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Series · 1987

thirtysomething

The '80s never looked so good.

Created by Edward ZwickKen OlinMel HarrisTimothy Busfield
thirtysomething poster
29 Sep 1987First aired
4Seasons
6.3TMDB score of 10
DramaGenre

The series

Thirtysomething is an American television drama about a group of baby boomers in their late thirties. It was created by Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick for MGM/UA Television Group and The Bedford Falls Company, and aired on ABC. It premiered in the U.S. on September 29, 1987. It lasted four seasons, with the last of its 85 episodes airing on May 28, 1991. The title of the show was designed as thirtysomething by Kathie Broyles, who combined the words of the original title, Thirty Something. In 1997, "The Go Between" and "Samurai Ad Man" were ranked #22 on TV Guide′s 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time. In 2002, Thirtysomething was ranked #19 on TV Guide′s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time, and in 2013 TV Guide ranked it #10 in its list of The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time.

Episodes

Season 4 · 23 episodes · 1990

  1. Episode 122 Sep 19901h 0m

    Prelude to a Bris

    CAPSULE: The decision whether or not to circumcise the newborn Leo brings up larger questions: is he Jewish and what does that mean? Hope gives birth to her and Michael's new son Leo. After bringing the baby home, Michael tells Hope they …

  2. Episode 22 Oct 19901h 0m

    Life Class

    CAPSULE: Nancy feels that the hysterectomy has adversely affected her sex drive. Shots of Nancy teaching a class at the art center are intercut with her being examined by Dr. Eilertson. She asks about diminished sex drive after a hysterec…

  3. Episode 39 Oct 19901h 0m

    Control

    CAPSULE: Melissa starts a fledgling relationship with Miles. Ellyn and Jeffrey look for a new apartment. Melissa gets a job photographing five notable Philadelphians for a magazine. She's a bit apprehensive, though, when she finds out tha…

  4. Episode 416 Oct 19901h 0m

    The Distance

    CAPSULE: An offer of a new job for Susannah leads to her and Gary taking a bold and unexpected step in their relationship. Ellyn finds out that Jeffrey is going back to his first wife. Early in the morning Richard is getting ready to leav…

  5. Episode 530 Oct 19901h 0m

    The Haunting of DAA

    CAPSULE: Amidst a big company layoff, Michael is visited by a mystery man. It's Halloween time and Ethan is fighting with his mother. He wants to be Freddy Krueger; Nancy says no. At DAA Michael comes into Miles' office and finds him lyin…

  6. Episode 613 Nov 19901h 0m

    The Guilty Party

    CAPSULE: Hope tries to do it all, including throwing a surprise birthday party for Michael. Her relentless perfectionism might be rubbing off on Janey. Contractors and repairmen are tearing up the Steadmans' kitchen causing Hope to fall b…

  7. Episode 727 Nov 19901h 0m

    Photo Opportunity

    CAPSULE: Melissa gets a big photo assignment at the same time that her mother breaks her leg. Melissa is ecstatic about a job she's up for, doing a photo shoot in New York for Vanity Fair magazine. After she tells Hope, she lunches with h…

  8. Episode 84 Dec 19901h 0m

    Never Better

    CAPSULE: The ""friends of friends"" Gary and Ellyn become closer, but it's Billy Sidel that Ellyn is really interested in. Ellyn haltingly tells her therapist that she wants to terminate her treatment. Gary is at the market check-out line…

  9. Episode 911 Dec 19901h 0m

    Guns & Roses

    CAPSULE: Nancy's continuing treatment for her cancer places more and more of a strain on her and her family. Nancy gets a phone call one morning about exhibiting her paintings at a show. She later goes to her Victory Partners meeting wher…

  10. Episode 1018 Dec 19901h 0m

    Happy New Year

    CAPSULE: Everyone gathers at the Steadman house for a New Year celebration. Gary and Melissa help Hope prepare for the night's New Year's Eve party. Ellyn is worried because she didn't invite Billy; Hope urges her to call him. Guest begin…

  11. Episode 118 Jan 19911h 0m

    Melissa and Men

    As she prepare for a gallery exhibit devoted to her work, Melissa examines her past relationships with the men in her life and wonders why they have been such failures.

  12. Episode 1222 Jan 19911h 0m

    Advanced Beginners

    While Ellyn and Billy are living together temporarily, an old girlfriend of Billy's arrives upon the scene, causing some problems.

  13. Episode 135 Feb 19911h 0m

    Sifting the Ashes

    On a business trip to Baltimore, Elliot confronts issues with his mother and with his religious faith. Ethan too is wondering if religious faith can help his own mother.

  14. Episode 1412 Feb 19911h 0m

    A Second Look

    Amidst the celebration over the success of Nancy's cancer surgery, a terrible and unexpected tragedy strikes another member of the group.

  15. Episode 1519 Feb 19911h 0m

    Fighting the Cold

    Susannah returns for Gary's funeral. Melissa is an emotional wreck in the aftermath. She and Susannah come to terms with each other.

  16. Episode 1626 Feb 19911h 0m

    The Difference Between Men and Women

    Bachelor and bachelorette parties for Billy and Ellyn provide the backdrop for a look at the various couples' relationships with each other and their fideliity.

  17. Episode 179 Apr 19911h 0m

    The Wedding

    Ellyn and Billy get married. Predictably, all does not go smoothly, as Ellyn gets a bad case of pre-wedding jitters.

  18. Episode 1816 Apr 19911h 0m

    Closing the Circle

    Michael tries to come to terms with Gary's passing. Among the living, he has problems with Susannah and with Miles and Peter at work.

  19. Episode 1930 Apr 19911h 0m

    Out the Door

    Michael's fortunes seem to be rising at DAA, but Elliot is more dissatisfied than ever and is ready to quit the job, leading to conflict between the two.

  20. Episode 207 May 19911h 0m

    Hopeless

    Hopr volunteers at a shelter for the homeless and gets personally involved in the life of a woman and her daughter there. She accuses Michael of having lost his social conscience.

  21. Episode 2114 May 19911h 0m

    A Stop at Willoughby

    The stress of working at DAA becomes too much for Michael.

  22. Episode 2221 May 19911h 0m

    Melissa in Wonderland

    Melissa goes to Hollywood to photograph a sitcom star who comes to rely on her advice.

  23. Episode 2328 May 19911h 0m

    California

    Michael gets a job offer in California. While out there, he runs into Elliot and they talk about forming another partnership. But Hope is adamantly against the move, so much so that her and Michael's marriage is threatened.

Cast

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