In the Motherhood

The realities of parenthood and raising baby are funny in their own right, so why do sitcom producers feel the need take them over the top? ABC's Notes From the Underbelly focused on the "ooh's," "ahhs," and "ails" of pregnancy, but in such an overdone manner that I found myself reaching for the remote. Then, the same network launched another promising show which incorporated the experiences of real women and featured a manny and single mothers. In the Motherhood debuted with a high-caliber cast, only to repeat the same backflips-over-the-sofa-to-pick-up-a-pacifier antics that had my eyes rolling. After airing a handful of ridiculous episodes, including one that outed Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny at 8 p.m., it has been canceled.

Recently, CBS announced that Accidentally on Purpose will be added to its Fall lineup. The series is based on the text of the same name by Mary Pols. I consider the book to be the mama of all pregnancy must reads, and have gifted it to several expectant friends because the author's witty account of her journey into motherhood resonates so deeply with anyone who reads it. It's a page turner that made me laugh, cry, and relate. I think that's the missing link that networks have forgotten about. Dramas like Thirtysomething and Once and Again had staying power because they kept viewers turned in to see what was about to unfold in their own lives and on the small screen.

What's your opinion of all these sitcom parenting shows?
Courtesy of ABC and Source

Although ABC's new show In the Motherhood outed Santa Claus in its pilot episode, we gave it another shot this week. It was comedic and entertaining, and it certainly spoke some truths about being a mom.

Last night's episode centered around mommy Jane's inability to take care of her child as well as her manny. As he took a vacation, the confident Jane was sure she could handle her baby on her own. The manny, on the other hand, knew better. Many nannies, including mine from time to time, presume they know the kid best and offer the mom tips and advice instead of the other way around.

Does your nanny think she knows best, too?

To watch the video of the show, read more

• Jackie Chan's Karate Kid remake will be titled Kung Fu Kid. — The Huffington Post
• Columbia Pictures is acquiring screen rights to The Limit, with Tobey Maguire attached to star in the story of rival Grand Prix drivers. — ComingSoon
• Kathleen Turner will join Californication as Charlie's boss. — Entertainment Weekly
• No, ER will not be getting a spin-off. — TV.com
• Sacha Baron Cohen's upcoming movie Bruno has reportedly received an NC-17 rating after its first review by the MPAA panel. — E! Online
• ABC will only air six episodes of new comedy In the Motherhood this season. — Variety
• Gemma Arterton will star opposite Sam Worthington in the Clash of the Titans movie. — ComingSoon
• Israel is joining France, Russia, and Chile by making its own version of The Office. — The Guardian

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Last night, I couldn't wait to tune into what likely will be ABC's new hit, In the Motherhood. But, before I could settle into my seat, Santa was outed. Moments into the premiere, Emily told her two young children — Esther and Bill — that St. Nick was a charade. It was a funny story line and one many mothers can relate to, but my 5-year-old daughter was in the hall and overheard. Luckily she assumed the character on television was just tricking her children, but lots of youngsters, particularly those ages 6, 7, 8 and 9, who still believe in Santa are still awake at that hour. Do you think 8 p.m. is appropriate time to announce the truth over the boob tube?

Photo courtesy of ABC

I'm not a mom, and yet for the past few weeks, I've found myself laughing out loud at the ads for In the Motherhood, ABC's new mommy comedy that premieres on Thursday. There's something refreshing about watching a group of very imperfect moms muddling through life together, especially when they're played by such funny ladies.

The show is based on an online series of the same name that incorporates stories from real moms. In this version, Megan Mullally plays Rosemary, a single mom of a teenager who's freewheeling, nontraditional, and prone to inventing her own parenting rules on the spot. Cheryl Hines plays her best friend, Jane, a recently divorced working mom of a pre-teen and a baby who relies on a "manny" (Horatio Sanz) to keep her life running. Rounding out the trio is Jessica St. Clair as Emily, Jane's younger sister, who sees herself as a supermom with a super marriage. Put the three of them together, and it adds up to laughs — plus some surprisingly frank talk about love, sex, and the less-than-rosy sides of being a mom.

Whether or not you have kids, do you think you'll check out this series when it premieres on Thursday? To watch a couple of clips from the first episode, just read more

ABC is getting real with its soon-to-debut series, In the Motherhood based on the real life experiences of every day mamas. Executive producer Jennifer Konner, a mum to two, said it was inspired by the web series of the same name and described the online destination as a secret society of moms telling the truth to each other.

The television episodes will draw on the experiences women share because Konner believes "the truth is better than stuff you could make up." One such episode is currently in production. The topic — the repercussions a mom faced after her preschooler discovered there was no Santa Claus and told his entire class.

The sitcom centers around three friends — Jane (Cheryl Hines) a divorced mother of two, her younger sis and seemingly perfect mom, Emily (Jessica St. Clair) and Rosemary (Megan Mullally) a free spirited mama and next door neighbor. The ladies attempt to find balance between work, parenting and relationships. Konner says she is currently under siege with her own daughter, 4, and son, 2, and laughingly described the show as the "No Sex in the City". Check it out on March 26th at 8 p.m.

To see Konner's answers to a couple lil questions and check out a hilarious clip from the show, read more

ABC revealed some major changes to its comedy lineup today, and maybe the biggest news of all is that the network will be challenging NBC head-on by launching a Thursday comedy block of its own.

Starting March 26, Samantha Who? will air at 8 p.m. Thursdays, followed by the new comedy In the Motherhood. That means Samantha will be battling My Name is Earl, while Motherhood will have a head start on its major competitor, the new Amy Poehler show, which premieres April 9. The new comedy block means Ugly Betty will take a hiatus (though ABC says it will return once the comedies have finished their runs).

There are a couple of other changes in the works, too: Scrubs will move to Wednesdays at 8 p.m. starting March 18, leading into the new series Better Off Ted at 8:30 p.m. (That makes way for the Dancing with the Stars results show to take over Tuesdays in the Spring.)

What do you make of the news? Do you think ABC's comedies can take on NBC's? And will you miss Betty?

Photos copyright 2008 ABC, Inc.