In The Motherhood

Using the Ugly Betty spot to launch an established and brand new comedy, when that time slot wasn’t getting a lot of viewers doesn’t sound like a great idea, but hopefully, it works out because with Samantha Who? and ABC’s newest comedy, In the Motherhood, you’re looking at comedy gold.

Though it started as a webseries starring Leah Remini, Chelsea Handler, and Jenny McCarthy, the show In the Motherhood, starring Cheryl Hines, Megan Mullally, Horatio Sanz, RonReaco Lee (my favorite part of Sister, Sister in the later years), Rachael Harris, and Jessica St. Clair, has been formatted as a half hour comedy for TV.  The storylines that the show explores (in later episodes, a Nanny sick-out; in the premiere, lying to your children) come from real life experiences of mothers around the country.    

Cheryl Hines portrays Jane, the recently divorced mother of 2.  Horatio Sanz is her Manny, Horatio.  Jessica St. Clair plays Jane’s sister Emily; she has a perfect marriage (with RonReaco Lee), and 2 perfect children who love folding clothes.  And Megan Mullally plays their free-spirited friend Rosemary, mother to a teenage son who turned out surprisingly well, considering his upbringing.

The first episode, called “It Takes a Village Idiot,” deals with Jane’s interest in getting back in the dating field (Ken Marino guest stars), as well as what happen when Rosemary notices pregnant women get perks she’s not getting, and Emily attempts to be completely honest with her youngest, only to have it blow up in her face.

I think this show has great potential.  The cast is likeable, funny, smart, and sarcastic (just the way I like ‘em!), and the writing is fast and charming.  The stand out for me in the first episode was the lesser-known St. Clair who is fantastic as an over the top, crazy perfect mother, with a crazy perfect life, and the humor lies in the fact that one little thing makes her tumble into a made person.  I’ve always like Hines and Mullally, too, and seeing them together is fantastic!  This is worth watching – you can google American Idol and see who was kicked off later.