thirtysomething 1987
“The '80s never looked so good.”
What is thirtysomething?
Thirtysomething is an American drama television series created by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz that aired on ABC from September 29, 1987, to May 28, 1991. The series was produced by United Artists Television and The Bedford Falls Company.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1987
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 85
- Runtime
- 60 minutes
- First aired
- Sep 29, 1987
- Last aired
- May 28, 1991
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- ABC
- Genres
- Drama
- Updated
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 85 episodes and an average 60-minute runtime.
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Thirtysomething is an American drama television series created by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz that aired on ABC from September 29, 1987, to May 28, 1991. The series was produced by United Artists Television and The Bedford Falls Company. It focuses on a group of baby boomers in their thirties who live in Philadelphia. The show premiered in the U.S. on September 29, 1987, and lasted four seasons, with a total of 85 episodes. The title of the show was designed by Kathie Broyles, who combined the words of the original title, Thirty Something. The series features a cast including Timothy Busfield, Polly Draper, Mel Harris, and Peter Horton. Two episodes, "The Go Between" and "Samurai Ad Man", were ranked #22 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes in 1997. The show has been recognized as an Emmy-winning drama series.
Should you watch it?
“Seven friends navigate the complexities of life and adult angst in this classic baby boomer drama.”
- explores everyday adult challenges
- features an ensemble cast
- depicts mature themes of adult life
Watch it if you enjoy character-focused dramas about the transition into middle age.
The series contains mature themes appropriate for adult viewers.
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Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 21 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Pilot Mytharc Sep 29, 1987
- E2 The Parents Are Coming, the Parents Are Coming Core Oct 6, 1987
- E3 Housewarming Core Oct 13, 1987
- E4 Couples Core Oct 27, 1987
- E5 But Not for Me Core Nov 3, 1987
- E6 We Gather Together Core Nov 17, 1987
- E7 Nice Work If You Can Get It Core Dec 1, 1987
- E8 Weaning Core Dec 8, 1987
- E9 I'll Be Home for Christmas Core Dec 15, 1987
- E10 South by Southeast Core Jan 5, 1988
- E11 Therapy Core Jan 12, 1988
- E12 Competition Core Jan 19, 1988
- E13 Separation Core Jan 26, 1988
- E14 I'm in Love, I'm in Love, I'm in Love with a Wonderful Gynecologist Core Feb 2, 1988
- E15 Business as Usual Core Feb 9, 1988
- E16 Accounts Receivable Core Mar 1, 1988
- E17 Whose Forest Is This? Core Mar 15, 1988
- E18 Nancy's First Date Core Mar 22, 1988
- E19 Undone Core Apr 12, 1988
- E20 Tenure Mytharc May 3, 1988
- E21 Born to Be Mild Mytharc May 10, 1988
Season 2 · 17 episodes
- E1 We'll Meet Again Mytharc Dec 6, 1988
- E2 In Re: the Marriage of Weston Core Dec 13, 1988
- E3 The Mike Van Dyke Show Core Dec 20, 1988
- E4 Trust Me Core Jan 3, 1989
- E5 No Promises Core Jan 10, 1989
- E6 Politics Core Jan 17, 1989
- E7 Success Core Jan 31, 1989
- E8 First Day / Last Day Core Feb 7, 1989
- E9 About Last Night Core Feb 14, 1989
- E10 Elliot's Dad Mytharc Feb 28, 1989
- E11 Payment Due Core Mar 7, 1989
- E12 Deliverance Mytharc Mar 21, 1989
- E13 Michael Writes a Story Core Apr 4, 1989
- E14 New Job Core Apr 11, 1989
- E15 Be a Good Girl Core Apr 25, 1989
- E16 Courting Nancy Mytharc May 2, 1989
- E17 Best of Enemies Mytharc May 16, 1989
Season 3 · 24 episodes
- E1 Nancy's Mom Mytharc Sep 19, 1989
- E2 Love and Sex Core Oct 3, 1989
- E3 Mr. Right Core Oct 10, 1989
- E4 New Baby Core Oct 24, 1989
- E5 Legacy Core Oct 31, 1989
- E6 Strangers Core Nov 7, 1989
- E7 Pilgrims Core Nov 21, 1989
- E8 The Burning Bush Core Nov 28, 1989
- E9 New Parents Core Dec 5, 1989
- E10 Michael's Campaign Core Dec 12, 1989
- E11 Pulling Away Core Jan 9, 1990
- E12 Another Country Core Jan 16, 1990
- E13 Post-Op Core Jan 23, 1990
- E14 Once a Mermaid Mytharc Feb 6, 1990
- E15 Fathers and Lovers Core Feb 13, 1990
- E16 Her Cup Runneth Over Core Feb 20, 1990
- E17 Good Sex, Bad Sex, What Sex, No Sex Core Feb 27, 1990
- E18 The Other Shoe Core Mar 20, 1990
- E19 The Three Year Itch Core Apr 3, 1990
- E20 I'm Nobody, Who Are You? Core Apr 10, 1990
- E21 Arizona Core Apr 17, 1990
- E22 Going Limp Core May 1, 1990
- E23 Towers of Zenith Part 1: The Go-Between Mytharc May 15, 1990
- E24 Towers of Zenith Part 2: Samurai Adman Mytharc May 22, 1990
Season 4 · 23 episodes
- E1 Prelude to a Bris Mytharc Sep 22, 1990
- E2 Life Class Core Oct 2, 1990
- E3 Control Core Oct 9, 1990
- E4 The Distance Core Oct 16, 1990
- E5 The Haunting of DAA Core Oct 30, 1990
- E6 The Guilty Party Core Nov 13, 1990
- E7 Photo Opportunity Core Nov 27, 1990
- E8 Never Better Core Dec 4, 1990
- E9 Guns & Roses Core Dec 11, 1990
- E10 Happy New Year Core Dec 18, 1990
- E11 Melissa and Men Core Jan 8, 1991
- E12 Advanced Beginners Core Jan 22, 1991
- E13 Sifting the Ashes Core Feb 5, 1991
- E14 A Second Look Core Feb 12, 1991
- E15 Fighting the Cold Core Feb 19, 1991
- E16 The Difference Between Men and Women Core Feb 26, 1991
- E17 The Wedding Core Apr 9, 1991
- E18 Closing the Circle Core Apr 16, 1991
- E19 Out the Door Core Apr 30, 1991
- E20 Hopeless Core May 7, 1991
- E21 A Stop at Willoughby Core May 14, 1991
- E22 Melissa in Wonderland Mytharc May 21, 1991
- E23 California Mytharc May 28, 1991
Frequently asked questions
When did the show premiere?
The series premiered in the United States on September 29, 1987.
How many episodes were produced?
There were 85 episodes produced over the course of four seasons.
Who created the series?
The show was created by Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick.
Where is the show set?
The series is set in Philadelphia.
When did the series conclude?
The final episode aired on May 28, 1991.
■ Ended / Final Season Complete Renewal tracker
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