thirtysomething

thirtysomething is an American television drama about a group of baby boomers in their late thirties.

thirtysomething (1987-1991) is an American network drama created by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz for ABC. Its ensemble follows a circle of baby boomers in their late thirties in Philadelphia, centred on Michael Steadman (Ken Olin) and Hope Steadman (Mel Harris), a couple raising a young family while building their working lives. Around them move Elliot Weston (Timothy Busfield) and Nancy Weston (Patricia Wettig), along with Gary Shepherd (Peter Horton) and Melissa Steadman (Melanie Mayron), whose friendships, marriages and career compromises form the substance of each hour. The engine is quiet and personal: ambitions collide with diapers, mortgages and the fear of settling, and most episodes are built from conversations that turn small domestic moments into larger reckonings. Spanning four seasons and eighty-five episodes, it is a character-driven, talky drama with a warm but melancholy register. Its focus on yuppie anxieties and generational identity makes it a natural fit for viewers who loved intimate adult ensemble dramas, with fans of Parenthood and My So-Called Life likely to find resonance in its emotional honesty and close attention to ordinary life.

• My So-Called Lifeshared adult relationship drama, ensemble of thirty-something friends navigating marriage and career
• Brothers & Sistersshared intimate ensemble drama about adult friendship, marriage and parenthood
• Parenthoodshared talky character-driven drama about middle-class adult life and relationships

Created by

Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz

Release Date

1987-09-29

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

7.5 / 10 (33)

What is thirtysomething about?

A group of baby boomers in their late thirties in Philadelphia navigate marriage, parenthood and careers.

What is thirtysomething like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of thirtysomething as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.

Is thirtysomething violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in thirtysomething.

Which shows are like thirtysomething?

Shows with a similar feel include My So-Called Life, Brothers & Sisters, and Parenthood.

How long is thirtysomething?

thirtysomething: 4 seasons, 85 episodes.

Is thirtysomething still running?

No, thirtysomething has ended.