The current state of the multi-cam sitcom is in sorry shape. This has been true for most of my adult life. It looks to all as though this classic form of comedy is going the way of the variety show or Saturday morning cartoons. There are, however, a brave few trying to bring some relevance to an increasingly outdated format. As a blogger in the year 2025, I can relate even if I don’t have half the level of influence as someone like James Burrows. Burrows is the legendary director of some of the greatest sitcoms ever made. Shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, and Cheers among others. His latest show is unlikely to end up on that eclectic list.
Created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohen, the minds behind Will & Grace (another Burrows project). Mid-Century Modern is a mix of that show and Golden Girls. The girls in question are Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham as Bunny, Jerry, and Arthur, respectively. After the unexpected death of their friend, the three decide to live together under one roof. And because this is a sitcom, Bunny’s mother (the late Linda Lavin) is also there. It’s a standard sitcom premise that the show spends most of the pilot attempting to justify.
The stories in each episode are also typical stuff. The only difference between Mid-Century Modern and an older show seems to be an understanding of what a “bottom” is. That type of “risque” humor is a prevalent part of Modern’s joke book. In fact, the writing is pretty frank in its discussion of queer romance and aging. It’s a welcome surprise and something that helps lift the more staid elements of the program.
The cast mainly features our 4 leads, with a few appearances from the likes of Pamela Adlon and Richard Kind, among others. It’s a fun group of actors but they’re mostly stuck playing cliched sitcom roles. Lane comes the closest to making Bunny feel like a real person, but his personality shifts with the whims of the plot. The show ends up falling into a familiar comedy trap where the characters seem to only exist for delivering jokes.
This isn’t to say Mid-Century Modern is an all-around bad time. It’s a throwback, but one with an eye toward the contemporary moment. The reliance on old sitcom tropes and character types isn’t exclusive to this show. It’s pretty much all you get with multi-cam sitcoms. Nobody is breaking the mold here, especially not an old master like James Burrows. In a less crowded landscape, it’s easy to see Mid-Century Modern becoming a hit. It’s light, breezy, and carried by some all-time great comic actors. As it currently stands, there are better options out there for your time.
Mid-Century Modern is currently streaming on Hulu.