The creators ofWill & Graceare back withMid-Century Modern, a comedy about chosen family set in sunny Palm Springs.Will & Grace’s Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, executive producer Ryan Murphy, and director James Burrows, arguably the king of television sitcoms, combined to tell a story about three older gay friends who live together in the wealthiest one’s home alongside his aging mother. In true sitcom style, the three men navigate the ups and downs of life with a mix of heart and humor that is a hallmark of the series creators’ signature styles.
TheMid-Century Moderncastis led byThe ProducersandDicks: The Musicalstar Nathan Lane, who plays wealthy bra manufacturer Bunny Schneiderman. Alongside him are Nathan Lee Graham (Zoolander) as Arthur Broussard and Matt Bomer (Doom Patrol, Magic Mike) as Jerry Frank. Bomer and Lane also serve as Executive Producers on the series.
ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier spoke withMid-Century Modernstars Nathan Lane, Nathan Lee Graham, and Matt Bomer about their work on the series. The Nathans and Bomer shared what drew them to the role and talked about keeping the warm feel of sitcoms alive. Plus, Nathan Lee Graham shared his feelings on working with the late Linda Lavin for the newHulu show.
Mid-Century Modern’s Key Dynamics Came Easily To Its Stars
“We Just Rolled Up Our Sleeves And Jumped Right In”
“No,”Matt Bomer said when asked if there was any specific process by which he, Nathan Lane, and Nathan Lee Graham developed their on-screen chemistry,“Honestly, just getting to work with these brilliant actors on a really well-written script with these creatives. We all come from the theater. We just rolled up our sleeves and jumped right in. Thankfully, I think we found each other in our dynamics and the rhythm through the work.”
Bomer revealed they only had roughly 10 days to shoot the show’s pilot episode as well, saying,“It was really fast to do a pilot and create characters in that time. So, it was really just watching these guys and Linda Lavin and learning and being led by the brilliant Jimmy Burrows–and diving into a beautiful script.”
Nathan Lane Reflects On Jumping Back Into The World Of Sitcoms
“These Are Some Of The Best People Who Have Ever Done This”
Nathan Lane has appeared in other Hulu shows (Only Murders in the Building) and is no stranger to performing in front of a live audience, but it had been a while since the beloved Broadway actor had worked with the specific constraints of a multi-camera sitcom. When asked what the biggest surprise was in returning to that format, Lane said,“The whirlwind nature of how you do it–of rehearsing it and how it constantly is evolving and changing.”
“We would start on a Wednesday and do a table read, and then you have the day off, which always makes me nervous,”Lane admitted,“Then, we rehearse Thursday and Friday, and they have the weekend off to sort of rewrite if they need to.”The wildest part, in Lane’s words, was that,“They would say to you, ‘Don’t learn the lines until the weekend, because it’ll keep changing.”Even after that, things would be altered:“Up until the last take … they give you alternate lines.”
“It’s really kind of like being a part of the writer’s process,”said Lane,“and you’re doing the best you may … we’re just along for the ride. We’re really just serving them, so you have to be relaxed about it. I can get a little crazy about process [and] having enough time, and I like to come in very prepared and know what I’m going to do, and this is not the place for that. Anything can happen and you have to be able to go with it.”
Lane relayed that“Sometimes it feels improvisational, because someone has just whispered [a line] in your ear, and then you’re saying it. And sometimes I just said something that occurred to me, but it’s nerve wracking and thrilling at the same time.”Ultimately, said the actor,“It’s really all about the studio audience and hearing them laugh like that–it’s what inspires you, in a sense. It’s the only time it feels like theater.”
But Lane’s eventual comfort was in large part due to the show’s creative team:“These are some of the best people who have ever done this. You feel like you’re in great hands.”
Nathan Lee Graham Reflects On Working With Linda Lavin
“She Is The Glue That Holds Us All Together”
The late Linda Lavin appears posthumously inMid-Century Modernas Sybil Schneiderman, mother to Nathan Lane’s Bunny. The actor sadly passed away in 2024 while the series was in production but, according to Nathan Lee Graham, was the“emotional core”of the show.“She is the glue that holds us all together,”Graham said, continuing,“She’s the spiritual showrunner of our show. She’s the puppet master. She’s making it all happen.”
Graham also talked about his general feelings about working with Lavin:“She was a glorious person to work with. Such an icon–a great supporter. She taught me how to listen even better as an actor, and she was wonderful to be with off the set as well. Watching her work–it really was a masterclass each and every time we were together. And to watch her work with Nathan and Matt as well, and all the wonderful guest stars that we had. So we just feel very privileged and very honored to have worked with the great Linda Lavin.”
