By Michael Lyons
Let’s face it, Moms are amazing. And recently, with balancing work at home with home schooling, all while keeping insanity at bay, she is even more amazing.
And, then there are those Moms who are also grandmas and have to settle for “social distancing” or Face Time with their loved ones, as well as the Moms who are no longer with us that we may now think of more often thanks to all the time we have on our hands.
Yes, Moms are amazing. This Mother’s Day, however, will be unlike any other. It may be difficult for many and there may be a need for a laugh, in any form.
What better place to find this laughter than in episodes of some of TV’s best, most classic sitcoms, each of them centered on Moms and/or Mother’s Day.
“The Golden Girls.” “Mother’s Day.” Originally aired: May 7, 1988
Honestly, who better to spend Mother’s Day with than Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia (Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, of course)? This episode not only provides the usual, sharply written humor “The Golden Girls” always provided, but also gives us some great back story on each of the Girls.
As the episode opens, the ladies are awaiting Mother’s Day phone calls from each of their children, when they begin to recall past Mother’s Days, which bring about some fun flash back sequences.
In those scenes: Dorothy visits her mother-in-law (played by the great comedienne Alice Ghostly); Blanche visits her Mother at a nursing home (in a touching sequence) and Rose travels to visit her kids (and we get more of a glimpse into her simple hometown of St. Olef).
We also travel back to Mother’s Day in Brooklyn in the ‘50’s and meet a younger Rose (played by a younger Estelle Getty) and Rose’s mom (played by Bea Arthur!).
The episode “Mother’s Day” is the perfect example of the humor and poignancy that was the hallmark of “The Golden Girls,” as well as the love, respect and reflection that is Mother’s Day itself.
“Happy Days.” “Dance Contest.” Originally aired: January 6, 1976
At the height of Fonzie and actor Henry Winkler’s popularity on this show comes an episode that focuses on mom, Mrs. Cunningham, a/k/a “Mrs. C” (Marion Ross).
Yearning to do and be more than a stay at home wife and mother, she secretly enters a dance contest with the only person who will take her seriously about it - that’s right, Fonzie.
Not only do they show that they have the right moves in the contest, but thanks to jealously from husband Howard (Tom Bosley), the family also realizes how much they have taken Marion for granted. Hidden within the show’s humor and innocence is a great message about all that moms do for us each day.
“The Odd Couple” “The Odd Couples.” Originally aired: October 27, 1972.
Oscar (Jack Klugman) is expecting a visit from his mother...but he never told his mom he was divorced. Instead of facing the music, he asks his ex-wife Blanche (Brett Somers) to move back in with him and pretend they’re still married.
This also means that room mate Felix (Tony Randall) has to move out, temporarily and do the same with his ex-wife Gloria (Janis Hansen).
What follows is hysterical pretending and misunderstanding humor, as well as the usual, solid character comedy between slovenly Oscar and finicky Felix. The episode also sheds light on the enduring bond and relationships between mothers and their children.
“The Honeymooners.” “Hello Mom.” Originally aired: December 5, 1955
The always explosive Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) really blows his top when he receives a telegram from “mother,” stating that she will be arriving soon. He informs his wife Alice (Audrey Meadows) that there is NO way that her mother will come for a visit.
This causes some understandable marital strife, with Ralph moving in with best friend Norton (Art Carney).
In the end, it turns out that it isn’t Alice’s Mother, but Ralph’s “Momma” who arrives and she is welcomed with open arms by Alice. This gives Ralph pause to reflect on how he has been acting and leaves the audience thinking about how mothers and mothers-in-law become part of our extended family as well as who we are as a family.
Along with flowers, memories and love, here’s hoping one or all of these episodes bring some laughs this Mother’s Day.
Wishing a peaceful, safe and Happy Mother’s Day to all.
Sources:
“The Honeymooners Companion” by Donna McCrohan
IMDb
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