The Golden Girlsremains one of the best and most influential television shows of all time. Premiered in 1985, the iconic NBC sitcom ran for seven seasons until 1992, following four older women who share a home in Miami, Florida, withtheGolden Girlscastfeaturing Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty. Today,The Golden Girlsoften ranks among the greatest television series of all time and continues to attract new audiences to this day, standing as a prime example of a sitcom that has aged gracefully.
Many shows have tried to replicate the success ofThe Golden Girls, including its own CBS spinoff,The Golden Palace, which featured White, McClanahan, and Getty reprising their roles as their characters sell their house to purchase and run a hotel in Miami. However, the spinoff never reached the same level of popularity or recognition as the original, and as a result, only ran for one season.Several other shows, such asHot in ClevelandandDesigning Women, have attempted to replicate the success ofThe Golden Girlsby emulating its formula, though most have fallen short.
Mid-Century Modern Becomes A Streaming Success
It Ranks 10th on Reelgood’s TV Chart
Mid-Century Modernhas become a streaming hit on Hulu. Created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan (Will & Grace),Hulu’s new sitcom follows three gay best friends who move in together to live out their golden yearswith the wealthiest friend’s mother. Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, Nathan Lee Graham, and the late Linda Lavin leadMid-Century Modern’s castalongside Pamela Adlon, Richard Kind, and Zane Phillips in recurring roles and Vanessa Bayer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Judd Hirsch, Billie Lourd, Cheri Oteri, and Rhea Perlman as guest stars.
Now, shortly after its premiere on March 28, Hulu’s newGolden Girls-style sitcom has become a streaming success. PerReelgood,Mid-Century Modernwas the 10th most-watched TV show on all streaming platformsfor the week of March 27 to April 1. It ranks belowAdolescence,The White Lotus,Reacher,The Studio,The Residence,Daredevil: Born Again,Severance,MobLand, andThe Pitt.
What Mid-Century Modern’s Streaming Success Means For The Show
It Succeeds Where Many Have Failed
Mid-Century Modernsucceeds where many showshave failed, successfully replicating the nostalgic charm of classic sitcoms likeThe Golden Girls, while also being unafraid to embrace bold, contemporary humor. However, whileMid-Century Modernhas stood out in the crowded streaming landscape, it remains to be seen if it can come anywhere close to the cultural impact or enduring appeal ofThe Golden Girls. Only time will tell ifMid-Century Modernbecomes a beloved classic or is a fleeting success in a fast-moving television era.
