MOM: Life, Laughter, and Recovery

Hello. My name is Olivia, and I am an alcoholic.

Now, why, you might wonder, would I tell you that?

Two reasons. 

1) I got sober in 1991, and passed the 30-year mark of sobriety a couple of days ago and am still celebrating; and

2) My new favorite sitcom is MOM, starring Allison Janney and Anna Faris.

Seriously, you say? That show's been out for-EV-ER!

Yeah, well, I ended my relationship with network and cable TV ten years ago, and never looked back. I fell in love with Netflix, bingeing hour after hour on shows I'd never seen. Shows like West Wing, Eureka, Bones, The Finder, Ally McBeal, and many more. And I ended each evening with Friends.

Unfortunately, most of these shows are no longer on Netflix. Enter Hulu.

Back then, I had a Hulu Plus account. It was great for watching current season episodes, but UGHHHHHHHH—the commercials. I canceled. Instead, I waited until they hit Netflix where I could watch them without those dastardly interruptions.

Last year, Hulu ran a deal. They had scrubbed the commercials, so we decided to check it out and ended up renewing. Recently, they added Mom to their lineup.

If you have seen Mom, which is ending this year after its eighth season, you know the storyline. Anna Faris is a single mom barely getting by. She plays Christy, a newly-recovering alcoholic and addict with two children by two different dads. Enter Bonnie, Christy's mother played by Allison Janney, who is also a recovering alky-addict and the bane of Christy's existence.

Watching these two characters maneuver life, relationships, and recovery, along with the other ladies from AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), is like returning to the beginning days of my own sobriety. The show is laugh-out-loud funny but also hits the sore spots.

If you enjoyed watching the shenanigans of Charlie, Alan, and Jake on Two and a Half Men, you'll love Mom. And even if you hated Two and a Half Men, you'll likely still love Mom. 

Here's an excerpt from a review on GritDaily:

"Bonnie (Allison Janney) and Christy Plunkett (Anna Faris) are both recovering alcoholics who also happen to be mother and daughter. In the hit CBS show, Mom, the unorthodox duo navigate relationships, finances, and friendships all while attending Alcoholics Anonymous. What could’ve easily turned into a show that was too heavy or dark is actually a hilarious comedy that at its core, celebrates relatable relationships between complex and wonderfully flawed women. What’s even better is that the show is available to stream all the way through season six on Hulu... The show balances humor with realism, but never gets too heavy or preachy."

If you're looking for a show to binge, check out Mom on Hulu. You just might love it.

Happy 30th Anniversary to me!

That Rebel, Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O. J. Barré

O. J. Barré is the author of the Awen trilogy, a pre-apocalyptic urban fantasy set in 2042 Atlanta. Steeped in current, ancient, and future history twists, Book One, Awen Rising debuted July 2019. Book Two, Awen Storm, released May 2020. Book Three, Awen Tide, arrives in Fall 2021. The Awen prequel, The Druids of Marduk, is also available on Amazon.