The Mommies (TV series)

The Mommies is an American sitcom television series created by Terry Grossman and Kathy Speer that aired on NBC from September 18, 1993, to June 10, 1995.[1][2]

The Mommies
GenreSitcom
Created by
  • Terry Grossman
  • Kathy Speer
Starring
Composers
  • Steve Dorff
  • Rich Eames
  • Scott Gale
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes38
Production
Executive producers
  • Terry Grossman
  • Tim O'Donnell
  • Kathy Speer
Producers
  • Rick Newberger
  • Julie Tsutsui
Cinematography
  • Darryl Palagi
  • George Spiro Dibie
Editors
  • Michael Weitzman
  • Frank Mazzaro
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 18, 1993 (1993-09-18) –
June 10, 1995 (1995-06-10)

NBC originally canceled The Mommies after one season along with other Saturday night sitcoms Café Americain and Nurses. Due to increased ratings during summer reruns, NBC renewed the series for midseason with some tweaks in format (as well as its title shortened to simply Mommies). However, the ratings dropped again in season 2, and the series was pulled in the spring of 1995, with its final episode being burned off over the summer.

Synopsis

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The series was loosely based on the real-life personas of Caryl Kristensen and Marilyn Kentz (aka The Mommies) as suburban neighbors and their families in Petaluma, California. Episodes focused on how they dealt with parenting and modern-day issues. The duo also co-produced and co-wrote the series. Neighbors "Perfect Mom" Barb Ballantine (Julia Duffy) and "Mr. Mom" Tom Booker (Jere Burns) were introduced in the middle of season one with Duffy becoming a series regular.

Season two brought several changes to the series. Jere Burns was upgraded to series regular, Paul Kellogg was recast, Marilyn got divorced, and Barb's never before seen husband (played by fellow Newhart alum Peter Scolari) became recurring. Also laugh track usage was reduced.

Cast

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Main

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Recurring

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Episodes

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Series overview

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
124September 18, 1993 (1993-09-18)May 7, 1994 (1994-05-07)
213January 2, 1995 (1995-01-02)June 10, 1995 (1995-06-10)

Season 1 (1993–94)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
11"Pilot"Terry HughesKathy Speer & Terry GrossmanSeptember 18, 1993 (1993-09-18)N/A
22"Those Lowdown Ultrasound Pink-or-Blues"Terry HughesLinda MarrSeptember 25, 1993 (1993-09-25)12.0[3]
33"Death of a Crossing Guard"Terry HughesEllen Sandler & Cindy ChupackOctober 2, 1993 (1993-10-02)11.2[4]
44"Take Me Out Anywhere But the Ballgame"Terry HughesMichael Davidoff & Bill RosenthalOctober 9, 1993 (1993-10-09)14.0[5]
55"Much I Do About Nothing"Terry HughesMichael Davidoff & Bill RosenthalOctober 16, 1993 (1993-10-16)12.3[6]
66"Revenge of the Mommies"Terry HughesNick LeRoseOctober 23, 1993 (1993-10-23)11.8[7]
77"I Got the Music in Me"Terry HughesLisa A. BannickNovember 6, 1993 (1993-11-06)10.9[8]
88"Doggie Dearest"Terry HughesNick LeRoseNovember 13, 1993 (1993-11-13)10.5[9]
99"Thanks, But No Thanksgiving"Terry HughesEllen Sandler & Cindy ChupackNovember 20, 1993 (1993-11-20)10.4[10]
1010"Friends and Mothers"Terry HughesLinda MarrNovember 27, 1993 (1993-11-27)11.7[11]
1111"Sleeping Around"Terry HughesEllen Sandler & Cindy ChupackDecember 9, 1993 (1993-12-09)20.7[12]
1212"Christmas"Gary BrownNick LeRoseDecember 11, 1993 (1993-12-11)10.0[12]
1313"Quality Time"Gary BrownMichael Davidoff & Bill RosenthalDecember 18, 1993 (1993-12-18)9.2[13]
1414"The Fight"Gary BrownLisa A. BannickJanuary 8, 1994 (1994-01-08)10.3[14]
1515"Home Alone"Terry HughesNick LeRoseJanuary 15, 1994 (1994-01-15)10.8[15]
1616"The Old Man Cometh"Gary BrownNick LeRoseJanuary 29, 1994 (1994-01-29)9.7[16]
1717"Bringing Home Baby"Gary BrownLinda MarrFebruary 5, 1994 (1994-02-05)10.5[17]
1818"Five Minutes Apart"
1919"Valentine's Day"Gary BrownMichael Davidoff & Bill RosenthalFebruary 12, 1994 (1994-02-12)10.2[18]
2020"Mr. Mommie"Gary BrownNick LeRoseMarch 19, 1994 (1994-03-19)12.7[19]
2121"The Campfire Girls"Gary BrownMichael Davidoff & Bill RosenthalApril 2, 1994 (1994-04-02)11.7[20]
2222"A Day in the Life"Gary BrownLisa A. BannickApril 16, 1994 (1994-04-16)9.4[21]
2323"Mommies Day"Gary BrownLinda MarrMay 7, 1994 (1994-05-07)8.8[22]
2424"The Exercist"Gary BrownEllen Sandler & Cindy ChupackMay 7, 1994 (1994-05-07)9.9[22]

Season 2 (1995)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
251"Tom's Deal"Art DielhennEllen Sandler & Cindy ChupackJanuary 2, 1995 (1995-01-02)11.5[23]
262"The Mother of All In-Laws"Joanna KernsEllen Sandler & Cindy ChupackJanuary 7, 1995 (1995-01-07)11.0[23]
273"Enter Christine"Frank BonnerStory by : Tim O'Donnell
Teleplay by : Nick LeRose
January 14, 1995 (1995-01-14)11.2[24]
284"Enter Ken"Art DielhennNick LeRoseJanuary 21, 1995 (1995-01-21)10.1[25]
295"Coming Apart"Tim O'DonnellTim O'DonnellJanuary 28, 1995 (1995-01-28)10.5[26]
306"You Must Remember This"Art DielhennRick NewbergerFebruary 4, 1995 (1995-02-04)9.3[27]
317"I Do, I Do Again"Frank BonnerRick NewbergerFebruary 25, 1995 (1995-02-25)8.2[28]
328"The Dating Pool"Art DielhennEllen Sandler & Cindy ChupackMarch 4, 1995 (1995-03-04)10.6[29]
339"Who Am I?"Joanna KernsGeoffrey MillerMarch 18, 1995 (1995-03-18)11.2[30]
3410"Mystery Ride"Art DielhennMichael Davidoff & Bill RosenthalMarch 18, 1995 (1995-03-18)11.7[30]
3511"My Roof, My Rules"Art DielhennLinda MarrMarch 25, 1995 (1995-03-25)8.6[31]
3612"Selling Out"Frank BonnerEllen Sandler & Cindy ChupackApril 3, 1995 (1995-04-03)12.1[32]
3713"Four Mommies and a Funeral"Frank BonnerNick LeRoseJune 10, 1995 (1995-06-10)6.5[33]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Result Category Recipient
1992 Young Artist Awards Nominated Best Youth Comedienne in a TV Show Ashley Peldon
Best Performance: Young Actress in a TV Comedy Series Courtney Peldon
Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a TV Series Ashley Peldon
Best Performance by an Actor Under Ten in a TV Series Sam Gifaldi
1994 Nominated Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Television Series Sam Gifaldi, Ryan Merriman, Ashley Peldon, Shiloh Strong and Joey Zimmerman
Best Actor Under Ten in a Television Series or Show Sam Gifaldi

References

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  1. ^ Doggrell, Glenn (January 12, 1995). "COMEDY : Caryl Kristensen: Mining the Mother Load Pays Off Big". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ Templeton, David (January 26, 2018). "Looking Back: When 'The Mommies' were Petaluma's favorite local comedians". Argus-Courier.
  3. ^ Gable, Donna (September 29, 1993). "'Dave's World,' 'Harts' help CBS to victory". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  4. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. October 6, 1993. p. 3D.
  5. ^ Gable, Donna (October 13, 1993). "New shows pick up steam in ABC win". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  6. ^ Graham, Jefferson; Gable, Donna (October 20, 1993). "'Home Improvement' powers to No. 1". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  7. ^ DeRosa, Robin (October 27, 1993). "World Series earns CBS a win". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  8. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. November 10, 1993. p. 3D.
  9. ^ DeRosa, Robin (November 17, 1993). "Walters gives ABC a special boost". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  10. ^ DeRosa, Robin (November 24, 1993). "CBS sweeps back to top". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  11. ^ DeRosa, Robin (December 1, 1993). "Thanksgiving week tie for NBC, CBS". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  12. ^ a b DeRosa, Robin (December 15, 1993). "Midler's 'Gypsy' coming up roses for CBS". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  13. ^ DeRosa, Robin (December 22, 1993). "ABC on top for 2nd week". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  14. ^ DeRosa, Robin (January 12, 1994). "'Improvement' leads ABC charge". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  15. ^ DeRosa, Robin (January 19, 1994). "'Columbo' on the case for ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  16. ^ DeRosa, Robin (February 2, 1994). "Super Bowl runs up NBC's score". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  17. ^ DeRosa, Robin (February 9, 1994). "Lilith brings ratings to 'Frasier'". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  18. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. February 16, 1994. p. 3D.
  19. ^ DeRosa, Robin (March 23, 1994). "Wednesday wins for ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  20. ^ DeRosa, Robin (April 6, 1994). "ABC gets help from 'These Friends'". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  21. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. April 20, 1994. p. 3D.
  22. ^ a b DeRosa, Robin (May 11, 1994). "ABC keeps hammering away". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  23. ^ a b "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. January 11, 1995. p. 3D.
  24. ^ DeRosa, Robin (January 18, 1995). "'ER' rolls into the No. 1 spot". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  25. ^ DeRosa, Robin (January 25, 1995). "'ER' helps NBC to No. 1". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  26. ^ DeRosa, Robin (February 1, 1995). "Super Bowl kicks ABC to the top". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  27. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. February 8, 1995. p. 3D.
  28. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. March 1, 1995. p. 3D.
  29. ^ DeRosa, Robin (March 8, 1995). "'Murphy,' 'Dust' help push CBS to No. 1 tie". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  30. ^ a b "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. March 22, 1995. p. 3D.
  31. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. March 29, 1995. p. 3D.
  32. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. April 12, 1995. p. 3D.
  33. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. June 14, 1995. p. 3D.
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