‘Mid-Century Modern’s Nathan Lee Graham On ‘Golden Girls’ Comparisons

With a new sitcom about a group of four friends in their golden years, Nathan Lee Graham understands if fans might be experiencing a little déjà vu.

Although the Mid-Century Modern star recently explained that his upcoming Hulu multi-camera series is “not Golden Girls,” he’s certainly not bothered by comparisons to the beloved 1985-’92 NBC sitcom that starred Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty.

“It’s not Golden Girls, but the similarities are inevitable, right?” Graham told Queerty‘s Michael Musto. “You have three single guys coming together that happen to be homosexual, moving to one person’s place, so the similarities are going to be drawn. And it’s not a bad thing to be compared to. The show is it’s own thing, but it’s nice to be compared to something you truly love.”

Hulu quickly gave Mid-Century Modern a series order in August after the James Burrows-directed pilot was filmed in front of a live studio audience. The sitcom comes from Will & Grace creators David Kohan & Max Mutchnick and Ryan Murphy.

The series follows three best friends (Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer and Graham) — gay gentlemen of a certain age – who, after an unexpected death, decide to spend their golden years living together in Palm Springs where the wealthiest one, Bunny Schneiderman (Lane), lives with his mother, Sybil (Linda Lavin). As a chosen family, they prove that no matter how hard things get, there’s always someone around to remind you it would be better if you got your neck done.” The pilot also features drag legend Miss Coco Peru (aka Clinton Leupp).

Graham noted that his character Arthur, a fashion industry veteran, is “a wonderfully fleshed out character with so many emotions.” He also revealed that Lane’s Bunny is “an entrepreneur who owns a surprising company,” and Bomer’s Jerry Frank is a flight attendant. Deadline previously reported that Jerry is a former Mormon who is “pure of heart. He is also hard of body and soft of head.”

When asked who is the show’s Dorothy (Bea’s character on Golden Girls), Graham told Musto “we all have those wonderful quips and sneers and deadpan looks.”

“Here’s the thing. We’re all combinations of all of them, of different sorts,” he explained. “But I’d say that Arthur is mostly a Dorothy. And not only is my stepfather who raised me [in real life] named Arthur, but Arthur, of course, is the neighbor of Maude [in the ‘70s sitcom starring Bea Arthur, who later was Dorothy]. I love the little connections. As for Blanche, there’s a little of her in all of us, but some other cast members are more Blanche than I.”

Graham said the show will “cover all the generations,” adding, “It’s really about the bond and the family. Yes, we’re gonna read each other to filth and yes, we’re gonna mop up the floor with you now and then, but at the end of the day, I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine. There are so many gay perspectives—we’re not a monolith.”