ABC ordered a pilot for this classic 80s/90s family drama. The new program is titled "thirtysomething(else)" and it will be primarily focused on the children of the original main characters. Depending on how well the pilot does, ABC will hopefully greenlight an entire season and I will be ecstatic!
In addition to the adult children from the original "thirtysomething" -- themselves now in their thirties -- original cast members Timothy Busfield, Patricia Wettig, Mel Harris, and Ken Olin will also be appearing on the show. (Jon's Note: No word on whether we'll see Polly Draper or Melanie Mayron on the program, but chances are that we'll eventually meet up with them if "thirtysomething(else)" takes off.)
I absolutely loved "thirtysomething" but it was one of those programs in the 1980s that I totally missed until it began its initial syndication run. I loved the artistic lifestyles, the yuppy clothing, and the constant navel gazing -- stuff that typically drives me up the wall these days!
But I absolutely loved David Marshall Grant as recurring gay character Russell Weller. He and other recurring gay character Peter Montefiore (played by Peter Frechette) were two of the only gay characters on television back then. Which may seem unbelievable since pretty much every program that I watch anymore has at least one queer character anymore! And these guys even had sex together. And we got to watch them bask in the afterglow on-screen(!!). These guys helped me imagine what life could be as a gay man -- and helped me come out. Seriously.
If picked up, "thirtysomething(else)" should appear sometime during the 2020-21 television season.