THE 25 GREATEST TV MOMS, Part 1

In addition to my usual episode spotlights, in honor of Mother’s Day I created a list of my 25 Greatest TV Moms.  I am an obsessive, consummate list maker.  I am always making lists and have lists at the ready: my 100 Favorite Movies, 500 Favorite Songs (subdivided into Upbeat and Mellow categories), 100 Greatest Villains of All Time, and the list of lists goes on.  This 25 Greatest TV Moms list is a new creation and rather than do my usual alphabetization I actually ranked the characters (a painstaking process, I assure you).

Before you delve in, a disclaimer: this is NOT a list of the most motherly mothers, or best mothers, but rather my favorite TV mom characters.  Hence some of the moms in this list are actually rather monstrous (which is oftentimes their appeal).  A couple aren’t even technically mothers!  Also, there are some amazing TV characters who also happen to be moms that didn't make this list.  I love Lucy and Samantha Stevens too, but motherhood wasn't necessarily their most winning aspect-- but never fear, Lucy makes my Best TV Characters of All Time List and someone else from Bewitched may just make an appearance somewhere on this list...  That said, I strongly encourage debate, suggestions, and indignant outrage in the form of comments, so let your opinions fly.  And now, on to the list!

25. Cherry Cherry
Show: Popular

Delta Burke is best known for playing larger-than-life Suzanne Sugarbaker on Designing Women, but if Suzanne was even wealthier, crazier, Texan, and had a daughter she’d be the even more outrageous Cherry Cherry.  Mother to the show’s best and most bizarre character, Mary Cherry, the aptly named Cherry made several appearances, whether she was insulting her daughter, marrying Erik Estrada, or temporarily teaching home-ec/transgender tolerance.

Episode to Watch: “Queen B.”  
Cherry Cherry makes her first appearance, coaching her daughter when she’s nominated for Prom Queen.

24. Norma Arnold
Show: The Wonder Years

Norma was the ultimate 60s stay-at-home wife and mother: caring, perky and just a little bit restless.  She eventually went back to college and got a career in addition to being the kind of sweet and sensitive mom every kid wants.  Bonus points for actress Alley Mills, who also portrayed lesbian mom Robin John on the aforementioned Popular!

Episode to Watch: “The Ties That Bind”  
When Jack is forced to be away for the holiday, Norma channels her feelings into making a lavish Thanksgiving dinner.

23. Edna Payne
Show: Martin

All of the best characters on Martin were the ones that Martin Lawrence played himself, including his own mother, Edna Payne.  She was frumpy, lumpy, gray-haired and yet still sported Lawrence’s mustache.  Mama Payne doted on her little boy but didn’t hide her dislike of his girlfriend Gina, offering up insults in her trademark high-pitched squeal.

Episode to Watch: “Feast or Famine”  
Mama Payne shows up at Gina’s door to help her prepare Thanksgiving dinner (and sings the “Pass the Peas” song!).

22. Martha Generic
Show: Bobby’s World

Bobby’s mom deserves a spot on this list for her unforgettable Midwestern accent alone!  She also had major mom style, sporting a blue jogging suit and bright orange-red hair.  In the course of the series she gave birth to twins in addition to playing mom to Bobby, Derek and Kelly and was clearly the glue that held the Generic (“it’s pronounced JEN-a-rick”) family together.

Episode to Watch: “I Want My Mommy”  
The Generics surprise Martha with a trip to an amusement park for Mother’s Day.

21. Sara Blank
Show: Strangers with Candy

Sarah Blank, played by the brilliant Deborah Rush, is the definitive wicked stepmother.  Racist, drunken Sara dotes on her biological son Derrick and does everything in her power to insult and drive away her adult stepdaughter Jerri. Also: she has a special relationship with Stew, the family’s meat delivery man.

Episode to Watch: “Dreams on the Rocks”  
Stepmom Sara develops a drinking problem just in time for Jerri’s stage debut.

20. Agnes Skinner
Show: The Simpsons

Originally I had Marge Simpson on this list but upon reflection I decided that Agnes, elderly mother to Principal Skinner, outmothers Marge.  Overbearing and controlling Agnes is a harridan with a memorably cantankerous voice.  She collects pictures of cakes—but she doesn’t eat them.  They’re too sweet for her taste.

Episode to Watch: “Last Exit to Springfield”  
Agnes only makes a cameo in this episode, but utters one of my all time favorite lines: “Seymour needs the toilet.  His bladder’s full.  Full of urine!”

19. Regina Newly
Show: Samantha Who?

Jean Smart brings life to every role she plays but her true standout is Regina Newly, from the short-lived and criminally overlooked Samantha Who?  When amnesiac daughter Samantha is first reintroduced to her mom Regina, she seems like a doting parent.  But slowly Regina’s pettiness and pecadillos are revealed and the true nature of their strained relationship emerges.  Jean Smart also gave voice to another great, non-traditional mom, the animated Pickles Oblong in The Oblongs.

Episode to Watch: “Pilot”  
Upon awakening from a coma and suffering amnesia, Samantha quickly learns not to trust her mother’s twisted version of their past.

18. Nanny 
Show: Muppet Babies

Okay, Nanny is not the biological mother of any of the Muppet Babies.  But her face is never seen, so above the shoulders she could look like Gonzo for all we know.  As kids, my sister and I debated a lot over what Nanny really looked like and what exactly was her relationship to the Muppet Babies.  Were they all orphans and she their adoptive mother, or was she just hired help?  Regardless, Nanny was the loving, slightly mysterious authority figure every baby needs.  And she was voiced by Barbara Billingsley, June Cleaver herself!

Episode to Watch: “My Muppet Valentine”  
Rolf is dismayed when it appears that Nanny made all of the Muppet Babies personalized cookies for Valentine’s Day cookie—except for him.

17. Clair Huxtable
Show: The Cosby Show

Clair Huxtable was a full-time mom to a big brood of kids of all ages—but she was also a successful lawyer and extremely stylish.  In the 80s Claire proved women could have it all and set the bar impossibly high.  Her more no-nonsense approach to parenting paired well with hubby Cliff’s goofier demeanor, but you never doubted the love between them.  A true class act. 

Episode to Watch: “Clair’s Liberation”  
Claire messes with her family after discovering that they are wary of her going through menopause.

16. Joyce Summers
Show: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

In a show teeming with vampires and demons, suburban mom Joyce would be easy to overlook.  But she kept daughter Buffy rooted to the real world and while she started out oblivious, eventually she clued in and joined the good fight, most memorably wielding a fire axe and uttering the line “No one lays a hand on my little girl.”  Joyce even has her own action figure, but the character was only truly appreciated once she was gone—Joyce’s death marked the show’s descent into real world darkness and the Buffyverse has always been a slightly sadder place without her.

Episode to Watch: “School Hard”  
Joyce comes to Buffy’s rescue with ax in hand during the worst parent-teacher night ever.

That wraps it up for now, but stayed tuned to see if your favorites will show up in the next installment of the 25 Greatest TV Moms!