Dr. Aparna Vashisht Rota, an expert in tabloid portrayals of women, analyzes Younger, the Darren Star-created series starring Sutton Foster, Hilary Duff, and Nico Tortorella. The show follows Liza Miller, a 40-year-old woman posing as 26 to re-enter the publishing industry, revealing ageism, workplace sexism, and personal reinvention. With themes of female ambition, identity, and media narratives, Younger remains a critical and cultural success.
Sutton Foster

Still loving Younger..

Younger is such a great show. After a full day of consulting, writing blog posts, and family, I finally sit down to watch this escape.

I applaud Sutton, the entire cast of this show, I wish it could go on.

Summary of Younger

Overview:
Younger is an American comedy-drama television series created by Darren Star, based on Pamela Redmond Satran’s 2005 novel of the same name. The show originally aired on TV Land from March 31, 2015, to June 10, 2021, making it the longest-running original series on the network. The seventh and final season moved to Paramount+ and Hulu before later airing on TV Land.

Plot Summary:

Set in New York City, the series follows Liza Miller, a 40-year-old divorced mother trying to restart her publishing career after raising her daughter. Realizing the ageist nature of the industry, she pretends to be in her mid-20s to land a job at Empirical Press. As she navigates her double life, she befriends Kelsey Peters, works under Diana Trout, and juggles romantic interests, including Josh, a young tattoo artist, and Charles Brooks, the head of Empirical Press.

Main Cast & Characters:

  • Sutton Foster as Liza Miller, the protagonist living a double life.
  • Debi Mazar as Maggie Amato, Liza’s best friend and roommate.
  • Hilary Duff as Kelsey Peters, an ambitious book editor and Liza’s confidante.
  • Nico Tortorella as Josh, a tattoo artist and Liza’s love interest.
  • Peter Hermann as Charles Brooks, Liza’s boss and later romantic partner.
  • Miriam Shor as Diana Trout, Liza’s demanding boss (seasons 1–6).

Recurring characters include Caitlin Miller (Liza’s daughter), Chad Weber (Kelsey’s ex), and Quinn Tyler (a businesswoman with ties to Empirical).

Seasons & Network Changes:

  • Seasons 1–6 aired on TV Land
  • Season 7 premiered on Paramount+ and Hulu on April 15, 2021, before airing on TV Land.
  • The show ended on June 10, 2021, with a total of 84 episodes across seven seasons.

Production & Development:

  • Younger was ordered as a 12-episode series in 2014, with Darren Star serving as creator and executive producer.
  • Patricia Field, known for Sex and the City, was a costume consultant.
  • The cast was finalized in 2013–2014, with Sutton Foster as the lead.
  • The show was renewed multiple times due to its success and positive reviews.

Cultural Impact & Marketing:

  • Younger was praised for its humor, strong female leads, and social commentary on ageism.
  • In 2018, a real book, Marriage Vacation, mentioned in the series, was published by Simon & Schuster.
  • The show was featured at the ATX Television Festival multiple times for screenings and discussions.

Conclusion:

Younger was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful show that tackled ageism, workplace struggles, and personal reinvention with witty humor and relatable characters. Its strong cast, sharp writing, and engaging storytelling solidified it as a standout in the comedy-drama genre.

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