Revisiting 'thirtysomething'

[mvunit3]

I just watched the last show and revisited the whole series on Hulu and I'm just amazed at all the emotion in this unbelievable series. It sucks that I never had any friends that watched it, maybe to them it was too corny-or too "real", but I was always "weird.". I mean, I listen to Thrash and Death Metal, but I can also watch entertaining television, but something with depth, honesty and integrity. I miss all the actors and what they brought with them. I cant believe I'm 47 now :p.

[FourEyedLadyOriginal]

They do not make TV like this anymore... I am sick of Snookie & "reality" TV. What ever happened to great writing & acting?

[uptongrey1]

Thirtysomething back then in the 80's was profound and moving at times,simply outstanding!

[TheStoneAlexander]

So now they're late fiftysomething/ early sisxtysomething. lol, The MULLET was the rebel, lol...

[ianmcgeachy]

@TheStoneAlexander erm...mid-fifties something !! Cheers..

[younghoss]

So why do they talk in the interview that Polly always wanted to show off her legs, and lean over a couch with her strap hanging, yet not show a clip of her doing any of that?

[FuguGoulash]

@younghoss Yeah, the people who made this spot got Polly Draper confused with Mel Harris.

[younghoss]

@FuguGoulash

that's too bad. Polly sure had the best figure. Though Mel had the face and hair....

[gurlsingerfan]

@FuguGoulash Which seems so unlikely an error to make...Mel was the homebody house mom, but Polly Draper....what a character she was, a bit bitchy, often angry and sarcastic, ready to nail anyone with a snide verbal slap, but somehow it made her such a hot character, you watched her because you knew she had something going...really one of the most interesting characters in the whole show.

[collegeman1988]

Who wants to revisit this show??? I have a better title for this show -- Whinysomething or better yet, Yuppiescumthing. The only character I liked was Peter Horton, but they killed him off.

[FuguGoulash]

@collegeman1988 I never got what made the "thirtysomething" characters yuppies except that they were upper middle class (but nowhere close to rich) and vaguely into some 80s trends. When I think of yuppies, I think of reptilian movie producer types who sniff cocaine and don't think of anyone but themselves or the characters on "Sex and the City".

[Gerkinstock]

Does anyone know what is the name of the episode where the Peter Horton character reluctantly attends his high school reunion?

[BENGOMIN]

Peter Horton is a nightmare.  High Maintenance beyond....

[AishwaryaRaiOnline]

I'm watching season 1 right now on dvd. I haven't watched it since it aired on tv. Ken Olin was a hottie in his 30's.

[TheAngiehubbard]

WATCH LIFE UNEXPECTED MONDAYS @ 9/8c ON THE CW!

[amp415]

It was a great show because, like Peter Horton said, they created an intimacy with the viewer and unlike today they did it with subtlety and nuance, instead of the in-your-face drama and sexuality that is the formula for shows today.

[sunflower3540]

Just received the DVD a few days ago and watched disk #3 last night. BEST television show EVER (imho). I wish they did show a clip of Polly Draper as Ellyn. She did have a killer bod, being a runner and all. Love all of the characters, so glad to see this clip and Peter Horton reminiscing along with Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig. The DVD is fab! Thirtysomething set the bar very high for excellent television. Nothing has come close to quality since!

[wcduke]

@sunflower3540 You should watch "Six Feet Under". It is one of the best television series ever to have been created.

[auroralights100]

@wcduke One of the things that makes Thirtysomething such a great show is the way they shot the scenes. They filmed in long scene shots and followed the actors instead of the immediate close face shots they do today. This allowed freedom for the viewer to have a more intimate and memorable connection with the scene. Melanie Mayron mentions this in commentary on the DVDs as well as Patty Wettig and others who have become directors.

[wcduke]

@auroralights100 Yeah... I know.

[FuguGoulash]

@wcduke I definitely agree. I think "Six Feet Under" is a descendant of "thirtysomething", even if SFE was much more dark and explicit.

[wcduke]

@FuguGoulash I'm sure Alan Ball watched thirtysomething. I'd be surprised if he didn't. ;)

[abemagic10]

they talk of Polly Draper...yet Mel Harris is shown....

[songnight]

I know, slo-mo of Mel in her undies, what?

Also, I think Horton is wrong; there was always a 'but' - they were all conflicted about whether marriage & children was indeed what they really wanted.

[wcduke]

@songnight I disagree with your disagreement with Horton. The issues explored in this series were very real, albeit sometimes overly-dramatic. His point is a good one; how many gangsters do you think actually do seek professional therapy?

[joelang6126]

yeah wtf lol

[Docthewrench]

Never once watched it when was on it early 80s?

[pairunoyd]

that show was about making self-obsession cool

[ChristinaWatkinson]

how? (i never watched it, lol)

[pairunoyd]

there is a world outside yourself my self-obsessed friend. ;)

[ChristinaWatkinson]

well i'm not self-obcessed... i was just asking how it made it cool. lol..

[pairunoyd]

it does like all other shows - makes you wanna emulate the characters. Smart, rich, good-looking etc.