An ensemble drama, the series revolves around a married couple, Michael Steadman and Hope Murdoch, and their baby, Janie. Michael's cousin is photographer Melissa Steadman, who used to date his college friend Gary Shepherd. Gary eventually marries Susannah. Michael's business partner is Elliot Weston, who has a troubled marriage with his wife Nancy, a painter. Hope's childhood friend is local politician Ellyn Warren.
Main article: List of Thirtysomething episodes
Shout! Factory (under license from MGM) has released all four seasons of Thirtysomething on DVD in Region 1.
Mill Creek Entertainment has rereleased the first season on DVD in two volumes. On January 18, 2011, it released Season One, Volume One, which contains the first 10 episodes of the season. Season One, Volume Two, which contains the remaining 11 episodes, was released on January 10, 2012.
In Region 2, Revelation Films released the first two seasons on DVD in the UK. Season 3 was briefly released in 2014, but was almost immediately withdrawn from sale for unspecified "contractual reasons" and has, to date, not been rereleased, nor has Season 4.
In Region 4, Shock Entertainment has released all 4 seasons on DVD in Australia.
Thirtysomething was influenced by the films Return of the Secaucus 7 (1980) and The Big Chill (1983).12 The show reflected the angst felt by baby boomers and yuppies in the United States during the 1980s,13 such as the changing expectations related to masculinity and femininity introduced during the era of second-wave feminism.14 It also introduced "a new kind of hour-long drama, a series that focused on the domestic and professional lives of a group of young urban professionals, a socio-economic category of increasing interest to the television industry [...] its stylistic and story-line innovations led critics to respect it for being 'as close to the level of an art form as weekly television ever gets,' as the New York Times put it."15 During its four-year run, Thirtysomething "attracted a cult audience of viewers who strongly identified with one or more of its eight central characters, a circle of friends living in Philadelphia."16 Even after its cancellation in 1991, it continued to influence television programming, "in everything from the look and sound of certain TV advertisements, to other series with feminine sensibilities and preoccupations with the transition from childhood to maturity (Sisters), to situation comedies about groups of friends who talk all the time (Seinfeld)."17 The show also influenced the British television series Cold Feet, which featured similar storylines and character types. The creator of Cold Feet wanted his show to be in the mould of successful American TV series like Thirtysomething and Frasier.18
Susan Faludi, in her bestseller Backlash (1991), argues that Thirtysomething often reinforced, rather than dismantled, gender stereotypes. She suggests that it exhibited a disdainful attitude toward single, working, and feminist women (Melissa, Ellyn, and Susannah) while at the same time "exalting homemakers" (Hope and Nancy).1920 In this manner, the series was seen as "seemingly progressive but substantially conservative in its construction of reality."21
Almost immediately after the introduction of the show, the term "Thirtysomething" became a catchphrase used to designate baby boomers in their thirties. This cultural shift was reinforced by the Oxford English Dictionary, which added "Thirtysomething" in 1993 (under the word "thirty") and defined the term as follows:
While it aired, Thirtysomething was nominated for 41 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning 13. It also won two Golden Globe awards. Later, by 1997, "The Go Between" and "Samurai Ad Man" were listed as number 22 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time.23 Thirtysomething then placed the number 19 spot on TV Guide′s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time in 2002,24 and in 2013, TV Guide placed it as No. 10 in its list of The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time.25
A sequel to the series, thirtysomething(else), was pitched in September 2019. The pilot was a co-production between MGM Television and Bedford Falls Productions, which was behind the original series, and ABC Studios, and producers were casting its four original main roles at the time of the announcement.38
In February 2020, Chris Wood was cast as Leo Steadman, the show's male lead.39 Over the next few weeks, Odette Annable was cast as Janey Steadman and Patrick Fugit and Auden Thornton as Ethan and Brittany Weston.404142 Melanie Mayron and Polly Draper agreed to appear as Melissa Steadman and Ellyn Warren.43 On June 29, ABC decided not to move forward with the sequel.44
"The 'don't trust anyone over thirty' slogan of the Sixties gave way to a show called Thirtysomething in the Eighties, showing boomers grappling with having children or having left it too late." In Adams, Paul (2012). Power Trap: How fear and loathing between New Democrats and Liberals keep Stephen Harper in power--and what can be done about it. Lorimer. p. 234. ISBN 978-1459402706. 978-1459402706 ↩
Roberts, Soraya (March 8, 2015). "The Big Thaw: "Togetherness" and What Thirty-Something Means Now". Los Angeles Review of Books. Retrieved May 22, 2016. https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/big-thaw-togetherness-thirtysomething-means-now/ ↩
Papajohn, George (May 29, 1991). "For 'Thirtysomething' Fans, An End To The Angst". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 22, 2016. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/05/29/for-thirtysomething-fans-an-end-to-the-angst/ ↩
Hill, Michael (May 22, 1991). "They're Moving On to Somethingelse". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 22, 2016. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-22-ca-2256-story.html ↩
Heller, Karen (May 28, 1991). "A Farewell To 'Thirtysomething' A Loyal Viewer Bemoans The Demise Of Abc's Phila.-centered Hour Of Angst". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160809165423/http://articles.philly.com/1991-05-28/news/25798935_1_michael-and-hope-abc-entertainment-president-thirtysomething ↩
Andreeva, Nellie (January 8, 2020). "'Thirtysomething': ABC Picks Up Sequel Series Pilot With Original Cast From Marshall Herskovitz & Ed Zwick". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 12, 2020. https://deadline.com/2020/01/thirtysomething-abc-sequel-series-with-original-cast-marshall-herskovitz-ed-zwick-1202824579/ ↩
Goldberg, Lesley (June 29, 2020). "ABC Passes on 'Thirtysomething' Update as Pilot Fates Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 29, 2020. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/abc-passes-thirtysomething-update-as-pilot-fates-revealed-1300925 ↩
"Ethnic Groups > Jewish - "S-Z"". TV ACRES. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2015. https://archive.today/20120917171948/http://www.tvacres.com/ethnic_jewish_s_z.htm ↩
Becker, Ron (2006). Gay TV and Straight America. Rutgers University Press. p. 138. https://archive.org/details/gaytvstraightame0000beck ↩
Becker, Ron (2006). Gay TV and Straight America. Rutgers University Press. p. 179. https://archive.org/details/gaytvstraightame0000beck ↩
"The TV Ratings Guide". Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20180322035257/http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/08/1990-91-ratings-history-abc-reclaims.html ↩
"Thirtysomething". Museum of Broadcast Communications. Retrieved May 7, 2008. http://www.museum.tv/eotv/thirtysomethi.htm ↩
"Why we're still watching and arguing about thirtysomething". EW. May 4, 1990. https://www.ew.com/article/1990/05/04/why-were-still-watching-and-arguing-about-thirtysomething ↩
Hanke, Robert (September 1990). "Hegemonic Masculinity in thirtysomething". Critical Studies in Mass Communication. 7 (3): 231–248. doi:10.1080/15295039009360176. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩
Smith, Rupert (2003). Cold Feet: The Complete Companion. London: Granada Media. p. 6. ISBN 0-233-00999-X. 0-233-00999-X ↩
Heide, Margaret J. (April 1, 1992). "Mothering Ambivalence: The Treatment of Women's Gender Role Conflicts Over Work and Family on "thirtysomething"". Women's Studies. 21 (1): 103–117. doi:10.1080/00497878.1992.9978929. ISSN 0049-7878. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩
Susan Faludi. "Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2007. Retrieved August 9, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20070519120321/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,316115,00.html ↩
Loeb, Jane Connelly (September 1, 1990). "Rhetorical and Ideological Conservatism in thirtysomething". Critical Studies in Mass Communication. 7 (3): 249–260. doi:10.1080/15295039009360177. ISSN 0739-3180. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩
"thirtysomething". Oxford English Dictionary. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/200888?rskey=oMtfpj&result=1#eid18574179 ↩
"Special Collector's Issue: 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time". TV Guide (June 28–July 4). 1997. /wiki/TV_Guide ↩
"TV Guide Names Top 50 Shows". CBS News/Associated Press. February 11, 2009. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tv-guide-names-top-50-shows/ ↩
Roush, Matt (February 25, 2013). "Showstoppers: The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time". TV Guide. pp. 16-17. /wiki/TV_Guide ↩
"THIRTYSOMETHING". Television Academy. Retrieved June 30, 2021. https://www.emmys.com/shows/thirtysomething ↩
"Thirtysomething". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved June 30, 2021. https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/thirtysomething ↩
Andreeva, Nellie (February 7, 2020). "'Thirtysomething(else)': Chris Wood To Star In ABC Pilot, Sequel To 'Thirtysomething'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2020. https://deadline.com/2020/02/thirtysomethingelse-chris-wood-star-leo-in-abc-pilot-sequel-thirtysomething-1202853683/ ↩
Andreeva, Nellie (February 11, 2020). "Odette Annable To Star In ABC's 'Thirtysomething' Sequel Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2020. https://deadline.com/2020/02/thirtysomething-sequel-odette-annable-cast-thirtysomethingelse-pilot-1202857019/ ↩
Andreeva, Nellie (February 14, 2020). "Patrick Fugit To Star In ABC's 'Thirtysomething' Sequel Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2020. https://deadline.com/2020/02/patrick-fugit-cast-star-thirtysomething-sequel-pilot-abc-thirtysomethingelse-1202860244/ ↩
Andreeva, Nellie (February 18, 2020). "Thirtysomething(else): Auden Thornton To Star In ABC's 'Thirtysomething' Sequel Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2020. https://deadline.com/2020/02/thirtysomethingelse-auden-thornton-cast-thirtysomething-abc-sequel-pilot-star-1202862122/ ↩
Andreeva, Nellie (February 20, 2020). "'Thirtysomething' Co-Stars Melanie Mayron and Polly Draper To Return For Sequel On ABC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 20, 2020. https://deadline.com/2020/02/thirtysomething-melanie-mayron-and-polly-draper-return-cast-sequel-thirtysomethingelse-abc-1202863238/ ↩
Iannucci, Rebecca (June 29, 2020). "thirtysomething Sequel, Brides Pilot Not Moving Forward at ABC". TVLine. Retrieved June 29, 2020. https://tvline.com/2020/06/29/thirtysomething-sequel-cancelled-abc-pilot-not-moving-forward/ ↩