Mid-Century Modern premiered in March to great reviews. The show follows a group of gay friends who move into a Palm Springs home together. It has been described as “the gay Golden Girls.” It stars Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham. The show even included several guest appearances, one of which was by Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

Jesse became a household name when he played the role of Mitchell Pritchett on Modern Family. The long-running series lasted an impressive 11 seasons, premiering in 2009 and ending in 2020. The Emmy-winning sitcom broke barriers for gay representation in television shows. This was largely thanks to Jesse’s character. Therefore, it makes sense he would show up in this latest Hulu sitcom. However, audiences were mixed in their response to his guest spot.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Mid-Century Modern Guest Appearance Received Mixed Reactions

Jesse Tyler Ferguson is probably best known for his role as Mitch in the long-running series Modern Family. However, he also appeared in a guest role on Mid-Century Modern. During one episode, Jesse played the boss of Nathan Lee Graham’s character, Arthur. In addition to his acting career, Jesse hosts the podcast Dinner’s on Me. The series involves Jesse having a conversation with a guest, but what sets it apart from other podcasts is that it takes place at a restaurant. Jesse and his guest talk while enjoying a meal together. In 2023, he spoke to Out about the podcast.

“Most of my guests have been in pop culture or the restaurant industry. I want you to feel like you’re a fly on the wall of two friends having dinner together, or you’re the third chair at our table. I really want you to feel like you’re part of the dinner itself,” he told the outlet.

While many viewers have praised Mid-Century Modern, not everyone was a fan.

One fan wrote on Reddit, “I thought it was pretty good and has potential to explore a lot of issues in the way that the Golden Girls did. I laughed a lot. I thought Bomer was the weak link and was just doing blonde-deer-caught-in-the-headlights and that someone like Andrew Rannells would be much better. Jesse Tyler Ferguson was strangely bad in the pilot. The Latino hustler-esque character in the pilot was a ridiculous racist trope. Also feel that there needs to be one more character living in the house for more energy. Too bad Linda Lavin died – she was fantastic.”

Another viewer was also not a fan of Jesse’s performance. “It’s so very disappointing,” they wrote. “Even Jesse Tyler Ferguson was forced and unfunny. When a veteran, gay, sitcom actor like Jesse (who is normally hilarious) can be so flat and annoyingly one dimensional – something is clearly wrong with the creative process of the show. I wish I could keep watching because I like so many of the cast members individually, but yeesh it’s so not good.”

However, not everyone was disappointed with Jesse’s appearance. One Reddit user listed his name under a series of actors they considered “great cameos.” Another user described Jesse’s appearance as a “fun guest spot.” Someone else wrote that they “highly recommend” Mid-Century Modern when mentioning Jesse’s guest appearance.

Jesse Has Interviewed His Modern Family And Mid-Century Modern Co-Stars On His Podcast

Jesse’s Modern Family co-star Julie Bowen was the first guest on his podcast. Jesse has also interviewed celebrities like Kristen Bell, Jesse Williams, and Fred Armisen on his podcast as well. Jesse also recorded an episode with Matt Bomer, who plays Jerry on Mid-Century Modern.

“I feel like people really open up in a very unique way when you’re having a meal with someone,” Jesse explained. “It doesn’t feel structured. It doesn’t feel like an interview. It just feels like a conversation. We try and keep the mouth sounds to a minimal, but we have a meal together!”

Jesse also said that he planned on having his other Modern Family co-stars on the series as guests in the future. Nathan Lane, who plays Bunny on Mid-Century Modern, was also a guest. Jesse and Nathan previously worked together on Modern Family as well. During the show’s run, Nathan frequently appeared in a recurring role as Pepper Saltzman, one of Mitch’s friends.

During his talk with Out, Jesse said that he appreciates the way in which the show resonates with people. “It was a part I greatly enjoyed doing,” he said. “It’s incredibly meaningful to me. The country went through a big shift during that time. I do feel like the show itself became this pop culture touchstone. There’s certainly a lot of good that came out of us being on television, that helped move those conversations along. I wish that there had been a show like Modern Family on when I was young. I love that I can be that for generations to come.”

This Actor Had A Guest Appearance Which Saw Him Return In The Season Finale

Zane Phillips also guest-starred in the show. He played Mason, someone Jerry almost hooks up with, but also makes an unexpected return in the season finale. Mason is a closeted Mormon who was engaged to a woman before leaving her at the altar when he returns to Jerry. After telling Jerry what happened, he is encouraged to go back home and come out to those he cares about.

During the grand opening of The Tryst Puerto Vallarta, Zane opened up to PRIDE around the time of Mid-Century Modern‘s premiere. He said that he was thrilled with the positive response the show has received. Zane told the outlet he was nervous about what others would think about the show. These concerns had to do with the history of LGBTQ+ representation in the media.

“I am so chuffed that people have been responding so well to the show! With queer content, you always have this thing in the back of your mind that people are going to say it’s too queer,” Zane said before explaining the show’s message. “It’s about sticking with the people who take care of you! The performances are incredible. I felt so lucky to be on that set.”

Zane had some intimate on-screen moments with Matt Bomer during his time on the show. However, Zane was quick to point out to viewers that they would be surprised by the outcome of the story. He did explain that while some viewers might be disappointed, there is actually a deeper message conveyed that is particularly meaningful.

“It’s such a bait and switch!” Zane said. “If you saw that clip, you would not know that our story that episode ends with us talking about God. I feel bad for the folks who just came for the boys kissing. They’re getting something a little more real than that!”

During an interview with Gayety at the same event, Zane recalled his memorable experiences on set. He shot his first scenes on Election Day. This turned out to be a memorable day on set, because Linda Lavin performed an impromptu song on the piano. This also ended up being a song she would sing in a future episode of the show. Zane said he was moved by her performance, and it stuck with him. “It was probably the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” he remembered.

When asked about working with Linda and Nathan Lane, Zane said he was truly starstruck. The actor told the outlet that he was extremely honored to have the opportunity to work with such legendary individuals.

“It’s really wacky,” Zane said. “I was on set and I was looking at Nathan Lane and I was like, ‘You’re Timon.’ It’s probably the first movie I’ve ever seen. And so just being in a room with these legends and they were all so kind and so funny.”

Zane said working on the Mid-Century Modern set was a “master class,” because he learned so much from their kindness and professionalism. “I always want to be surrounded by people who I can learn from and who are kind enough to impart their knowledge and their skills with me,” he recalled.

After having such a wonderful experience, Zane said he is keeping himself grounded. Zane said it was a mixture of luck and hard work that led him to that set. According to Zane, it’s important not to negate the significance of either factor. “You have to start telling yourself it wasn’t just luck that I’m in this room,” he said. Zane said he is truly appreciative of the time he spent working on the show.