Thirtysomething 

Seven thirtysomethings living in Philadelphia struggle with everyday adult angst.

Creators:

Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick

Stars:

Timothy Busfield, Polly Draper, Mel Harris

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 26 wins & 63 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Timothy Busfield	...	Elliot Weston 85 episodes, 1987-1991
Polly Draper	...	Ellyn Warren 85 episodes, 1987-1991
Mel Harris	...	Hope Murdoch Steadman 85 episodes, 1987-1991
Peter Horton	...	Gary Shepherd 85 episodes, 1987-1991
Melanie Mayron	...	Melissa Steadman 85 episodes, 1987-1991
Ken Olin	...	Michael Steadman 85 episodes, 1987-1991
Patricia Wettig	...	Nancy Krieger Weston 85 episodes, 1987-1991
Brittany Craven	...	Janey 66 episodes, 1987-1991
Lacey Craven	...	Janey 66 episodes, 1987-1991
Luke Rossi	...	Ethan Weston / ... 41 episodes, 1987-1991

Storyline

Hope and Michael are a married couple in their thirties, living in Philadelphia, and struggling with everyday adult angst. Michael runs an ad agency with his friend Elliot, whose marriage to Nancy is beginning to show the cracks of age, as is the friendship between Hope and her best friend Ellyn. Michael's best friend, Gary, on the other hand, is trying to get on with his womanising life, and get over the mutually-destructive affair he had with Michael's cousin, Melissa. It all sounds like just another soap, but is given a unique atmosphere by the production team (the Bedford Falls company, also responsible for 'My So Called Life') whose intelligent scripts, believable characters and frequent dips into the slightly surreal world of the character's minds places the series as one of the highlights of the late 1980s.

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Plot Keywords:

cult favorite | arizona | best friend | marriage | friendship | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Thirtysomething was influenced by the 1980 film Return of the Secaucus Seven (1979) and the 1983 film The Big Chill (1983). The show reflected the angst felt by baby boomers and yuppies in the United States during the 1980s, such as the changing expectations related to masculinity and femininity introduced during the era of second-wave feminism.

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Quotes

Miles Drentell: You don't look well. Have you been sleeping properly?
Michael Steadman: [who wasn't gotten actual sleep in days] Like a top.
[Exits]
Miles Drentell: [to himself] "Like a top"...

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Crazy Credits

The early episodes in Season 1 featured scenes under the opening credits that were yet to be broadcast.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Sandy Duncan/Steve Mittleman/Irv Kupcinet (1988)

User Reviews

"thirty something years" was the best television series

This serie was my favorite and I hope to see once again in German or Brazil TV. All actors of this film are great and this episode was the perfect example of real life. It was the perfect mix of poignant and realistic.Congratulations!!! My wish is to see a continuation of this serie. A sequency their`s life!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 September 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Thirtysomething

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Bedford Falls Company, MGM Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min (85 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1