Favorite Moms in TV History

Samantha Stevens is, hands-down, the best TV Mom ever! Why? Because she's magic! What little girl didn't want a magic mother? Samantha was beautiful, kind, and most of all, magic. She had really cool friends and relatives who literally popped in all the time. After a few seasons she had a little girl named Tabitha. I wanted to be Tabitha. I spent many years wiggling my nose with my finger in order to get something to float across the room to me. All to no avail. I'm sure that if Samantha Stevens had been my mother things would have turned out differently.

My #2 Favorite TV Mom: Florence Henderson as Carol Brady in The Brady Bunch.

I'd be willing to bet that Carol Brady makes it on everyone's list for favorite TV Moms. And why shouldn't she? She was the matriarch of the grooviest TV family ever! Everything about the Brady's was cool- right down to their dog, in the episodes where they had one- so naturally, if I couldn't be Tabitha Stevens I wanted to be Cindy Brady. Then my Mom would be the prettiest, most understanding, bell-bottomed wearing Mom with a shag haircut in the whole wide world.

My #3 Favorite TV Mom: Katie Segal as Peg Bundy in Married with Children.

Peg Bundy, with her big hair, spandex capris, and stiletto heels, made me laugh every Sunday in the '80's. She found no shame in having no career ambition and little interest in her children, Bud and Kelly. Her hobbies included sponging off her husband, Al, and belittling his career as a shoe salesman. Not exactly role model material, but as a motherhood anti-hero Peg Bundy was tops!

My #4 Favorite TV Mom: Roseanne Barr/Arnold/No Last Name as Roseanne Connor in Roseanne.

Roseanne was funny, kind, and loving (in the beginning). Her family was the typical American working class family, struggling with the economic recession of the '80's. No matter how bad things got in the Connor household, Roseanne had us laughing out loud about it. It was clear that there was a lot of love and laughter in the Connor household. Although Roseanne may be best remembered for her disastrous fall from Hollywood grace, there was a time when she was the funniest and most liked Mom on TV.

Now that you know which four TV Moms popped into my mind as favorites, I'd love to know who yours are!