The three stars of Mid-Century Modern are united in their belief that a gay-themed sitcom lands as a welcome antidote to what they all described as an increasingly hostile political climate for LGBTQ+ people. Without mentioning names or political parties, stars Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer and Nathan Lee Graham took turns praising the multi-cam Hulu show — taped in front of a live audience — for a timely representation of gayness. 

“It’s more important than ever these days now that we’re in an authoritarian regime,” Lane said to laughter Sunday during Deadline’s Contenders TV panel, “and all of our rights are under threat.” 

Bomer, for his part, said that Mid-Century Modern has “hopefully brought a little joy, a little queer joy, to the world in 2025.” Graham added, “I cannot tell you how liberating it is to play a character without shame,” he added, calling the series “a weapon of joy.”

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After the death of a dear friend, three older gay men resettle together in Palm Springs, where Lane’s character, a bra store chain magnate named Bunny, shares a house with his longtime friends Jerry (Bomer) and Arthur (Graham) and Bunny’s mother, Sybil, played by the late Alice star Linda Lavin, With the testy Arthur, the blithely upbeat Jerry and the less excitable Bunny all under one roof alongside Bunny’s assertive mother, the gay jokes fly and the life lessons for this “found family,” as the actors called it, are both funny and bittersweet.

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The show is from executive producer Ryan Murphy and Will & Grace co-creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, with Lane and Bomer also serving as executive producers. The first season, which was greenlighted in June, premiered in March with all 10 episodes released together. 

The production was dealt a devastating off-screen loss in December when Lavin died with three episodes left to tape. Her death meant that Mid-Century Modern would be the Tony-winning actresses’ last role, and it forced the Mutchnick and Kohan to write a farewell for her character. Episode 9, entitled “Here’s to You, Mrs. Schneiderman,” is about Sybil’s death and the aftermath for her son and his friends.

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Lane on Sunday remembered Lavin as “extraordinary” and as someone she knew from the theater world before Mid-Century Modern brought them together professionally for the first time. Bomer said that Lavin “led us all with such a gentle and beautiful grace, and taught by example.” 

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On a lighter note, Graham took a moment to gently push back on online chatter that the show airs with a canned laugh track. “We actually do have people in the studio audience that actually laugh,” he said.

Check back Monday for the panel video.

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