Of the “Will & Grace” makers: New sitcom: Are the gay golden girls good?

Socially relevant, funny, touching stories about a shared apartment of not quite as young people: That sounds like the worldwide successful sitcom “Golden Girls” (1985 to 1992; in Germany only from 1990). But it now also fits the hulu format “mid-couny modern”, in which the flat share does not consist of the Ladys Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and her mother Sophia, but of Bunny, Arthur and Jerry, who stand with a lot of self-irony for gay stereotypes (melodramatic bitch), dandy and dummer.

Since Good Friday, the sitcom has been available at the Disney+ streaming service with ten episodes (each around 20 to 25 minutes). “Gayer Gayht’s hardly”, you almost want to say – very entertaining.

When the fourth died from her clique, the gay single men Bunny, Arthur and Jerry think about the transience and the meaning of true friendship. Since Bunny only shares his house in Palm Springs with his mother (Linda Lavin (1937-2024)), they decide to move in. The shopkeeper and entrepreneur Bunny plays Nathan Lane (69, “The Birdcage-a paradise for shrill birds”), the flamboyant ex- “Vogue” employee Arthur Mimt Nathan Lee Graham (56) and the pretty flight attendant and ex-mormons Jerry represented Matt Bomer (47), who in his often unsuspecting naivety is a little “Golden Girl” Rose (Betty White) can remember.

The series idea comes from the “Will & Grace” makers Max Machchnick (59) and David Kohan (61). Directed by James Burrows (84), the executing producer is Ryan Murphy (59), who has already been responsible for series hits such as “Glee”, “Pose”, “Monster: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez”.

The sitcom is located in the Californian desert city of Palm Springs, which is about 190 kilometers east of Hollywood. It is known as a stronghold and glamorous longing place for many gayers, in Europe, for example, comparable to Maspalomas/Playa del Inglés on Gran Canaria.

The architectural style, which is striking in Palm Springs, is called Mid-Century Modern (bungalows such as building blocks, straightforward, without being strictly, very sophisticated and chic; in Europe often called post-war-modern). The series name is derived from the style, because the era in the 20th century between about ’47 and ’65 also fits the age of the main characters.

The episodes play in the now time, for example, there is talk of the overcome Corona pandemic, there is a lot about getting older, but also gay-specific worries of wealthy Middle Ages in the USA (which also fit on Europe), for example about coming-out memories, insults in adolescence, overplayed shame, exaggerated adaptation, dating adventure, sex and longing for a steady relationship With great skepticism about the supposedly a great love in life.

The sitcom presents a rather old -fashioned way of comedic storytelling. Although produces for a streaming service, the consequences seem to have been built around for advertising breaks. As in Florida at the “Golden Girls”, palm trees are shown again and again.

The gags are a little too often forced punch lines instead of real situation comedy from the dialogues. Clichés are often served, be it through Jews (Bunny Schneiderman and his family) or fast sex in the gay scene. In addition, the series could be accused of a certain drug custody: alcohol is constantly being drunk, and ketamine and other stimulating substances are also mentioned. Many should also find annoying the well -rehearsed laughs, where one was glad that they no longer exist in today’s productions.

Touching the makers in a row added nine the death of actress Linda Lavin, who played wonderfully Bunny’s mother Sybil and died at the age of 87. The guest stars are also all well occupied-for example Rhea Perlman as Sybil’s good friend, Judd Hirsch as Sybil’s old friend, Pamela Adlon (as Sybil’s daughter and Bunny’s younger hetero sister Mindy), Richard Kind (as a neurotic man who is in love with Bunny) or “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson Fashion seller.

The naturalness, with the “Mid-Century Modern”, uses gay topics and the associated vocabulary (grindr, pre-exposure prophylaxis/prep et cetera) is successful-and more cool than cringe.