The ‘Mom’ Cast Reflects on Their Favorite Moments Ahead of Series Finale
Preview
It’s difficult to mine heartfelt laughs from a topic like addiction recovery, but CBS’s long-running hit Mom had fans hooked from the start. Created by sitcom king Chuck Lorre (who counts Young Sheldon and The Kominsky Method among his many successes), Gemma Baker and Eddie Gorodetsky, the series ends an eight-season run May 13. That finale gives one last look at a 12-step group of courageous, flawed, fabulous women, centered, appropriately enough, on self-centered Bonnie Plunkett (Allison Janney, who won two Emmys for the role). But it is the chemistry of these characters — and how they have grown, thanks to one another’s help — that explains the series’ warm appeal.
“One of the biggest messages in Mom is you don’t have to go through anything alone,” Janney says in a freewheeling discussion with her main costars, Jaime Pressly (who plays socialite Jill Kendall), Mimi Kennedy (wise AA vet Marjorie Armstrong-Perugian), Beth Hall (introverted Wendy Harris) and Kristen Johnston (contractor Tammy Diffendorf). Before the women fold up the community center chairs forever, the cast share their favorite series moments.
Valentine’s Day Mess-acre
“When we first met Bonnie, she was a hot mess and a narcissist, getting sober by a ‘nudge from the judge’ to get close to her daughter,” says Janney of the onetime coke-snorting con artist. (The daughter, of course, was fellow addict Christy, played by Anna Faris, who departed the series unexpectedly before the final season.) “Bonnie’s become someone who has a better relationship to herself and, because of that, better relationships.” One is with her husband, ex-stuntman Adam Janikowski (played by William Fichtner), who “accepts her, warts and all.”
A highlight for Janney was this season’s Valentine’s Day episode. It started with a romantic dinner for two, but as plans fell through, the group trickled in. So Adam embraced it and bought everyone roses. Bonus moment: Pressly cracks up remembering when Bonnie first met Adam, who uses a wheelchair. “All Bonnie could think was, ‘Does it work down there?’ When he said it did, she was like, ‘Let’s do this!’”
Sonja Flemming/CBS
Mother Nature
Jill — a wealthy former beauty queen who seemed to have it all — came to realize “her biggest desire is to be a mother,” Pressly says. “The first time she miscarried, she fell off the wagon, [but] she had her girls for support.” In a pivotal Season 4 episode, Pressly recalls, “Bonnie starts talking about how she had been in foster care and all the ups and downs she went through. Jill decides she’s going to foster a child.” That led to her caring for foster daughter Emily (Julia Lester).
The Funniest Spit Take
Tammy burst on the scene in Season 5 as an inmate in a woman’s prison who, it turns out, tussled with Bonnie years earlier in foster care. The pair reconciled and, when paroled, Tammy eventually moved into chez Plunkett. Laughing, Johnston remembers the standout Season 6 moment when Tammy way overdid it on Tylenol: “I realized what I was in for on the show with that scene. I got to spit out not 300, not 400, but 500 [Tylenol]. It never ended!”
Sonja Flemming/CBS
“Rodeo” Queen
The moment Kennedy treasures most came off-camera: a breakthrough on how to play Bonnie’s sponsor Marjorie, the wise recovery vet and cat lover partial to velour tracksuits. (The actress jokingly refers to this informal wear as her “sweat-xedo,” as in “tuxedo.”) It was a scene in Season 2 when Bonnie relapsed. “Chuck [Lorre] coached me, ‘This is not Marjorie’s first rodeo.’ That has echoed in my head,” says Kennedy. “Marjorie sees the other women as facets of what she has gone through.”
One Badass Nurse
“Weeping Wendy” became ER nurse Wendy’s nickname when she was introduced in Season 2. “I was crying every episode,” says Hall. It became a running gag for the group to brush off Wendy’s comments, and her to roll with it, agreeably. “But she’s come a long way,” Hall says, citing a Season 3 scene when Wendy let her take-charge side come out after Christy was hospitalized with pneumonia.
CBS
But wait, Hall’s castmates jump in; is that really the signature Wendy moment among so many? What about the time Wendy kissed a hot cardiologist! And the scuttle about her family’s Mafia “connections”! And her two moms!
For Hall, this free-for-all among the close stars is very much like Mom at its vintage best. “As you get older, you’ve weeded out what you don’t want. You find people you can hang with and relate to,” she says. No doubt, millions of fans will be in need of a group hug once Mom says farewell. Tissues, anyone?
Mom, Series Finale, Thursday, May 13, 9/8c, CBS
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C
Why in the world are they canceling such a FABULOUSLY Funny, Heartfelt, Well Written show?? 👏 😭🥺 Just how far down have the ratings gone since Faris left?? Or is there another reason?? 🤔 I don't get it...I LOVE THIS 💘 SHOW!!!
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B
Sure going to miss MOM, this show was a laugh, a cry, a wakeup all wrapped up.
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C
It can't be true 😲🥺. I don't want it to end!!
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R
A friend of mine recommended this show. I started catching the reruns late at night, and soon I was hooked. I've loved Allison Janney since she played one of the wacky Spaulding maids on Guiding Light, and William Fitchner since he was on As The World Turns. Of course I love Mimi Kennedy as Dharma's mom on Dharma and Greg. The rest of the cast have also become favorites. It is rare a comedy comes along that us truly touching and funny. This one will be solely missed!
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G
I’m going to miss this show so much. I’ve never been an addiction but learned so much about addiction with such good actors and friendships that made me laugh every week. Love and take care.
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B
It's DISGUSTING that they are cancelling such a well written and acted show just because the co-lead opted for the selfish route of "following other opportunities". How's that working out? Anyone heard of Anna Faris lately? A decision that CBS has allowed to impact the livelihoods of cast and crew. LAME.
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B
If it isn't broken Don't try to fix it, or get rid of it! It is a perfect show, that should be allowed to live on. This could be one of the great ones, that last for many many years. Are you really too stupid to see it, or is this just another game you are playing? When there are so many bad things happening in the world, how can you get rid of something that does so much good?
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B
The writer here needs to re-check their (mis)use of "introverted."
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G
This show will be missed like no other. Why they would cancel the most popular show on tv is beyond me. There are so many, many crime shows. We need to laugh and have something to really care about. These ladies are like our very best friends. This is a real town with real women and everyone looks forward for every Thursday to see what they are up to. Shame on you for cancelling what has become a very large part of our lives. I refuse to believe you weren't making enough money for this program.
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O
I'm so upset they are canceling the show! It's so rare a show comes along that is funny, and meaningful while tackling a relevant, widespread topic like recovery. Everyone knows someone who has or is struggling. Everyone. Bringing this issue to the public in a compassionate, relatable way was brilliant. It's important to continue to mainstream this issue to help lose the shame, and stigma of addiction. This is an Amazing cast who, at least on screen.. really get it. The chemistry is fantastic, and trust me when I say, this stuff really happens! This show will be sorely missed. Thank you the time we did have with these crazy beautiful characters.
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P
I have just finished watching the full 8 seasons for the second time, absolutely love this programme
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P
this show started me thinking about getting sober, i have two years clean now, THANK YOU CAST OF MOM......
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C
They refused to pay her her she was the glue th a t held the show together as you can see. I watched this show from day one and I hated to see it end, because it was always so funny and made me laugh and their were so many more ways the show could have continued. Like Christy finish law school and coming back to practice. Jill getting married to Andy and having kids. Wendy finally finds a boyfriend. Hopefully a spinoff
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G
This is a great show. It confirm and help explain the concept of the AA program. Those who do have a problem with addiction can be comforting by seeing's other people in the same situations. It helps those to understand some of the process of what addiction is and how effects people. You did a poor job of not continue this real problem. It was a great series and more meaningful than many others.
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P
I can't believe the show is ending, I loved how well the show captured what goes on in the 12 step Rooms, the fellowship between members was told accurately with love and humor.