Rating Single Moms on TV

TV sitcoms have traditionally been centered on two-parent families, from the black and white days of Leave It to Beaver to the present Fox series Family Guy. Occasionally, though, sitcom plots have featured single parent homes. The most enduring single parent show is probably The Andy Griffith Show, in which the Mayberry sheriff raised his motherless son Opie.

Other sitcoms have placed single mothers as the lead character. Some of these mothers seem to have maternal traits that our society values. Other single moms on TV appear to be self-absorbed and serve as poor role models for their children.

Here is a list of the five best single and worst single moms on television sitcoms.

Best:

1.Shirley Partridge in The Partridge Family: The musical matron (played by Shirley Jones) not only raised her children alone, but she even played in the family band.

2. Kate Bradley in Petticoat Junction: The hotel manager (played by Bea Benedaret) raised three girls, who didn't even fight when Steve the pilot broke up with Billie Jo and married little sister Betty Jo.

3. Mabel Thomas in What's Happening: Raj's and Dee's mother (played by Mabel King) served as a voice of reason for not only her children but many of the other teenagers in the neighborhood, including Rerun.

4. Willona Woods in Good Times: The Evans' outspoken neighbor (played by Ja'net DuBois) made raising her adopted daughter Penny Gordon Woods (played by Janet Jackson) her main priority. Until Penny came into her life, Willona seemed a flighty and flirty foil to Mrs. Evans (played by Esther Rolle).

5. Carol Traynor in Maude: The offspring from Maude's first marriage (played by Adrienne Barbeau) raises her son Phillip, shielding him from the prejudices and brashness of her mother (played by Beatrice Arthur).

Worst:

1. Lucy Carmichael in The Lucy Show: Mr. Mooney's assistant (played by Lucille Ball) had two children whom she rarely ever saw. Her daughter Chris (played by Candy Moore) was shipped off to college and never heard from after a few seasons. Lucy sent her son Jerry (played by Jimmy Garrett) off to military school, and he was seldom ever mentioned in the last few years of the series.

2. Alice Hyatt in Alice: The Mel's Diner waitress (played by Linda Lavin) moves her son teenage son from New Jersey to Phoenix so that she can start a new life after her husband was killed. They have no family there. They have no friends there. She has no job there until Mel hires her. I think the boy would have been happier in New England.

3. Ann Romano in One Day at a Time: This divorced mother (played by Bonnie Franklin) constantly insults her ex-husband to her two teenage daughters. She also allows maintenance man Schneider to enter her apartment at all hours without even knocking.

4. Carey Martin in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: The twins' mother (played by Kim Rhodes) makes her sons live in a hotel so she can work as a singer.

5. Liane Cartman in South Park: Eric's mom (voiced by Eliza Schneider and April Stewart) spoils her son by defending his misbehaviors. She is also very promiscuous and serves as a poor role model for him and his buddies.