thirtysomething
thirtysomething

thirtysomething

1987 4 Seasons 85 Episodes ⭐ 6.3 Drama

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.

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.

Seasons & Episodes

EP 1

Pilot

Hope and Michael Steadman are still adjusting to parenthood while struggling with money problems and best-friend crises.

EP 2

The Parents Are Coming, the Parents Are Coming

Hope's anxiety over her parents' impending visit taxes everyone's patience.

EP 3

Housewarming

Michael and Hope race to renovate their crumbling mansion for a huge housewarming party.

EP 4

Couples

A night out with friends degenerates as Nancy and Elliot's marital woes become apparent.

EP 5

But Not for Me

Gary and Melissa rekindle their affair; Michael and Hope's first date in months is a disaster.

EP 6

We Gather Together

Hope and Michael plan a quiet Thanksgiving but learn friends are counting on being invited.

EP 7

Nice Work If You Can Get It

Before a deadline, Michael and Elliot wrestle with a creativity block; Ellyn develops a crush on an associate.

EP 8

Weaning

Sensing baby Janey's decreasing dependency on her, depressed Hope decides to go back to work.

EP 9

I'll Be Home for Christmas

Michael and Hope argue about whether their infant's first holiday should be Christmas or Hanukkah. A famous photographer

EP 10

South by Southeast

It's a Hitchcockian nightmare as Gary falls in love; as the romance progresses, he begins receiving a series of threats

EP 11

Therapy

Elliot and Nancy seek professional help for their troubled marriage; Michael finds it hard to keep it a secret.

EP 12

Competition

Michael's jealousy is aroused when an important client make it clear he prefers Elliot. Meanwhile, Hope and Nancy try to

EP 13

Separation

Elliot temporarily moves in with Michael and Hope after separating from Nancy.

EP 14

I'm in Love, I'm in Love, I'm in Love with a Wonderful Gynecologist

Competing for the attention of the same man jeopardizes the new found friendship between Ellyn and Melissa.

EP 15

Business as Usual

Michael's hopes for a joyous reunion with his father are destroyed when he discovers the real reason for the visit.

EP 16

Accounts Receivable

A rocky relationship between Michael and his brother Brad is further strained when Michael learns the family business is

EP 17

Whose Forest Is This?

Nancy and Elliot's separation takes its toll on their son; Elliot prepares for a blind date with a chiropractor.

EP 18

Nancy's First Date

Melissa's burgeoning romance slows when she learns he doesn't want any more kids. Nancy has her first date since the sep

EP 19

Undone

Michael's old girlfriend from college pays a visit.

EP 20

Tenure

Gary evaluates the fate of his academic career as he undergoes tenure review at the college. Ellyn learns her building i

EP 21

Born to Be Mild

Ellyn and Woodman's weekend is ruined when they are forced to babysit Janey.

EP 1

We'll Meet Again

As she and Michael argue about her working and having another child, Hope learns about some previous tenants of their ho

EP 2

In Re: the Marriage of Weston

Things get complicated between Elliot and Nancy as they moved toward finalizing their divorce. They both try to establis

EP 3

The Mike Van Dyke Show

As Christmas and Hanukkah near, Hope suffers a minor injury and an unknown illness. Michael has a crisis of faith and im

EP 4

Trust Me

Melissa and Gary consider having a child together. Gary volunteers his time at a social services center, where he is irr

EP 5

No Promises

Ellyn tries to deal with the shock of her parents' divorce and her growing estrangement from Woodman. Ellyn is shocked

EP 6

Politics

CAPSULE: Michael takes on a client that he, his wife and his friends find repugnant. Gary and Susannah's odd relationshi

EP 7

Success

Melissa gets a job working with Carly Simon. Michael and Elliot face losing their business. Melissa is excited--Russell

EP 8

First Day / Last Day

Flashback scenes of Michael and Elliot meeting, working together, and forming their own company are interspersed with th

EP 9

About Last Night

Gary and Susannah try to figure out what to do when they finds out that she's pregnant. Nancy misses a publishing deadli

EP 10

Elliot's Dad

CAPSULE: Elliot gets involved with his wayward father. Ethan suffers an injury. Elliot goes to see his divorced father

EP 11

Payment Due

CAPSULE: Ellyn's work and personal life take a great toll on her, both physically and emotionally. Ellyn has been suffe

EP 12

Deliverance

CAPSULE: Ellyn, Nancy, Hope and Melissa go on a cathartic camping trip. Melissa gets some camping equipment as a payoff

EP 13

Michael Writes a Story

Michael takes a creative writing class, as does Nancy. Michael incurs Nancy's wrath when he writes about something he he

EP 14

New Job

CAPSULE: Hope suffers a miscarriage just as Michael and Elliot begin work for Miles Drentell at DAA. Elliot and Michael

EP 15

Be a Good Girl

CAPSULE: Melissa must deal with her aging grandmother who wants her to take over her business. Melissa is preparing to

EP 16

Courting Nancy

CAPSULE: Nancy pursues her relationship with Matt, but Elliot makes a concerted effort to win her back. Elliot returns

EP 17

Best of Enemies

CAPSULE: Hope is writing an article that could affect Susannah's Race St. Project, driving a wedge between her and Gary.

EP 1

Nancy's Mom

CAPSULE: Nancy's and Elliot move closer to a reconciliation, to the disapproval of her visiting mother Eleanor. Elliot

EP 2

Love and Sex

CAPSULE: While she and Michael are having problems of their own, Hope gets involved in the love life of her teenaged bab

EP 3

Mr. Right

CAPSULE: Ellyn and Melissa try using a video dating service. Melissa is unexpectedly attracted to a younger man she meet

EP 4

New Baby

CAPSULE: Susannah and Gary become new parents after a difficult delivery. Melissa has a hard time accepting Gary's new s

EP 5

Legacy

Elliot and Michael have a close encounter with disaster on an airplane. Hope's employer, the magazine Synergy, is being

EP 6

Strangers

CAPSULE: Melissa must come to terms with the problems she has over the age difference with Lee. Their relationship is pa

EP 7

Pilgrims

CAPSULE: Elliot reunites with his family, but Ethan is still full of anxiety which manifests itself as fear for his safe

EP 8

The Burning Bush

CAPSULE: Ellyn takes steps toward starting an affair with Jeffrey Milgrom. Hope begins work on an environmental project.

EP 9

New Parents

CAPSULE: Gary's decision to quit teaching and stay at home with his new baby causes a conflict between him and his mothe

EP 10

Michael's Campaign

CAPSULE: Michael crosses swords with the creative director at DAA. Hope gets more involved with her environmental projec

EP 11

Pulling Away

CAPSULE: Michael is given more responsibility at DAA, causing friction between him and Elliot. Hope also has to take som

EP 12

Another Country

CAPSULE: Just as her children's book is published, Nancy is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. On a typical madhouse mornin

EP 13

Post-Op

CAPSULE: Nancy, family and friends deal with the aftermath of her cancer surgery. Nancy has come out of surgery and Ell

EP 14

Once a Mermaid

CAPSULE: Ellyn restarts her affair with Richard, this time in earnest. Ellyn seems to be putting her flirtation with Je

EP 15

Fathers and Lovers

CAPSULE: Melissa has conflicts with Lee over finding him a new job and with her father over his plans to buy her buildin

EP 16

Her Cup Runneth Over

CAPSULE: Richard leaves his wife and takes his daughter and moves in with Ellyn. This new instant family experiences som

EP 17

Good Sex, Bad Sex, What Sex, No Sex

CAPSULE: Against the background of an examination of the characters' sex lives, Melissa and Lee break up. Melissa and L

EP 18

The Other Shoe

CAPSULE: Nancy finds new support from another cancer patient, but their relationship threatens her closeness with her ow

EP 19

The Three Year Itch

CAPSULE: While in Washington, DC about a possible job, Hope almost cheats on Michael with John Dunaway. While Michael h

EP 20

I'm Nobody, Who Are You?

EP 21

Arizona

CAPSULE: Michael and Hope's relationship is deteriorating as they gather to attend her parents' anniversary celebration.

EP 22

Going Limp

CAPSULE: Elliot gets a chance to direct a public service announcement, but is he capable of doing the job? Ellyn comes

EP 23

Towers of Zenith Part 1: The Go-Between

CAPSULE: As Elliot grows more dissatisfied with DAA, Michael finds out something that could change everything about the

EP 24

Towers of Zenith Part 2: Samurai Adman

CAPSULE: Michael's career is on the line as the hostile takeover attempt of DAA heats up. As Minnesota Brands plots its

EP 1

Prelude to a Bris

CAPSULE: The decision whether or not to circumcise the newborn Leo brings up larger questions: is he Jewish and what doe

EP 2

Life Class

CAPSULE: Nancy feels that the hysterectomy has adversely affected her sex drive. Shots of Nancy teaching a class at the

EP 3

Control

CAPSULE: Melissa starts a fledgling relationship with Miles. Ellyn and Jeffrey look for a new apartment. Melissa gets a

EP 4

The Distance

CAPSULE: An offer of a new job for Susannah leads to her and Gary taking a bold and unexpected step in their relationshi

EP 5

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 wi

EP 6

The Guilty Party

CAPSULE: Hope tries to do it all, including throwing a surprise birthday party for Michael. Her relentless perfectionism

EP 7

Photo Opportunity

CAPSULE: Melissa gets a big photo assignment at the same time that her mother breaks her leg. Melissa is ecstatic about

EP 8

Never Better

CAPSULE: The ""friends of friends"" Gary and Ellyn become closer, but it's Billy Sidel that Ellyn is really interested i

EP 9

Guns & Roses

CAPSULE: Nancy's continuing treatment for her cancer places more and more of a strain on her and her family. Nancy gets

EP 10

Happy New Year

CAPSULE: Everyone gathers at the Steadman house for a New Year celebration. Gary and Melissa help Hope prepare for the

EP 11

Melissa and Men

As she prepare for a gallery exhibit devoted to her work, Melissa examines her past relationships with the men in her li

EP 12

Advanced Beginners

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

EP 13

Sifting the Ashes

On a business trip to Baltimore, Elliot confronts issues with his mother and with his religious faith. Ethan too is wond

EP 14

A Second Look

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

EP 15

Fighting the Cold

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

EP 16

The Difference Between Men and Women

Bachelor and bachelorette parties for Billy and Ellyn provide the backdrop for a look at the various couples' relationsh

EP 17

The Wedding

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

EP 18

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 P

EP 19

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, lea

EP 20

Hopeless

Hopr volunteers at a shelter for the homeless and gets personally involved in the life of a woman and her daughter there

EP 21

A Stop at Willoughby

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

EP 22

Melissa in Wonderland

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

EP 23

California

Michael gets a job offer in California. While out there, he runs into Elliot and they talk about forming another partner

Popular Cast

Ken Olin
Ken Olin
Michael Steadman
Mel Harris
Mel Harris
Hope Steadman
Timothy Busfield
Timothy Busfield
Elliot Weston
Patricia Wettig
Patricia Wettig
Nancy Weston
Peter Horton
Peter Horton
Gary Shepherd
Melanie Mayron
Melanie Mayron
Melissa Steadman
Polly Draper
Polly Draper
Ellyn Warren
Patricia Kalember
Patricia Kalember