Hulu Cancels Feel-Good Comedy Series After One Season

Another Hulu show has gotten the ax. Just six months after its premiere, Mid-Century Modern co-creator Max Mutchnick confirmed the series would not be returning for a second season in an Instagram post shared on Monday, Sept. 29.

Ten great episodes… Not enough. But we loved making every single one of them. We’re gonna miss our very special show. Thanks to everyone who watched.

Disappointed fans took to the comments section to express their love for the newly-canceled sitcom. One Instagram user wrote, “How was this not renewed?? It was fabulous. Sweet, loving, hilarious, and smart!” Another fan said, “Amazing show… sorry to see it go!” and a third social media user added, “No doubt whatever you do next will be brilliant & beautiful as well.”

Often compared to Golden Girls, Mid-Century Modern followed three gay best friends “of a certain age” who decide to retire together in Palm Springs after the unexpected death of a close pal. Not only did it have an attention-grabbing plot and a pleasantly familiar sitcom feel, it had a star-studded cast, featuring Matt Bomer (White Collar), Nathan Lane (The Birdcage), Nathan Lee Graham (Zoolander), and Linda Lavin (Alice), who played the role of Sybil Schneiderman prior to her death in late December 2024. The show’s guest stars were equally impressive, boasting a wide array of other sitcom alums, including Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Rhea Perlman (Cheers), and Judd Hirsch (Taxi).

‘Mid-Century Modern’ Was Praised for Its Heart and Humor

Following the feel-good comedy’s debut in March, it saw some immediate success. It was Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes — earning a respectable 88% from critics and 80% from all audiences. David Opie of Yahoo! Movies UK described Mid-Century Modern as a “new old-fashioned” sitcom that felt like an “’80s show that could have never been made in the ’80s,” while the Wall Street Journal‘s John Anderson praised Lane’s “deft comic timing.” Meanwhile, The Nightly‘s Wenlei Ma called the series “rapid-fire” and “glorious” with “many moments of genuine pathos mixed in.”

Like The Golden Girls, Mid-Century Modern is as much about found family as it is about a biological one, and it crackles with the toasty love the characters have for each other. That feeling is infectious.

Mid-Century Modern even received several Emmy nominations, including ones for Outstanding Production Design, Outstanding Sound Mixing, and Outstanding Picture Editing. Additionally, James Burrows was nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for his work on the second-to-last episode, “Here’s to You, Mrs. Schneiderman,” which centered around Sybil’s death following Lavin’s sudden passing. It was also nominated for awards at America’s Rainbow Film Festival (ARFF) and The Queerties.

Although Hulu has not publicly clarified why they made the decision not to renew the show, it could be for a number of reasons, such as low viewership or for budget reasons connected to the location or the cast.

While there won’t be new episodes in the future, Mid-Century Modern fans can still catch Season 1 streaming on Hulu.