I loved sitcoms as a child. I fondly remember Tuesdays as the night when I could stay up until 9:30 to watch a cluster of my favorites: Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, and Three’s Company. Like most kids, I compared my mom to Carol Brady, Claire Huxtable, or Elise Keaton. And don’t get me started on June Cleaver.
But the TV moms of 2012 seem more like me and my friends than those of yesteryear.
When I watch Up All Night, I feel like the writers are reading my mind. How do they know my innermost thoughts? When we watch the show, Alec is constantly looking over at me as if to say, You’re such a Reagan with almost every ridiculous thing she does:
- Birth. Yes, I too was concerned about the too-attractive doctor getting all up in there.
- New Years Eve. Year after year, I have turned to Rock Band and board games to convince my friends to come over after the kids are in bed and save us from hiring a babysitter. And like Christina Applegate’s character, I might be a wee bit competitive in this arena.
- Car shopping. This show gets me. I felt deflated when I bought my living-room-on-wheels aka Honda Odyssey, but it had to be done. Pimping out my minivan to show the world that I have a sense of humor about it is on the to-do list.
The show has a sitcommy vibe, but it’s all done with a wink toward my real life. Up All Night has it’s finger on my rookie-mom-desparate-to-maintain-a-love-life-sense-of-fashion-and-quality-friendships pulse.
When Modern Family is on, I’m such a Claire. Between her need to control the uncontrollable events in her life, the eye-rolling, the occasional bursts of spontaneity, Alec spends more time looking at me and nodding than watching the show. When I interviewed members of my extended family about their favorite television shows, Modern Family was most often chosen by all generations (not to mention marital statuses, number of children, and sexual orientations). Yes!!
And Parenthood. Set in my own backyard of (imaginary) Berkeley. Though my family doesn’t play basketball to wash away our troubles, the writing is great and the characters feel real. Not surprisingly, I identify most strongly with Christina, the mom of three who just had a baby, but I get knowing glances from my husband about each of the women at different times. Even the teens.
Damn fine writing on these programs. Or maybe I’m just one huge cliche.
Who are your favorite TV moms? And how much do you identify with them?
Not watching my favorite shows? You totally should be. Amazon lets you watch them instantly from the start:
- Parenthood: it just gets better from here
- Up All Night: starts strong, stays strong especially if you’re in the baby phase right now
- Modern Family: if you don’t pee your pants laughing, then forget about it
definitely 3 of my favorite shows. having an 18 month old and due with #2 in june, i also feel like the writers of Up All Night read my mind. Parenthood makes me laugh, but also makes me cry. it is nice to watch a mostly positive family show eventhough the characters’ struggle with major issues. if they were my neighbors, i would want to hang out. nothing can beat Modern Family. i just cannot believe that Cam is straight in real life.
Can I pick Cam? He’s the mom I’m most like- a little dramatic, a big softy, and, well, he enjoys food almost as much as I do….
Love Parenthood
and then after that, gonna have to be Gilmore Girls. Tried the ‘Up all Night’ and it just couldn’t keep my attention. Haven’t tried the Modern Family. But I am definitely a fan of Parenthood.. and probably a mix between all the moms (even grandma).
Carol Brady, Claire Huxtable, Elise Keaton, June Cleaver — these names I know. Those others, no clue. I am so out of the loop on current pop culture.
Love Modern Family and Parenthood, but Up all night just doesn’t do it for me. I continue to watch, but my husband and I get more irritated with each new episode, as we can’t help but exclaim repeatedly, WHEREEEE IS THE BABY?! Just doesn’t seem realistic to me.
While they show the “stay at home dad” sitting on the couch playing video games, or when the mom gave it a shot for a few days and found herself with the time to reorganize the kitchen drawers. I have a son the same age as their baby, and I can barely keep up with the laundry, or find time to cook dinners, let alone go looking for organizing projects. The Christmas episode where she went buck wild decorating? How?
Next time you watch, take note of how INFREQUENTAmy’s cameos are. Naps, fine, but NO baby I know sleeps THAT MUCH! For a show that is supposed to be about the trials, tribulations and hijinx that ensue for first time parents I’m just not buying it.
@Sarah,
I have heard from other folks that UpAllNight just doesn’t do it for them, but I swear every episode is ABOUT ME.
We didn’t go to the loud party across the street but we had a real garage band living next door driving us nuts when we wanted our baby to sleep. We called the police regularly (and probably tried to pretend it wasn’t us). I don’t work for a TV diva so I can’t relate to the workplace stuff, but if my husband were a SAHD, you can bet he’d be playing video games every chance he got. And watching Friday Night Lights without telling me.
Oh, Heather, don’t you see: I am your Ava.
I absolutely ADORE Up All Night and Parenthood, and I happen to think they are two of the most under-rated shows out there.
The writing on UAN is top-notch and the interactions between Ava and Reagen make me laugh out LOUD. and i agree that it seems like the writers are in my head! The episodes about pre-schools, and Gymboree and watching favorite shows without the spouse are all so ‘us’!
And Parenthood is just beautifully acted and every time they manage to nail the issues of modern parenthood, every nuance and every tear! Love these shows!
Nailed it.
I also watch New Girl.
<3
@Sarah – I think that might be part of why I didn’t like that show, as well. I didn’t like them portraying SAHparents like all we do is play video games, etc. I do like how Parenthood’s SAHD is busy and involved in things. I can guarantee you that my husband wouldn’t be playing games if he was the one staying home. We’re both big gamers, but we don’t play while she’s awake. Might be a small time here or there if the other one is involved with the kiddo, but in general, it’s for after her bedtime. Anyways.. a long rant.. but you reminded me of one of the things that turned me off from it
LOVE Parenthood. Since my kids are younger, I’m most fascinated by the parenting dilemmas associated with teenagers. Generally, though, just love the characters and the stories. I don’t watch any of the others — my TV time is pretty limited.
I’m totally with you, Heather — I just discovered Up All Night and Parenthood when we recently got On Demand. I’ve already watched them all to the point where I can get them On Demand. I think Up All Night is laugh out loud funny too. Now I need to go back on Netflix for Parenthood . . .