Significant Mother

Significant Mother is an American sitcom television series created by Erin Cardillo and Richard Keith. Starring Josh Zuckerman, Nathaniel Buzolic and Krista Allen, it premiered on The CW network on August 3 and ended its run on October 5, 2015.

Significant Mother
Genre	Comedy
Created by	Erin Cardillo Richard Keith
Written by	Erin Cardillo Richard Keith
Creative director(s)	Schuyler Telleen
Starring	Josh Zuckerman Nathaniel Buzolic Krista Allen
Composer(s)	Brian Kim
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	9 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Erin Cardillo Richard Keith Leslie Morgenstein Tripp Reed
Producer(s)	Kevin Sullivan
Production location(s)	Portland, Oregon
Cinematography	Tyson Wisbrock
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	21 minutes
Production company(s)	Alloy Entertainment Warner Bros. Television CBS Television Studios
Distributor	CBS Television Distribution Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original network	The CW
Picture format	1080i (HDTV)
Original release	August 3 (2015-08-03) – October 5, 2015 (2015-10-05)
External links
Website
Production website

On February 16, 2016, Zuckerman said on his Twitter account that the series would not return for a second season.[1] On February 18, 2016, Keith confirmed that.[2]

Plot

Restaurateur Nate Marlowe (Zuckerman) is shocked to discover that his best friend and roommate, Jimmy Barnes (Buzolic), has had sex with his mother, Lydia (Allen). Nate and his father Harrison (Jonathan Silverman) find that they must face the reality that Lydia and Jimmy plan to pursue their relationship.[3][4][5]

Cast

Main

• Josh Zuckerman as Nathaniel "Nate" Marlowe
• Nathaniel Buzolic as Jimothy "Jimmy" Barnes, Nate's longtime friend
• Krista Allen as Lydia Marlowe, Nate's mother

Guest

• Jonathan Silverman as Harrison Marlowe, Nate's father
• Emma Fitzpatrick as Sam Dillinger, Nate's employee at his restaurant
• Jay Ali as Atticus Adams, Sam's boyfriend, an organic farmer
• Denise Richards as Pepper Spinner, a notorious cougar with whom Nate ends up on a date[6][7]
• Linda Gray as Gammy, Nate's grandmother and Lydia's conservative southern mother.[8]
• Jerry O'Connell as Bob Babcock, a "slick realtor"[9]
• Erin Cardillo as Parker, Lydia's nosy lesbian co-worker
• Mircea Monroe as Annie, a cute girl Nate meets on the dating app "Get Forked" and begins to date

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	US viewers (millions)
1	"Welcome to Bonetown"	Tripp Reed & John Putch	Erin Cardillo & Richard Keith	August 3, 2015 (2015-08-03)	0.84[10]
Budding Portland restaurateur Nate's world is turned upside down when he comes back from a business trip to find his lothario best friend and roommate, Jimmy, is having a fling with his recently separated mother, Lydia. To make matters worse, Nate's previously uninterested father, Harrison, is now determined to win Lydia back and isn't afraid to use Nate to get what he wants. Stuck between his family feud and his best friend's first serious relationship, Nate's "new normal" forever changes his relationships with his parents, and severely handicaps his own dating life.
2	"Mixed Doubles"	Tripp Reed	Erin Cardillo & Richard Keith	August 10, 2015 (2015-08-10)	0.73[11]
After Nate suggests they may not be taking their relationship seriously, Lydia and Jimmy decide to prove him wrong by going on a date - in public. Meanwhile, Jimmy calls Nate out for his own lackluster dating style, prompting him to go on a date with notorious cougar Pepper Spinner, whom he meets at the restaurant. Elsewhere, Atticus prepares for his own perfect evening enjoying the equinox with Sam. Finally, things take an uncomfortable turn when Lydia and Jimmy run into Nate on his date with Pepper, who happens to be Lydia's former arch rival. Guest: Richard Keith as Dylan.
3	"Who's Your Daddy?"	John Putch & Tripp Reed	Erin Cardillo & Richard Keith	August 17, 2015 (2015-08-17)	0.62[12]
When Lydia suspects that she could be pregnant, she begs Nate to keep it a secret from Jimmy until she can find out for sure. As Nate makes every attempt to avoid Jimmy at all costs, Jimmy begins to suspect that his best friend is hiding something and makes it his mission to find out what. Meanwhile, Harrison makes his intentions to win Lydia back clear to Jimmy, setting off some not-so-friendly competition. Elsewhere, Nate's complicated life gives Emma everything she needs to write the perfect country song. Guest: Robert Picardo as Dr. Robert Richter.
4	"Edibles Wrecks"	Tripp Reed	Erin Cardillo & Richard Keith	August 24, 2015 (2015-08-24)	0.68[13]
Nate is anxious that a food blogger is coming to review his restaurant. Lydia is afraid Jimmy is missing doing youthful activities and buys some cannabis-filled gummy bears that Nate eats without realising what they are. Everyone pitches in to get Nate through his special evening.
5	"Suffering & Succotash"	Tripp Reed	Erin Cardillo & Richard Keith	August 31, 2015 (2015-08-31)	0.87[14]
When Lydia's mother visits unexpectedly, she tries to hide her relationship with Jimmy by implying he and Nate are boyfriends. Lydia also indicates she is getting back together with Harrison to further complicate things.
6	"Get Forked"	Jonathan Silverman	Katie Schwartz	September 14, 2015 (2015-09-14)	0.50[15]
Concerned about Nate's uptight nature, Jimmy and Lydia sign him up on a dating site. After a succession of awful meet ups, Nate connects with Annie. Jimmy then recalls that he has seen Annie before due to her infamous Internet activities.
7	"Under Buddy"	Tripp Reed	Alex Safford & Amanda Pomeroy and Erin Cardillo & Richard Keith	September 21, 2015 (2015-09-21)	0.47[16]
Lydia asks Nate give Jimmy a busy night off but his replacement as bartender Timmy works out so well, Jimmy feels threatened. As Nate and Timmy start hanging out, Jimmy decides to compete to get his friend back.
8	"Home Is Where the Lamp Is"	Tripp Reed	Erin Cardillo & Richard Keith	September 28, 2015 (2015-09-28)	0.67[17]
Nate freaks out when Lydia decides to sell his childhood home so he enlists his father Harrison and friends to sabotage the open house. Jimmy becomes scared about his future with Lydia after a talk with Nate. Guests: Jerry O'Connell as Bob Babcock and Erin Cardillo as Parker.
9	"Not About Bob"	Tripp Reed	Erin Cardillo & Richard Keith	October 5, 2015 (2015-10-05)	0.62[18]
Jimmy falls into a deep depression after his breakup with Lydia and Nate feels responsible. Sam and Atticus help Nate show Jimmy his future if he can't make decisions while Harrison agrees to divorce Lydia.

Casting and production

Created by Cardillo and Keith, the half-hour sitcom was developed for the digital platform CW Seed. Significant Mother was ordered to series for the CW on April 10, 2015, with Zuckerman and Allen attached to star and Silverman, Fitzpatrick and Adams rounding out the cast.[3][4][5] On May 1, 2015, Buzolic was announced in the role of Jimmy.[19]

Later in May 2015, Denise Richards was cast as local "cougar" Pepper Spinner.[6][7] In June 2015, the CW announced guest stars Linda Gray as Gammy, Nate's grandmother and Lydia's conservative southern mother,[8] and Jerry O'Connell as Bob Babcock, a "slick realtor".[9] In August 2015, Terry Kiser, Silverman's costar from Weekend at Bernie's, was cast in a guest role.[20]

Broadcast

Significant Mother premiered on August 3, 2015.[10][21]

Reception

Brian Lowry of Variety wrote that "while the show does possess some energy thanks to the cast, there’s such a numbing sameness to the gags."[22]

References

1. Zuckerman, Josh (February 16, 2016). "#SignificantMother won't b gettin a 2ndSeason but we r so grateful 4 ur support & delighted u loved our show as much as we loved sharin it". Twitter. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
2. Keith, Richard (February 18, 2016). "Sad #significantmother isn't getting a second season, but so grateful to @TheCW and our fans for all their support!". Twitter. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
3. Andreeva, Nellie (April 10, 2015). "The CW Orders Comedy Series Significant Mother For Summer". Deadline Hollywood.
4. Friedlander, Whitney (April 10, 2015). "CW Orders Comedy Significant Mother to Series". Variety. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
5. Goldberg, Lesley (April 10, 2015). "CW Orders Comedy Series Significant Mother for Summer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
6. Corriston, Michele (July 24, 2015). "First Look: Denise Richards Plays a 'Notorious Cougar' in CW's New Show Significant Mother". People. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
7. Swift, Andy (May 27, 2015). "Denise Richards Going Full Cougar for New CW Comedy Significant Mother". TVLine. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
8. Couch, Aaron (June 8, 2015). "Linda Gray to Guest Star in CW's Significant Mother". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
9. Lash, Jolie (June 23, 2015). "Jerry O'Connell to Guest Star on The CW's Significant Mother". Access Hollywood. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
10. Bibel, Sara (August 4, 2015). "Monday Final Ratings: American Ninja Warrior Adjusted Up; Running Wild With Bear Grylls Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
11. Bibel, Sara (August 12, 2015). "Monday Final Ratings: American Ninja Warrior Adjusted Up; Significant Mother & Bachelor in Paradise: After Paradise Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
12. Bibel, Sara (August 18, 2015). "Monday Final Ratings: American Ninja Warrior Adjusted Up; Penn & Teller Fool Us, Whose Line Is It Anyway, Significant Mother & Bachelor in Paradise: After Paradise Adjusted Down". TVbytheNumbers. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
13. Kondolojy, Amanda (August 25, 2015). "Monday Final Ratings: Running Wild With Bear Grylls, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Bachelor in Paradise: After Paradise, Whose Line is it Anyway? & Significant Mother Adjusted Down". TVbytheNumbers. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
14. "Monday Final Ratings: 'Running Wild With Bear Grylls' Adjusted Down; No Adjustment to 'Whose Line is it Anyway?' - Ratings - TVbytheNumbers.Zap2it.com". TVbytheNumbers.
15. http://www.tvmediainsights.com/tv-ratings/monday-final-nationals-espn-wins-night-with-mnf-doubleheader-dwts-returns-at-similar-levels-ninja-warrior-delivers-best-finale-figures/
16. Kondolojy, Amanda (September 22, 2015). "Monday Final Ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory' Adjusted Up; 'Significant Mother', 'Life in Pieces' & 'Penn & Teller' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
17. Dixon, Dani. "Monday Final Ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory' + 'The Voice' Adjusted Up; 'Castle', 'Life in Pieces' & 'Dancing With the Stars' Adjusted Down". Retrieved October 5, 2015.
18. Porter, Rick. "Monday final ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory' and 'The Voice' adjusted up, 'Blindspot' and 'Castle' adjusted down". Retrieved October 6, 2015.
19. Highfill, Samantha (May 1, 2015). "Vampire Diaries star Nathaniel Buzolic cast in Significant Mother". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
20. Lash, Jolie (August 13, 2015). "Significant Mother To Pay Homage To Weekend At Bernie's". Access Hollywood. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
21. Bibel, Sara (April 13, 2015). "The CW Sets Summer 2015 Schedule Including America's Next Top Model & Significant Mother". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
22. Lowry, Brian (July 31, 2015). "TV Review: Significant Mother". Variety. Retrieved August 3, 2015.

External links

• Official website
• Significant Mother on IMDb
• Highfill, Samantha (June 10, 2015). "Significant Mother first look: Nathaniel Buzolic is a motherlover". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
• Genzlinger, Neil (August 2, 2015). "Review: Significant Mother Puts a Son in an Awkward Situation". The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
• Bacle, Ariana (August 3, 2015). "Significant Mother react: the CW's not-so-significant comedy falls flat". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
• Uhlich, Keith (August 3, 2015). "Significant Mother: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
• Moylan, Brian (August 3, 2015). "vSignificant Mother: nothing funny about sleeping with your best friend's mom". The Guardian. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
• Eichel, Molly (August 3, 2015). "It goes easy on cougar clichés, but Significant Mother tries too hard to be hip". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 21, 2015.