In honor of Mother’s Day on May 14, this week’s list zeroes in on my favorite mothers from the small screen. The question of whether or not the quality of their parenting should factor into their placement on this list was discussed, but, ultimately, I went with whomever made the most notable impact on the story at-hand.
Feel free to leave your list in the comments.
Lynette Scavo – “Desperate Housewives”
At its peak, the show utilized a dynamite ensemble cast to crush the ratings, but Felicity Huffman’s performance is one of the most honest portrayals of motherhood in the history of the medium.
Vivian Banks – “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”
While two different actresses played Vivian throughout the show’s six-season run, the original incarnation played by Janet Hubert is easily the best.
Clair Huxtable – “The Cosby Show”
One of the pitfalls of living in 2023 is that the culture has allowed the sins of one man to erase the brilliant work of everyone else on this show and Phylicia Rashad is at the top of that list.
Kristina Braverman – “Parenthood”
The fact that her character comes off as unlikable at the beginning of the show and endearing by the end is a testament to both the writers’ commitment and Monica Potter’s fearlessness.
Carmela Soprano – “The Sopranos”
Edie Falco went toe-to-toe with James Gandolfini for 86 episodes on arguably the greatest show in the history of television.
Martha Kent – “Smallville”
Many actresses have taken on the role of Clark Kent’s mother, but the warmth that Annette O’Toole brought to the WB/CW hit always resonated with me.
Elyse Keaton – “Family Ties”
The ideological disconnect between Elyse and her son Alex made for a plethora of classic moments.
Norma Arnold – “The Wonder Years”
Norma was always caught between being a devoted mother and the desire to have a life beyond the daily grind, which Alley Mills captured beautifully.
Helen Seinfeld – “Seinfeld”
Liz Sheridan had such seamless chemistry with Jerry that I couldn’t picture anyone else playing his mother.
Livia Soprano – “The Sopranos”
Buffalo’s own Nancy Marchand turned Livia into an unforgettable character whose coldness was matched only by her self-pity.
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