Hulu Cancels Mid-Century Modern After Just One Season
We hate to be the bearers of sad news, but Hulu has officially cancelled its LGBTQ+ sitcom Mid-Century Modern after just one season. Every time an LGBTQ+ centered show gets the axe, it feels personal. It’s not that we don’t mourn the loss of other series, regardless of representation, but there’s a unique sting when queer stories are cut short, especially in the hostile political climate we’re living through right now, where LGBTQ+ visibility is under constant attack.
Starring Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham, Mid-Century Modern follows three gay best friends navigating their golden years together in Palm Springs. Think The Golden Girls, but make it unapologetically gay. Co-created by Will & Grace’s Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, the series debuted in March 2025 and immediately felt like a breath of fresh air in the sitcom landscape.
Though it earned generally positive reviews from critics, Mid-Century Modern never managed to break into the upper echelon of streaming hits, failing to crack Nielsen’s top 10 list of original streaming shows. Still, among fans of the genre, the series quickly built a loyal audience thanks to its heartfelt storytelling, sharp humor, and unapologetic celebration of chosen family. For many of us, it felt like the kind of queer comfort TV we’ve been craving.
The show even scored four Emmy nominations, recognizing director James Burrows, as well as production design, sound mixing for a half-hour series, and picture editing for a multicamera comedy. Unfortunately, even with that recognition, Hulu has chosen not to move forward with a second season. Mutchnick confirmed the cancellation via Instagram on Monday, writing: “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.”
What makes the loss of Mid-Century Modern even more frustrating is the nature of today’s streaming landscape. Shows are given little breathing room to find their audiences; if they don’t hit immediate viewership targets, they’re gone before they have the chance to grow. It’s a system that punishes creativity, especially when it comes to queer-centered stories that deserve time to flourish.
We’re not just sad for the fans who found joy and representation in Mid-Century Modern, we’re sad for the cast and crew as well. Beyond being a charming and heartfelt sitcom, the show was a livelihood for many, and its abrupt cancellation is a reminder of how fragile the industry has become.
Hulu may have pulled the plug, but for us, Mid-Century Modern remains an important—if short-lived—testament to the power of queer storytelling. And we’ll be mourning this one for a while.
Season 1 of Mid-Century Modern is available to stream on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in other regions. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Image Courtesy of Hulu
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