BuzzSugar

In the Motherhood Canceled, What Went Wrong?

LilSugar — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:29:26 PDT

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

Does Your Tot Have an Imaginary Friend?

babysugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:00:39 PDT

Imaginary friends can be both endearing and frustrating. They can help young children wade through social waters and test disciplinary boundaries while avoiding repercussions. It is much easier to break the rules without consequence if they can blame the wrongdoing on someone else.

Last night's In the Motherhood explored the subject of imaginary friends in a hilarious manner. It had me thinking about how I will handle such a "buddy" if that time ever comes for my wee ones.

In the Motherhood: Mommy or Nanny Knows Best?

babysugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:07:28 PDT

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,

Buzz News Roundup, 3/30

BuzzSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:30:31 PDT

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

Source

In the Motherhood: Is 8 p.m. an Appropriate Time to Out Santa?

LilSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:00:09 PDT

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

First Look: In the Motherhood

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:30:24 PDT

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

Which New Spring Show Are You Looking Forward to Most?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:30:37 PDT

This Spring is filled with lots of good, new, intriguing TV! Castle already got underway this week, and tons of other premieres are in the lineup for the coming weeks. So, what show are you making room for on your schedule?

Castle, Cupid, The Unusuals, Better Off Ted, and In the Motherhood photos copyright 2009 ABC, Inc.; Parks and Recreation photo courtesy of Flynet; Kings photo courtesy of NBC; Harper's Island photo courtesy of CBS; and Sit Down, Shut Up photo courtesy of Fox

In the Motherhood: Interview With Jennifer Konner

LilSugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:00:52 PST

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. lilsugar: Why didn't anybody tell me ________ about motherhood? Jennifer Konner: You pooped when you give birth. lilsugar: You Know You're a mother When _________? Jennifer Konner: Well, last night my 4-year-old told me she knew what sex was and I almost had a nervous breakdown. Photos courtesy of ABC

ABC Launches Thursday Comedy Lineup in March

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:30:05 PST

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?

Web Series About Motherhood Heads for ABC Primetime

BuzzSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:30:41 PDT

Have you ever watched In the Motherhood on the web? I saw a few clips of it earlier this year, and while I don't really fit into the show's "by moms, for moms" demographic, it's pretty cute and funny - especially Chelsea Handler as an imperfect, wisecracking mom. (Never would have thought of that casting!)

Well, now a version of the show is coming to primetime. ABC has picked up 13 episodes of the series and will likely premiere the show mid-season. The series follows three very different mothers, played online by Handler, Leah Remini, and Jenny McCarthy. Handler is apparently in for the ABC version, but Megan Mullally and Cheryl Hines are in talks to play the other two moms. The writers from Bad Mother's Handbook are moving to this show (guess this means Bad Mother's Handbook is dead?), and it's not clear whether it will still be based on real moms' stories.

I always love it when funny ladies get together for projects, and I think a Handler-Mullally-Hines combo has the potential to be insane. So even though other online series that have moved to TV have been less than successful, I'm tentatively pretty excited for this project. What about you? Do you like the casting? To check out an episode of In the Motherhood, just