Modern families: The Lavender Tube on the new gay sitcom, Bella Ramsey in ‘The Last of Us’ & more

The debut of the Hulu original series “Mid-Century Modern” on March 28 could not have been more perfect. We totally needed this fabulous new series about three gay men of a certain age who decide to live together in Palm Springs a la “The Golden Girls” to live out their lives as found queer family. If it sounds good, it is.

“Mid-Century Modern” is a 10-episode series created by Matt Mutchnick and David Kohan. Mutchnick and Kohan also created the groundbreaking series “Will & Grace,” which ran for eight seasons from 1998 to through 2006, then returned for three more seasons from 2017 through 2020. “Will & Grace” is credited with introducing America to gay life. The series won several Emmys and was a hit for years.

“Mid-Century Modern” is destined to have similar impact at a time when the current administration is trying to erase LGBTQ people altogether.



In “Mid-Century Modern,” Bunny Schneiderman (Nathan Lane) lives with his mother Sybil (award-winning actress Linda Lavin in her final role) in Palm Springs where he is a bra entrepreneur. After a sudden tragedy, Bunny invites his friends Jerry Frank (Matt Bomer) and Arthur Broussard (Nathan Lee Graham) to live with him. Hilarity ensues, with a touch of pathos and moments of deep seriousness.

Lane is, as always, incredibly funny. His delivery is pitch-perfect as it was when he played Pepper in a recurring role on “Modern Family.” Lavin has great comedic timing as she witnesses what her son and his friends are doing and delivers her scathing commentary.

“Mid-Century Modern” is full of fabulousness. Matt Bomer’s hot good looks seem to only get better with age. The multi-award nominated actor is now 47. You want to watch this series.



Women’s issues
On the final day of Women’s History Month, “An Oprah Winfrey Special: The Menopause Revolution” aired on ABC March 31 with streaming on Hulu from April 1. The 71-year-old talk show doyenne has been addressing intense topics in similar specials recently, including weight loss drugs and artificial intelligence.

With Oscar winner Halle Berry and Oscar nominee Naomi Watts, journalist Maria Shriver and several doctors, Oprah takes on one of the biggest life changes women face and how little is discussed about it. The range of experience of menopause, the available treatments for it, the way in which it impacts sexuality, is pure Oprah. The show explores all the aspects in clear language with people who have experienced it and are treating it.



Mushrooming
The highly anticipated season two of the dystopian post-apocalyptic drama “The Last of Us” returns April 13 on HBO MAX. This season begins five years after the last ended, with Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) navigating their rocky relationship after Joel lied to Ellie at the end of last season. This season Ellie has a romantic relationship with Dina (Isabela Merced), which helps her navigate the brutal nature of what they face.

Ramsey’s breakthrough role was as Lyanna Mormont in “Game of Thrones” for which she was nominated for an Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA (the British Emmys).Ramsey previously came out as non-binary, though they say they are not rigid about pronouns.

In an interview with British Vogue, Ramsey has revealed she is on the autism spectrum. The 21-year-old was diagnosed at 18 as autistic during the first season of “The Last of Us.” A devout Christian, Ramsey credits her faith with helping her navigate her autism and previously a battle with anorexia.

Of her sexuality, Ramsey says they are not entirely straight. “I’m a bit wavy.” Such revelations by an actor of Ramsey’s caliber and popularity are brave and offer others a role model for coming out about their own neuro-divergence.



Love or death
“Dying for Sex,” the new FX dramedy for Hulu, is based on the true story of podcaster Nikki Boyer’s friend Molly who, when diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, decides to leave her husband of 15 years and their unhappy marriage to explore her sexuality in all its range and fluidity.

The series stars five-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams as Molly and Jenny Slate as Nikki. Oscar winner Sissy Spacek is in the recurring cast. Williams is always magnificent in every role. Her ability to make Molly’s journey –which could be tragic– into a celebration of life, is extraordinary. The series premieres April 4.



Poli-sticks
It’s Lent again, but this one feels more punitive than usual, with all the tariffs, deportations, assaults on the First Amendment, and the shredding of the Constitution. Donald Trump and his co-president, the unelected, unconfirmed wealthiest man in America, Elon Musk, have been wreaking havoc on the country, and those of us who voted for Kamala Harris are getting shafted. So even though this is a major moment for MAGA and Trump proxy voters, Harris voters also have to suffer.

Contrarian comedian and conservative pundit Bill Maher discussed this on his show, “Real Time with Bill Maher” on CNN March 30. We aren’t a fan of Maher’s for a plethora of reasons, but this was one episode of his show worth watching.

Maher led with an expletive-laced monologue in which he skewered the scandal of “The Atlantic” editor Jeffrey Goldberg being included in a Signal text chat with VP JD Vance, Mike Walz and Secretary Pete Hegseth about plans to attack the Houtis.

That story should have been appalling even to the Quisling GOP, but Fox News has been trying to spin it for days as no big deal on every single show from “Fox and Friends” to Jesse Watters. If they say so, it must be true, right? Just imagine the spin if this had been done by President Biden, the guy they called “Sleepy Joe.” The hysteria would have been in overdrive.

Later in the episode, Maher laid out all the scurrilous ways the Republicans have become an integrity-less Trump cult in a brutal takedown. The image of GOP members of Congress wearing the Trump uniform of dark suit and long red tie was priceless. But then Maher inserted an open fly, saying no one in the Trump sycophant contingent would even tell him if his fly was open. It’s a hilarious image you can never unsee.

In his takedown, Maher referenced when Trump confused transgenic mice with transgender mice during his joint address to Congress. He also devoted a third of the show to an interview with Gov. Gavin Newsom, in which Newsom talked about his podcast and his plans to open discourse with the other side of the aisle to help pull the Democrats’ perilously low polling numbers out of the toilet. Maher said it was shocking that this was controversial and Newsom agreed. “They won,” Maher said flatly.

Maher grilled Newsom on his plans for the 2028 presidential race, but Newsom said he was focused on his work as governor. Sure.



Farewells
Richard Chamberlain died March 29, just two days before his 91st birthday, from complications of a stroke at his home in Hawaii. He was with his life partner, Martin Rabbett at his death.

Chamberlain was an iconic figure on TV and in musical theater on Broadway and also had several hit records. With his stunning good looks, Chamberlain became an instant heartthrob after he debuted as the handsome young intern “Dr. Kildare” in 1961. The TV series ran for five seasons and 191 episodes. Chamberlain received thousands of fan letters a week.

But it was in the 1980s that Chamberlain hit a new stride as he became king of the miniseries, starting with the epic “Shogun” in 1980, for which he was nominated for both the Emmy and Golden Globe awards, and then the sprawling generational drama, “The Thornbirds” in 1983, about a Catholic priest torn between his ambition and his love for a woman.

Chamberlain was forced to hide his gay identity throughout the majority of his career, but came out publicly at 69 in his memoir, “Shattered Love.” Later, in interviews he would talk about how there was no way for actors of his generation to be out. Yet in coming out publicly, he spoke to the issues faced by him and other actors of that era and that definitely took a measure of bravery to break that silence.

So, for all the things, both the light and the dark, you know you really must stay tuned.


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