The Forgotten Fellowship of Middle Age

The dearth of nuanced portrayals of middle-aged men on television is a notable absence, given the vast and varied landscape of human experience that this stage of life encompasses. It’s not just about blowing up bad guys or perpetuating tired tropes of aging masculinity; rather, it’s about confronting the complexities and vulnerabilities that come with growing older.

Men of a Certain Age, a dramedy series created by Ray Romano and Mike Royce, admirably tackled these themes. Set in the late 2000s, the show followed three friends – Joe (Romano), Terry (Scott Bakula), and Owen (Andre Braugher) – as they navigated their midlife crises. This was no cliche-ridden exploration of “finding oneself”; instead, it offered a nuanced portrayal of men grappling with the consequences of their choices.

Owen’s character stood out for his tenderness and vulnerability. As a diabetic working at his father’s car dealership, he struggled to provide for his family while pursuing a career that brought him little joy. His subtlety conveyed depth through quiet moments rather than grand gestures, allowing the show to tackle tough topics like health struggles and relationship issues without resorting to melodrama or hugging-and-learning cliches.

The series’ greatest strength lay in its portrayal of authentic male friendships. The relationships between Joe, Terry, and Owen were built on a foundation of mutual respect and trust, rather than posturing or aggression. Their conversations were laced with humor and warmth, but also with an underlying awareness that their lives were changing irrevocably.

Men of a Certain Age was largely overlooked when it first aired, likely due to its placement in the procedural wasteland of late-aughts TNT programming. However, this neglect belies the show’s influence on subsequent television. In recent years, shows like This Is Us and Friday Night Lights have proliferated, prioritizing nuanced portrayals of aging and masculinity.

The success of these series suggests that audiences are hungry for more realistic depictions of middle-aged life. Creators and writers must be willing to confront the complexities of aging rather than shying away from them. Authenticity is key, even when the subject matter is uncomfortable or challenging.

As we continue to grapple with the changing landscape of television, Men of a Certain Age serves as a reminder that there’s still much work to be done in representing the full range of human experience. By embracing the vulnerability and complexity of middle age, creators can craft stories that resonate deeply with audiences – and perhaps even help us navigate our own midlife crises.

The show’s impact extends beyond its on-screen portrayal; it also speaks to a larger cultural conversation about aging and masculinity. As we increasingly recognize the value of lived experience and authenticity in storytelling, Men of a Certain Age stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when creators take risks and tackle tough topics head-on.

Revisiting shows like Men of a Certain Age is refreshing, given their exploration of themes like aging and identity with sensitivity and nuance. Their influence may not have been immediately apparent at the time, but as we look back on the television landscape of the late 2000s, it’s clear that they paved the way for a more thoughtful and realistic approach to storytelling.

The question now is: what’s next? As creators continue to push boundaries and explore new themes, Men of a Certain Age serves as a reminder that there’s still much to be said about the complexities of middle age. By embracing this chapter of life with honesty and vulnerability, we may just find ourselves reflecting our own experiences back onto the screen – and discovering that, in doing so, we’ve created something truly remarkable.