Mom (TV series)

Mom is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky and Gemma Baker that ran on CBS from September 23, 2013 to May 13, 2021, lasting eight seasons. Set in Napa, Napa County, California, it follows dysfunctional daughter/mother duo Christy and Bonnie Plunkett, who, after having been estranged for years while both were struggling with addiction, attempt to pull their lives and their relationship together by trying to stay sober and attending Alcoholics Anonymous. It stars Anna Faris and Allison Janney in the leading roles. Mimi Kennedy, Jaime Pressly, Beth Hall, William Fichtner, Sadie Calvano, Blake Garrett Rosenthal, Matt Jones, French Stewart, and Kristen Johnston appear in supporting roles.
The series was filmed in front of a live audience and is produced by Warner Bros. Television and Chuck Lorre Productions. "Mom" has received acclaim from critics and audiences alike throughout its run, with major credit being given to its writing and its performances (with Janney's performance noted in particular). It has been applauded for addressing themes of real-life issues such as alcoholism, drug addiction, teen pregnancy, addictive gambling, homelessness, relapse, cancer, death, domestic violence, overdose, palsy, rape, obesity, stroke, ADD, and miscarriage. It has been praised for maintaining a deft balance between the humorous and darker aspects of these issues.
"Mom" has consistently received high ratings within its genre, with an average viewership of 11.79 million, making it the third highest rated comedy on broadcast television in the US. It is among the top five comedies with both adults ages 25 to 54 and adults ages 18 to 49. The show has received various accolades, with Janney winning two consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2014 and 2015 and being nominated in 2016 and for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2017 and 2018. It has also garnered multiple nominations at the Critics' Choice Television Awards and the People's Choice Awards during its run. On September 4, 2020, Faris announced her exit from the series; shortly thereafter, CBS announced that the series would end after the then-upcoming season 8, and the series finale would air on May 13, 2021.
Synopsis.
"Mom" follows Christy Plunkett (Anna Faris), a single mother who, after dealing with her battle with alcoholism and drug abuse, decides to restart her life in Napa, California, working as a waitress and attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Her mother, Bonnie Plunkett, (Allison Janney) is also a recovering addict. Christy's daughter, Violet (Sadie Calvano), who was born when Christy was 17, has also become a teen mother by her boyfriend, Luke (Spencer Daniels). Christy also has a young son, Roscoe (Blake Garrett Rosenthal) by her ex-husband, Baxter (Matt Jones), a deadbeat but likable pothead.
Christy eventually goes back to school and pursues her dream of becoming a lawyer, while Bonnie develops a romantic relationship with a retired stuntman named Adam Janikowski (William Fichtner), whom she eventually marries. Through it all, Christy and Bonnie rely on their support system from AA, including the wise Marjorie (Mimi Kennedy), the wealthy and materialistic Jill (Jaime Pressly), the submissive and sometimes overly-emotional Wendy (Beth Hall), and the loudmouthed but sweet Tammy (Kristen Johnston). Collectively, they help each other stay sober in the face of the conflicts they face in each episode.
Following the departure of Christy, who moves to Washington, the show delves more into the personal lives of her friends she left behind.
Production.
Development.
"Mom" was one of the many projects that became a priority for CBS and Warner Bros when it was pitched in December 2012, in part due to Lorre's new four-year deal with Warner the previous September. It was green-lit by CBS for a series order pickup on May 9, 2013. This pickup also gives Lorre the distinction of having four sitcoms airing on one network starting in the 2013–14 season. The following week, the network announced that it would place the sitcom in the Monday night 9:30 pm (ET/PT) time slot following "2 Broke Girls". However, after the cancelation of "We Are Men", "2 Broke Girls" was moved into the show's 8:30 pm slot, with repeats of "The Big Bang Theory" occupying the 9 pm lead-in time slot to "Mom" until the season debut of "Mike & Molly" on November 4, 2013. The show received a full first season order for 22 episodes on October 18, 2013.
On March 13, 2014, CBS announced the second season renewal of "Mom". The series moved from Mondays at 9:30 PM to Thursdays at 8:30 PM for the first fourteen episodes until the series moved to Thursdays at 9:30 PM following "The Odd Couple" series premiere and the series finale of "Two and a Half Men".
By season three, the focus became more about Christy and Bonnie and their group from AA, while the restaurant set, the kids, and Baxter roles were reduced significantly.
In February 2021, CBS announced the series will end with the final episode of the eighth season, airing on May 13, 2021.
Casting.
The series gives Faris, who had guest-starred in various television programs between her film projects and been sought after for other television projects (including a failed pilot called "Blue Skies" that was being produced for NBC), her first full-time television role, as she landed the part of the lead character, Christy, in January 2013. On January 28, 2013, Janney was next to come aboard the project, playing Christy's mother. Matt Jones and Spencer Daniels were added to the cast in February 2013, with Jones playing Christy's ex-husband, Baxter, and Daniels taking the role of Luke, the boyfriend of Christy's daughter, Violet.
Broadcast.
In Australia, "Mom" debuted on Nine Network on April 9, 2014. In Canada, Citytv airs the series simultaneously. In Greece, Star Channel debuted the series on October 25, 2014. In India, Comedy Central (India) has been broadcasting the series through 2015. In Israel, the show is broadcast on HOT Comedy Central. In the United Kingdom, ITV2 debuted the show on January 20, 2014, they have since dropped the show which has not been available to UK viewers since the end of Season 4.
Syndication.
"Mom" went into syndication in late 2017. The series airs on local affiliates, as well as on FXX, Paramount Network, Nick at Nite, and CMT. It previously aired on TV Land, until July 2, 2018, when it switched networks with "Two and a Half Men" for Nick at Nite. Aside from FXX, the stations are owned by ViacomCBS, which often shares its programming.
Reception.
Critical response.
"Mom" has been met with widespread critical acclaim, with much praise going towards its writing and performances of its cast, especially that of Allison Janney. The series received a Metacritic score of 65 out of 100 for its first season, based on 25 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 70%, based on 40 reviews, and an average rating of 5.71/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Anna Faris and Allison Janney share an undeniable comedic chemistry, and if the jokes are sometimes too crass, "Mom" represents a sincere (and often witty) attempt to address addiction issues." "Boston Herald" critic Mark A. Perigard gave a positive review, writing: "This is dark material, yet Faris balances it with a genuine winsomeness, able to wring laughs out of the most innocuous lines." "New York Magazine" critic Matt Zoller Seitz praised the cast and called it "just about perfect".
The second season was met with even more critical acclaim. The season received a Metacritic score of 81 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim". On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an approval rating of 88%, based on 8 reviews, and an average rating of 8.5/10.
The third season was also met with critical acclaim. The season received a Metacritic score of 82 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim". On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an approval rating of 100%, based on 11 reviews, and an average rating of 8.33/11. The site's critical consensus reads: ""Mom" continues to nurture the multi-cam sitcom genre with mature storytelling and wonderful performances by Anna Faris and Allison Janney, who both handle reflective drama with the same deft touch as they do comedic timing".