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Season 1 – American Classic

Play trailer 2:15 Poster for Season 1 – American Classic Next Ep Apr 5 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
A narcissistic Broadway star returns to his hometown after a public meltdown and decides to save his family-run theater by directing and starring in a production of a great American classic.
American Classic — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Sincerely sublime, thanks in part to a compelling Kevin Kline, this cozy sitcom gives viewers a humorous televisual reprieve with good company and a strong sense that this is one American Classic.

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Critics Reviews

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David Bianculli NPR Mar 16
Take the effort to find, and watch, American Classic. It'll remind you why, when it's this good, it's easy to love the theater. And television. Go to Full Review Don Aucoin Boston Globe Mar 5
“American Classic” is fairly enjoyable as long as you don’t look at it too closely or ask too much of it. For the most part, the series skims the surface, only occasionally dipping below that surface. Go to Full Review John Anderson Wall Street Journal Mar 5
The concept of a theater family is both literal and figurative in “American Classic,” and while there might be a revival -- as in a second season -- one hopes not. It couldn’t be this good. Go to Full Review Ty'Kira Smalls Common Sense Media Mar 10
4/5
This series is a compelling, light, heartfelt look at how grief manifests amongst those who leave home and the ones left behind. American Classic has dynamic characters, wacky humor, and earnest, relatable moments. Go to Full Review Archi Sengupta LeisureByte.com Mar 9
3.5/5
American Classic is an emotional MGM+ series that will leave your heart warm and fuzzy. Go to Full Review Anne Brodie What She Said Mar 6
3/4
Kline is magnetic and the ensemble exceptional. It earns every emotional beat it reaches for. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Gavin Y @GavinY 1d It is so refreshing to see a witty, heartfelt comedy with great actors! See more Fatemeh H @Fhedayat97 5d Not bad but very slow. See more joan L @Joanie421 Mar 27 Acting felt over the top, and no one was very likeable. I didn't feel like any of the characters emotionally connected with each other - they all felt like they were in their own silos, saying their lines but not really engaged with each other. And I found the Constant (every 5-10 minutes) use of profantiy followed by blasphemous use of God's name not only offensive but incredibly distracting. It felt like the writers only knew 2 ways of communicating the characters' emotions - F..... and J..C. See more Gary R @theroser Mar 24 Really enjoyable TV that’s a pleasure to watch, with excellent actors whose performances grow deeper over time. The story unfolds gently and peacefully, making it easy to relax into, and it also feels like a great, low-stress choice for younger viewers. See more Andrew M @andrewmunsey Mar 17 Really marvelous show. Every character and performance is great. Can't get enough. See more Pip H. @PipHavisham Mar 11 like a student film made by a nepo baby with no promise. the actors are fighting for their lives to make the material work but theres just too much to overcome with how bad the story, characters, pacing are See more Read all reviews
American Classic — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Hoffman

Creator

Bob Martin

Creator

Kevin Kline

Richard Bean

Jon Tenney

Jon Bean

Laura Linney

Kristen Forrest Bean

Jane Alexander

Ethel Bean

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Mar 1, 2026 Pilot Star Richard Bean suffers a public meltdown and returns to his hometown theater where he first discovered his brilliance; he's shocked to find the once-respected theater, now run by his brother Jon and ex Kristen, has become a dinner theater. Details Episode 2 Aired Mar 1, 2026 Swan Song Richard begs Alvy for a Broadway return while tensions with Kristen escalate; Miranda struggles between acting and Penn; Kristen faces a shady developer; Richard produces his mother's funeral, making a shocking announcement. Details Episode 3 Aired Mar 8, 2026 Juniper Berries As Richard plans his Our Town, Jon tries to rein him in; Boyle offers Kristen a payment holiday for a dinner invite; Richard's fundraising falters but is hopeful after an evening onstage; Boyle drops a bombshell at dinner. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 15, 2026 Big Spender Tensions escalate between Kristen and Richard; auditions reveal Millersburg's shrinking talent pool; Miranda's protests complicate Kristen's deal with Boyle; Boyle blindsides Richard with a demand. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 22, 2026 Schicklgruber Rehearsals begin for Richard's Our Town and Nadia proves to be a directing challenge; Kristen bonds with Richard's ex; Jon and Boyle take a fateful trip to Atlantic City and Nadia misinterprets Richard's private rehearsals with disastrous results. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 29, 2026 Real Rain As the casino vote nears, Kristen juggles Miranda's protests and Boyle's demands; Jon wrestles with guilt over Atlantic City while Richard tries to mend things with Nadia; the production faces crises when romance blooms backstage and Linus bows out. Details Episode 7 Airs Apr 5 Camelot After the casino vote Richard's production undergoes big changes and Kristen's job is on the line; Nadia chooses between Boyle and the play; Richard recruits Jon for the show; a final Circle of Truth reveals a shocking secret. Details Episode 8 Airs Apr 12 Our Town Richard and Kristen panic after the Circle of Truth revelation; Miranda is missing, and Alby warns that theater critic Xander Young is attending opening night; Linus drops a bomb at the party that changes the Bean family forever. Details
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American Classic — Season 1

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American Classic — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Michael Hoffman, Tricia Brock
Creator
Michael Hoffman, Bob Martin
Executive Producer
Kevin Kline, Michael Hoffman, Bob Martin, Ellen Fairey, Leslie Urdang, Anthony Bregman, David Levine, Garrett Kemble, Jon Tenney, Laura Linney
Network
MGM+
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Mar 1, 2026