosen family in the desert sun.
Source: variety
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