This NBC sitcom was created around the standup comedy act of Marilyn Kentz and Caryl Kristensen, which they based on their real lives of carpools, morning sickness and PTA meetings.
Kentz played Marilyn Larson, a 45-year-old homemaker with accountant husband Jack (David Dukes), 16-year-old son Adam (Shiloh Strong) and annoyingly precocious seven-year-old daughter Kasey (Ashley Peldon).
When Adam tried to rebel, Marilyn reminded him: “Adam, I’m a child of the 60s. I was at Woodstock. Naked. There is no way for you to rebel that I haven’t already tried. I’ve done it all. I know it all. And I’m always going to catch your little butt”.
Kristensen played Caryl Kellogg, a 32-year-old homemaker with computer-troubleshooter husband Paul (Robin Thomas) and two sons – Blake (Ryan Merriman), aged nine and Danny (Sam Gifaldi), aged seven. She was pregnant with her third child.
Kellogg and Larsen were next-door neighbours and best friends on a California cul-de-sac who shared lots of frank and funny conversations about vasectomies, childbirth, sexual fantasies, teen sex, leotard thongs and exercise class as they helped each other cope with holidays, teens and homework. This was certainly not Leave It To Beaver.
The show was kept alive by NBC despite tepid ratings in its second season, and by 1995 was titled simply Mommies. New producer Tim O’Donnell also made some more substantial changes: Marilyn and Jack Larson got divorced, and neighbours Tom Booker (Jere Burns) and Barb Ballantine (Julia Duffy) were promoted to regular characters – Barb as the perfect mommie and Tom as the ‘Mr Mom’.
Guest stars included June Lockhart, Florence Henderson, Rue McClanahan, Fred Willard and Peter Scolari.
Marilyn Larson
Marilyn Kentz Caryl Kellogg
Caryl Kristensen Adam Larson
Shiloh Strong Kasey Larson
Ashley Peldon Jack Larson
David Dukes Blake Kellogg
Ryan Merriman Danny Kellogg
Sam Gifaldi Paul Kellogg
Robin Thomas Barb Ballantine
Julia Duffy Tom Booker
Jere Burns Tiffany
Jennifer Blanc-Biehn
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When Adam tried to rebel, Marilyn reminded him: “Adam, I’m a child of the 60s. I was at Woodstock. Naked. There is no way for you to rebel that I haven’t already tried. I’ve done it all. I know it all. And I’m always going to catch your little butt”.
