Thoughts on best and worst fictional Moms (TV, Movies, books....) ?

MarkinPhx

MarkinPhx

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Best- Dr. Jill Brock (Kathy Baker) on the TV show Picket Fences

Worst- Livia Soprano (Nancy Marchand) on The Sopranos

As a kid I thought Mrs. Brady was the perfect mom and I thought Endora on Bewtiched was a horrible mom for the way she treated Darren.
 

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VintageBetter said:
I never thought Endora was horrible. I thought she was funny and clearly thought her daughter married beneath her by choosing a human and not a fellow witch. Tis not an uncommon thing in MILs. Endora was pretty normal, except for the magic.
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I understand that now but as a kid I thought she was horrible. One of my sister's was married to someone for awhile and my mom referred to him as "Derwood" when he was not around.
 
Everyone Loves Raymond - another MIL who was a thorn in the side of Ray and Debra and OMG, lived next door! What a nightmare. But also just very funny because like Endora, she doesn't understand WHY her honest opinions BOTHER people so much. LOL.

And now that I am an old lady, OH MY GOD, I am finding that to be oh so true. IDK how it is for older men, I guess many youngers also want them to be silenced, but I sure have seen in my own life that if I complain to a younger about anything, BOOM, I am placed in Stereotype Land of Marie and Endora and no one can hear me.

But I think that's what made Marie and Endora funny - they echo real life conflicts we see in families and society every day. "These old people don't know what the hell they are talking about" is the message. We get marginalized.

Oh well.

Marie especially was very funny - just saying stuff, being her mom self, and not understanding why it bothered anyone.
 
Esther Rolle from Good Times. She just gave off that mom feeling.

Mommy Dearest was the first time I watched my mother's behavior. Only it wasn't my mother. I have not read the book. I'm waiting for "I'm glad my mom died" to come out in paperback or I find a thrift copy.
 
Remy said:
Sopranos, Livia. I've posted this before. Her denial of behavior when confronted is classic borderline and then they play the victim. Warning: Profanity.

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The episode when everyone gathers for her death and Janice insists on everyone giving their thoughts about Livia is both cringe worthy and funny at times.
 
VintageBetter said:
Everyone Loves Raymond - another MIL who was a thorn in the side of Ray and Debra and OMG, lived next door! What a nightmare. But also just very funny because like Endora, she doesn't understand WHY her honest opinions BOTHER people so much. LOL.
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Yes! Marie Barone was a great character played by a great comedic actress. I loved all the conflict with Debra and, although I probably wasn't meant to, I would side with Marie sometimes.

My favorite movie mother was played by Beulah Bondi in, "Remember the Night," where she plays Fred MacMurray's wonderful, loving mother who wants only the best for him. In the same movie is my pick for worst mother the character of Barbara Stanwyck's mother. The contrast between the two mothers shows why Fred turned out to be a fine lawyer and Barbara a shoplifter.
 
Della said:
Yes! Marie Barone was a great character played by a great comedic actress. I loved all the conflict with Debra and, although I probably wasn't meant to, I would side with Marie sometimes.

My favorite movie mother was played by Beulah Bondi in, "Remember the Night," where she plays Fred MacMurray's wonderful, loving mother who wants only the best for him. In the same movie is my pick for worst mother the character of Barbara Stanwyck's mother. The contrast between the two mothers shows why Fred turned out to be a fine lawyer and Barbara a shoplifter.
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I'm watching re-runs of Everybody loves Raymond.. this last week. ..and Marie always makes me LOL... the looks she gives to her husband.. hilarious, she reminds me of me.. sometimes lol...

I can't watch most of the episodes because the Character of Debra, makes me want to scream.... the whining would drive someone insane in real life... so If she doesn't feature much in an episode then I'll watch it..
 
Well now if we're having a motherly beauty contest... my father thought Donna Reed was all that.

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I don't know if many watched Arrested Development but Jessica Walter played a horrible mother on that show and did it very well.
 

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