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The Best Mom In The Whole Wide World
Happy Mother's Day to all the great moms out there, and that includes the mother of my two daughters and the fantastic lady who brought me into this world.
Many moms have made their way across our small screens, but only a few truly stand the test of time. Here are the mothers I've seen in my TV lifetime who hold a special place in my heart.
10) Lily Munster (The Munsters): 1313 Mockingbird Lane was a tough house to take care of, but Lily kept Grandpa in line, unconditionally loved Herman, treated Marilyn as if she was just like everyone else, and got Eddie through some tough growing pains. And don't forget about Spot under the steps. Honorable mention to the sexy Morticia Adams who's a bit too creepy and kooky.
9) Jane Jetson (The Jetsons): Jane (his wife) was treated like a second class citizen in the credits, but she ran that space age house. Sure, Rosie helped out with the chores, but Elroy and Judy were a handful, and let's not get started with George. Jane was sexier than Wilma Flinstone, and that gives her the nod here.
8) Florida Evans (Good Times): Florida kept her entire family together through good times and bad. She survived the loss of James, dealt with Michael's rough childhood, Thelma's love life, and J.J.'s wacky dyn-o-mite. Florida struggled to keep the family going and always had a smile on her face.
7) Nancy Botwin (Weeds): Nancy isn't the best when is comes to raising kids, but a cooler mom has never graced our screens. After losing her husband, Nancy becomes a suburban pot dealer to support her family, which includes her two sons and crazy Uncle Andy. And she looks fantastic doing it.
6) Clair Huxtable (The Cosby Show): Clair managed a successful career, a constantly growing family, and being married to a doctor who loved to wear college sweatshirts. Clair was never afraid to bring the hammer down on any of her five kids and brought stability to that vibrant brownstone.
5) Shirley Partridge (The Partridge Family): Shirley immediately gets bonus points for touring with her kids in that funky school bus and singing harmony while playing that organ. Any mom that had to deal with Keith, Danny and Ruben Kincaid automatically qualifies for this list.
4) Elise Keaton (Family Ties): What would we do baby, without Elise Keaton? This super liberal mom raised three kids who couldn't be any different, and then added a fourth when ratings started to slip. Ditzy Mallory, conservative Alex, growing Jennifer and baby Andrew kept everyone in the Ohio household on their toes, and Elise was the glue that held the Keatons together.
3) Marge Simpson (The Simpsons): If there's a cooler animated mom than Marge Simpson, I don't know who she is. Marge has to manage four immature kids, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and Homer, and this Springfield mom always keeps things under control. She may not be the most beautiful mom in the world, but she's certainly one of the most special.
2) Carol Brady (The Brady Bunch): Here's the story of a lovely lady who was bringing up three very lovely girls, and was suddenly saddled with an architect, three growing boys, and a dog. Sure Alice was there to help out, but that poorly designed house was tough to run, and Carol always did it with a smile. And when the holidays came around, who else would you rather have sing "Silent Night?"
1) Marion Cunningham (Happy Days): I admit inherent bias in this decision, but show me a better mom than Mrs. C. No one ran a tighter house, she could charm Howard or The Fonz in one fell swoop, and was always there when anyone needed her. You can look all over the country for the best TV mom, but my favorite resides in Milwaukee with a biker living in her attic.
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May 12, 2008 6:45 PM
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Oh really, no June Cleaver? No Edith Bunker? But you include a mom who puts her whole family in jeopardy by running an illegal enterprise from her home and even enlists her underaged son in the business? With that kind of thinking I am amazed that Avon Barksdale's mom didn't make your list Jon. And Claire Huxtable was much too cold and stiff for me. And I'll take Wilma Flintstone over Jane Jetson and Morticia Addams over Lily Munster any day.
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May 13, 2008 2:32 AM
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I agree with most of your picks, but what about Kirsten Cohen of The O.C.? She's hot as anything and she lets Sandy adopt Ryan.
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May 13, 2008 9:32 AM
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Good list! I have a few others to add:
1) Sarah Connor - kicks ass, hot, lets you play with guns, enough said
2) Angela Petrelli (Heroes) - was willing to nuke an entire city so her son could rule the country - sweet
3) Livia Soprano - the greatest tv mom of all time in my opinion. Manipulative, bitter, plotted to kill her own son - sounds like my mom
4) Cissy Yost (John from Cincinnati) - gave her son a hand job. Minus points for being a nag.
5)Joey Harris and Michael Taylor (My Two Dads) - these two crazy guys from opposite sides of the track put aside their differences to raise a daughter neither was sure was their own, because the deceased mother was a slut. Give these guys a hand.
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May 13, 2008 10:45 AM
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Kitty from That 70s Show! Hands down my favorite TV mom ever.
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May 13, 2008 11:02 AM
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Ok, this is a little late, but you gotta love Caroline Ingalls. She put up with being poor, working for Harriet, losing her son and did it all with grace.
Oh, and honorable mention to Amanda King. That lady raised Phillip and Jamie, put up with her mother, and secretly married and international spy! Gotta love her!
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May 14, 2008 10:46 AM
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Olivia Walton?
Miss Ellie Ewing?
Cindy Walsh?
Patty Chase?
Ann Romano?
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May 14, 2008 3:20 PM
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Roseanne...in her way?
If I understand correctly, Marge Simpson is supposed to be quite comely in The Simpsons' universe.
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May 18, 2008 12:04 PM
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