As many well-known actors – particularly women, but men too – have complained, age discrimination is alive and well in Hollywood. After age 40 (and 30 is not unknown), they are considered over the hill, consigned to supporting roles as someone’s mother or dotty uncle written by a kid who has no idea what it’s really like to be old.

It leads to some fairly odd casting in television where it is not uncommon to see 20-something ingénues spouting complex legal precedent when they aren’t old enough to have finished college yet, let alone law school.

It’s not easy to find anyone our age written as a fully fleshed-out character of any depth, and it’s as frustrating for actors as for us in the audience. But now, three New York actors – Joan Barber, Norm Golden and Jon Freda - are fighting back by producing a web series, 50 to Death, about growing old in the 21st century. As Norm explains:

“There’s this quiet age discrimination going on. If you’re not on the A-List, you’re just ‘old.’ So I suggested we do something to show we are viable and capable and funny and intelligent. I said, ‘let’s get our buddy Jon and bring the three of us together, and play on this concept of age, and jousting with the 21st century.’ We’re always one technology behind, and we may need occasional naps, but we’re capable, and vital.”

Joan Barber, who shares her life with Norm, explains further:

“Our universe is populated by the Youth Generation (our grandchildren), the Gen Xers (our children), and the ‘Old People,’ everyone who has ever gotten a mailing from AARP. There's an interesting non-distinction amongst all us ‘Old People’: we're all considered OLD, whether we fought in WWII, marched against the Vietnam War or were somewhere in between. Our parents are the same age as we are. Two-and-a-half generations have suddenly been blended into one. And it's become very non-subtle.”

Joan Barber, Norm Golden and Jon Freda have put together a web-only comedy series in five-minute episodes that deserves our support. It’s funny, sweet, delightful and yes, intelligent.

Now, before you read further, go check out the website and view some of the episodes. (HINT: Hold down your mouse button to scroll around the page) Then come back here for some more information on how you can participate.

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Okay, back now? Wasn’t that fun?

There are six 50 to Death “webisodes” in the can, more are planned and you can be part of it. Here’s what Joan told me in an email exchange:

“We're looking for you guys to pitch us some other ideas, things we may not have had the chance to experience. For, after all, since we base our stories on our own lives we are limited by our personal circumstances. We are pretty much reflecting experiences unique to our home base, New York City, and to our lives as two actors and an actor/voice teacher, but we'd love to explore other worlds outside our ken.

“We're happy to give out writing or idea credits and maybe even cameo appearances in future webisodes. What are the little things that your partner does that drive you crazy? What are the little things that you do that drive your partner crazy? What are the things about getting older that you have actually come to love that you thought you would hate? What surprises you? What frustrates you? We can probably make a story out of it.”

What I love about Joan, Norm and Jon, their series and their attitude is that it’s a lot like our elderblogs - it’s about all of us sharing our experiences of what it’s really like to get old, which has little to do with what younger people think we are like.

I know from the stories we’ve shared here over five years, and the 400-plus stories at The Elder Storytelling Place, there is an abundance of material that would be great for 50 to Death. Click here to submit your suggestions.

If it makes sense to do so, include a link to a story on your blogs or at The Elder Storytelling Place. And do leave a note of welcome to the web here for Joan, Norm and Jon. Their series is good for us and for all old people, and might even make a dent in our ageist culture.

[At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Clair Zarges explains the election: Hope Wins - How We Heard the News in the Reddest Part of a Blue State.]