Hulu Cancels "Mid-Century Modern" After One Season

Hulu has officially canceled its comedy series "Mid-Century Modern" after just one season. The announcement was made by co-creator and executive producer Max Mutchnick via an Instagram post, where he expressed gratitude for the show's journey, stating, “Ten great episodes… Not enough. But we loved making every single one of them. We’re gonna miss our very special show. Thanks to everyone who watched.” The series premiered in March 2025 and was produced by 20th Television.

Hollywood Reporter

"Mid-Century Modern" featured a cast that included Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, Nathan Lee Graham, and Linda Lavin, who passed away in December 2024, shortly before the show's debut. The series followed three gay men of a certain age who, after an unexpected death, decide to live together in Palm Springs. The character dynamics were enriched by Lavin's portrayal of Bunny's mother, Sybil Schneiderman. The show was co-created by Mutchnick and David Kohan, known for their work on "Will & Grace," and directed by James Burrows.

Deadline Hollywood

Despite receiving generally positive reviews, with an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, "Mid-Century Modern" struggled to attract a significant audience. It did not make it onto Nielsen's top 10 original streaming shows list, indicating a challenge for original multi-camera sitcoms on streaming platforms. The series garnered four Emmy nominations, recognizing its production design, sound mixing, and editing.

Hollywood Reporter

Lavin's death had a profound impact on the show's production. At the time of her passing, she had completed seven of the ten episodes. The creative team had to navigate their grief while reworking the remaining episodes, ultimately incorporating elements of loss and resilience into the narrative. Kohan remarked on the thematic consistency of dealing with life's challenges, stating, “What choice do you have but persevere?”

The Wrap

While the cancellation was met with disappointment from fans and the creative team, some critics pointed to the show's inability to resonate with a broader audience as a contributing factor. The challenges faced by original sitcoms in the streaming landscape were highlighted, emphasizing the difficulty in achieving viewership success.

Variety Magazine

• “Ten great episodes… Not enough. But we loved making every single one of them. We’re gonna miss our very special show. Thanks to everyone who watched.” — Max Mutchnick, Co-Creator/Executive Producer

Variety Magazine

• “It is thematically consistent with the age of the people on the show — this is what happens in life and you persevere. What choice do you have but persevere?” — David Kohan, Co-Creator/Executive Producer

The Wrap

The cancellation of "Mid-Century Modern" reflects the ongoing challenges faced by new series in the competitive streaming environment, particularly for multi-camera comedies.

Hollywood Reporter