Share Email Print RSS

The Richmond.com Top Five

Karri Peifer, co-editor

 

Joan Crawford

Okay, maybe she's not a TV mom, but the first time I saw "Mommy Dearest" it was on cable. Just try watching this movie and still be pissed at your own mom for taking away the telephone. It doesn't work.

 

Mrs. Keaton

Boy did I want my mom to be an ex-hippie.

 

My Two Dads

Or whichever one was the woman.

 

Lucille Bluth

From "Arrested Development." Sure, she was completely selfish, narcissistic and crazy, but she sure was funny.

 

The moms of "My Super Sweet 16"

Because, let's face, it takes some effort to raise children who are that self-absorbed and superficial. And moms should get a pat on the back for working hard.

 

Kent Jennings Brockwell, co-editor  

Hannah Daniels from 'October Road'

Apparently, Laura Prepon plays a single mom on 'October Road.' I've never seen the show. I never will. I will however continue my ongoing really creepy Web searches for photoshopped images (you know what I mean) of my favorite TV redhead.

 

Margene Henrickson from 'Big Love'

Ginnifer Goodwin plays my favorite 'Big Love' wife/mom by far. Cute, young, dumb, Mormon, polygamist -- what's a boy not to love.

 

Nancy Botwin from 'Weeds'

If my mom had been a pot dealing widower when I was in college, I would have saved a lot of money. Sorry, Sallie Mae -- my tuition at community college wasn't really $45,000 per semester...but Hot Pockets and Yoo-Hoo 10 times each day adds up.

 

Lorelai Gilmore from 'Gilmore Girls'

Lauren Graham, another creepy Web search favorite of mine, is...yeah. Though her role in this show is sort of campy and ham-and-egger, I can't help but watch it every time I flip by it on TV. Then again the only thing running through my mind when she pops on the screen is -- Bad Santa. Hot tub. Bad Santa. Hot tub...

 

Carmela Soprano from 'The Sopranos'

She cooks, she cleans, she can get blood stains out of any shirt and she can dig a 6-by-6-by-3 hole in the desert in 35 minutes flat. Mother of the Year candidate?

 

Christie Newman, office manager

 

Mrs. Voorhees

Who doesn't love a mom who will kill every over-sexed camper within a five-mile radius?

 

Beverly R. Sutphin

Kathleen Turner not only makes obscene phone calls, but can do it while baking an apple pie.

 

Betty Crocker

You'll definitely be eatin' good in the neighborhood!

 

Joan Crawford

Just make sure you NEVER use wire hangers.

 

Shirley Jones

I would love to have grown up with David Cassidy in a Partridge covered bus! Oh wait! that would make him my brother … 

  

Casey Menninger, movie reviewer

 

Lucy Ricardo, "I Love Lucy"

The most famous redhead of all time pioneered the role of the doting mother and became the role model for millions of real-life fifties-era moms. It is no surprise that the classic episode of the birth of her son attracted more people to the tube than President Eisenhower's inauguration. 

 

Roseanne Conner, "Roseanne"

The blunt, opinionated and hilarious mother of three rose to the top of the prime-time heap and for good reason. There hadn't been such a truthful, unglamorous character before and there hasn't been one since. In her household, mom's in charge and dad's there to listen. 

 

Murphy Brown, "Murphy Brown"

Candice Bergen turned the independent, sarcastic, liberal career gal into the funniest girl of the 1990s and redefined the image of single motherhood after Dan Quayle singled her out for being a poor role model. It is laughable in hindsight, but it succeeded in turning her into one of the most iconic characters of her time.

 

Ruth Fisher, "Six Feet Under"

HBO is dead to me since this brilliant drama left the air. The thought of Ruth's grief in the aftermath of Nate's death in the final season is still haunting. Is there a good reason Frances Conroy hasn't had a decent role since?

 

Nora Walker, "Brothers & Sisters"

This is the most multi-dimensional mom of the current crop. In the center of a great cast of characters, she is both laugh-out-loud hilarious and true-to-life as she meddles, nurtures and supports her adult children and (gasp!) starts to date again. The season finale is May 11 and for those that aren't tuning in, this is ample notice.  

  

Stephanie Brummell, staff writer  

Clair Huxtable

I freaking loved "The Cosby Show." And Clair Huxtable, without a doubt, ranks second best to my own mother. She had wit, hilariously funny mannerisms and best of all – she put up with Cliff and the rest of them without losing her mind.

 

Shirley Partridge

"Come on, get happy!" Can you tell I was a Nick at Nite child? I loved Shirley because, although I was fifteen years too late, I had a crush on Keith. So thank you, Shirley – "I think I love you."

 

Sofia Patrillo

How can you not love a spicy little Italian lady who pokes fun at her children for screwing up? Reminds me of my own mom – I kid, I jest! Seriously though, she's a feisty old bird and I aspire to be like that when I grow old, shrink five inches and am sporting a head of white hair.

 

Nina Banks, Elizabeth Tate, Erica Barry, Daphne Wilder – Diane Keaton

OK – maybe she's not exactly a TV Mom, but the moms she plays above are so quintessential and dead-on, I've approved her inclusion in the Top 5. How can you watch her play that role and honestly not think about your own mom? Sometimes she's controlling, sometimes she crazy. Sometimes she's understanding and sometimes she meddles too much in her on-screen daughter's lives. She encompasses all that is we love about our own mothers – I adore her.

 

Norma Arnold

Ah – "The Wonder Years." Mrs. Arnold not only put up with two boys, a rebellious daughter and a grumpy husband, but with that geeky kid Paul hanging around 24/7 too. Plus, she was just sweet.

 

Dionne Waugh, news writer  

Lois Griffin

True, she may have her flaws (i.e. marrying Peter) but she produced Stewart Gilligan Griffin, one of the funniest characters ever created.

 

Bree Hodge

That woman tries her damndest to raise good kids, but when all else fails what does she do? She lets them go. That's something every mother should learn to do.

 

Miranda Hobbes

Honestly, this is just another shameless plug for a movie I have been hyped to see for years now. Three weeks and counting, people. Aside from that, I'd wager Miranda is one of the most realistic moms ever depicted on TV.

 

Murphy Brown

Classic, courageous and groundbreaking never goes out of style. I grew up watching Murphy Brown with my mom and we both loved that character.

 

Lynne Spears

Since she and her demon spawn are all over TV, I figure.....Nah, just kidding!