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.
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.
Contents
Synopsis
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
Main
Caryl Kristensen as Caryl Kellogg: Marilyn's neighbor and Blake, Danny & Zachary's mother
Marilyn Kentz as Marilyn Larson: Caryl's neighbor and Adam & Kasey's mother
Robin Thomas (season 1) & Lane Davies (season 2) as Paul Kellogg: Caryl's husband and Blake, Danny & Zachary's father
Ashley Peldon as Kasey Larson: Marilyn & Jack's daughter
Shiloh Strong as Adam Larson: Marilyn & Jack's son
Sam Gifaldi as Danny Kellogg: Caryl & Paul's younger son
Ryan Merriman as Blake Kellogg: Caryl & Paul's older son
David Dukes as Jack Larson: Marilyn's husband and Adam & Kasey's father
Julia Duffy as Barb Ballantine: Caryl & Marilyn's neighbor
Jere Burns as Tom Booker: Caryl & Marilyn's other neighbor and Beth & Jason's stay-at-home father (1994-1995: recurring, season 1; main, season 2)
Recurring
Jennifer Blanc as Tiffany (1993–1994)
Peter Scolari as Ken Ballantine: Barb's husband
Courtney Peldon as Beth Booker: Tom's daughter (1994–1995)
Justin Berfield as Jason Booker: Tom's son (1994–1995)