The creative duo behind the smash hit Will & Grace, David Kohan and Max Mutchnick reunite to deliver a ten episode series for Hulu titled Mid-Century Modern. Executive produced by TV mogul Ryan Murphy sees an ensemble led by the trio of Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham. The half-hour series was filmed in front of a studio audience.
Mid-Century Modern Review
Mid-Century Modern follows three best friends who, after an unexpected death, decided to spend their golden years living together in Palm Springs amongst the wealthy with his mother.
In the streaming era, we’ve lost track of the half-hour comedy that plays perfectly to the audience who want to sit back and laugh. The balance stems from shows not being as “funny” as they once were or networks not greenlighting them. Either way, there has been a glaring hole and Mid-Century Modern is the first series I’ve watched in a long time that fills that niche, and one that I hope we get about a half dozen seasons out of it.
Let me set the stage for you. Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer and Nathan Lee Graham pop up from the couch with a dance number to Salt-N-Pepa’s “Whatta Man” in the pilot that truly sets the mood for what audiences can expect from the rest of the series. The trio has this remarkable chemistry that has playful banter with punctual one-liners that will have you laughing. At the same time, there are strong moments of sincerity that beautifully tie things together.
Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer and Nathan Lee Graham really are a match made in heaven. While the Nathan’s are great, Matt Bomer has never been better. We witness a side that Bomer seems to have wanted to play his entire life. He was comfortable and relaxed in his portrayal of Jerry Frank. There are several scenes that standout, but his undying love of Donny Osmond will have you in stitches.
While I give all the love to the trio, Linda Lavin, who plays Bunny’s mother Sybil, is a welcoming piece to the cast. It’s funny to watch her come in and out of scenes and drop funny one-liners to ruffle the feathers of her son or his best friends. Lavin’s comedic timing will not be forgotten and is an essential piece to the puzzle in making Mid-Century Modern work.
The live audience works perfectly here because the show is genuinely funny. There is nothing worse than an unfunny show with a crowd forcefully laughing. Like any sitcom style show, it’s all about those punchlines, and what impressed me the most was the editing here. You get this punchline, and the smooth transition into the next scene is done with precision. This also adds up when you break down the series, being a brisk twenty-five minutes a piece.
Is Mid-Century Modern Worth Watching?
Mid-Century Modern has all the potential to be a modern-day Golden Girls. Matt Bomer, Nathan Lee and Nathan Graham are the perfect trio who do an impressive job of elevating a funny script, making this a one sitting binge. We are consistently beat down with dramatic series about serial killers, crime dramas, and doctor shows, so it was a breath of fresh air to be able to sit back and enjoy this hilarious series. Add this to the top of your watch list.
Mid-Century Modern streams on Hulu on March 28.
Mid-Century Modern Review – Redefining Comedy Gold Through Laugh-Out-Loud Performances
