It’s been over 20 years since Thirtysomething went on the air and 18 years since it departed and now finally the first season will be released on DVD today.  What I find so interesting about the show is how far reaching into TV and films — but mostly TV — that the participants of the show have had on our lives.

In the LA Times, Marshall Herskovitz said that their goal was to make movies and they thought that the show would be something that they did for a little while until they could get their movies made.  Hershkovitz and his co-creator Ed Zwick are both incredibly creative men and the show proved to be a training ground for an entire generation of creative people.  (Many of the cast members were able to direct episodes)  They created two other amazing series, My So-Called Life and Once and Again that were thoroughly underappreciated.  (It still makes me angry when I think about it.)  They’ve also done some great movies

The female writers on the show included Winnie Holzman who co- created My So-Called Life.  She also wrote the book for the musical Wicked which is still playing to sold out audiences on Broadway.  She will also be writing the script for the film adaptation of the show.  Other women writers who have gone onto significant careers beyond Thirtysomething include: Ann Lewis Hamilton who worked on Party of Five and Grey’s Anatomy among others and Jill Gordon who worked on Doogie Howser, M.D. The Wonder Years, and the 90210 reboot.

But looking at the cast the men and the women shows exactly where women and men stand in the TV business creatively.  I’m not saying the women of Thirtysomething haven’t had incredible careers.  They have.  Patricia Wettig has continued to act and is so good as Holly of Brothers and Sisters.  Melanie Mayron still also acts but she is more well known now as a director having worked on shows including: Dawson’s Creek, Tell Me You Love Me, In Treatment among many others.  Mel Harris has also been acting over the years but has not had another breakout series. Polly Draper has a huge hit with the creation of the show The Naked Brothers Band which she writes and directs and produces.

But with all due respect to the accomplishments of the women, the guys have been incredibly successful producers and are some of the dominant voices of their generation.  The success of the male cast members illuminates the routes and opportunities men get vs. the opportunities women get.

Think about it. These guys are everywhere.  Acting, directing and producing.

Timothy Busfield acts and directs all the time but he also has also been a director and executive producer (top job on a TV show) on several series including: Ed, The West Wing, Without a Trace and Lipstick Jungle.

Peter Horton also acts and directs and has been an executive producer on Grey’s Anatomy, Dirty Sexy Money, The Philanthropist and the upcoming Body Politic.

Ken Olin is one of the dominant producing voices in TV today.  He acts and directs and his resume as an executive producer includes Alias, and Brothers and Sisters.

I just think it’s really interesting to see that this show has bred such important voices in the business.

Melanie Mayron identifies with Melissa, her ‘thirtysomething’ role (LA Times)

‘thirtysomething’ twentysomething years later (LA Times)

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