Midge Maisel, Jules Cobb & More TV Moms We Love
This Mother’s Day, raise a glass to your mama — and all the onscreen matriarchs who keep us entertained with their wit, wisdom, and one-liners.
Scroll down for five TV mothers we love, from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Cougar Town, and more.
Sharona Fleming (Monk)
Single mom Sharona (Bitty Schram) has just one son, Benjy (Kane Ritchotte), but she may as well have two, since she often has her hands full dealing with her boss, OCD-afflicted private detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), on USA’s 2002–09 comedic crime procedural. Key episode: “Mr. Monk Goes to the Ballgame,” Season 2, Episode 3
Joan Short (Life in Pieces)
“How about we have a weekly brunch and we lure everyone here with plates of free food?” Joan (Dianne Wiest) muses to her husband (James Brolin) on this 2015–19 CBS comedy. The savvy therapist knows how to keep her adult kids’ lives hilariously inextricable. Key episode: “#TBT: Y2K Sophia Honeymoon Critter,” Season 2, Episode 9
Midge Maisel (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
As far as 1950s and ’60s moms go, Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) is as unconventional as they come. And while the fast-talking character has caught some flack for missing her two kids’ bath time or breakfast, she’s showing the young ones how to forge their own paths by launching a career as a single woman. Now that’s marvelous. Key episode: “The Disappointment of the Dionne Quintuplets,” Season 1, Episode 4
Louisa Durrell (The Durrells in Corfu)
Talk about a take-charge woman: Struggling British widow Louisa (Keeley Hawes) has her hands full supporting four kids, so she uproots everyone and relocates to the Greek island of Corfu to start fresh on the 1930s-set series, which ran on PBS from 2016 to 2019. Each day is an adventure, as Louisa tries to make a better life for her family. Key episode: Season 1, Episode 1
Jules Cobb (Cougar Town)
Dealing with a divorce and a teen (Dan Byrd) isn’t easy, but on this 2009–15 ABC/TBS sitcom, real estate agent Jules (Courteney Cox) gets by with a little help from her friends, a goofy ex-husband (Brian Van Holt)…and some generous pours of red wine. Key episode: “When a Kid Goes Bad,” Season 1, Episode 15
