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Instant Mom
Instant Mom intertitle.jpg
Genre Sitcom
Created by Jessica Butler
Warren Bell
Developed by Howard Michael Gould
Starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict
Michael Boatman
Sydney Park
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Tylen Jacob Williams
Damarr Calhoun
Theme music composer The Transcenders
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 3
No. of episodes 53 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Howard Michael Gould
Aaron Kaplan
Producer(s) Tia Mowry-Hardrict
Location(s) Paramount Studios
Hollywood, California
Camera setup Multiple
Running time 20–22 minutes
Production company(s) Stockholm Syndrome
Kapital Entertainment
Nickelodeon Productions
Release
Original channel Nick at Nite
NickMom
TV Land
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Original release September 29, 2013 (2013-09-29) – present
External links
Website

Instant Mom is an American sitcom developed by Howard Michael Gould and starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict (also seen in Sister, Sister) as a stepmother of three children alongside her husband. The series airs on Nick at Nite and premiered on September 29, 2013, as part of the 2013–14 TV season;[1][2] it produced the block's best debut ratings in the channel's history.[3] On November 22, 2013, the series was renewed for a second season of 20 episodes (+3 unaired from Season 1).[3][4] The series was renewed for third season on in September 2014.[5][6] Nickelodeon announced on October 21, 2015 that Instant Mom would not extend beyond its third season and would end its run with the 65 episodes produced.[7]

Premise[edit]

Set in Philadelphia, Stephanie Phillips is a food blogger and party girl, who has to drastically tone down her lifestyle when she marries Charlie Phillips, an older man with three children. She now has to be a mother to Charlie's teenage daughter, Gabrielle, and his grade school-age sons James and Aaron.[8] Stephanie has to quickly learn how to be a full-time stepmom with the help of her overbearing mother, Maggie, while attempting to keep her social life active.

Cast and characters[edit]

Actor Character Episodes Season
1 2 3
Tia Mowry-Hardrict
Stephanie Phillips 53 Main
Michael Boatman
Charlie Phillips 53 Main
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Maggie Turner 44 Main
Sydney Park
Gabrielle Phillips 53 Main
Tylen Jacob Williams
James Phillips 53 Main
Damarr Calhoun
Aaron Phillips 53 Main
  • Stephanie Turner-Phillips (Tia Mowry-Hardrict) is the new step-mom and trying to be the best that she can be. She is a food blogger and a party girl.
  • Charlie Phillips (Michael Boatman) is Stephanie's older husband who is a doctor and the father of three children by his first wife.
  • Gabrielle "Gabby" Beatrice Phillips (Sydney Park) is the eldest sibling and only daughter of Stephanie and Charlie. She is 15 years old and just like many other teenage girls, she is very fashion-conscious. She is also a very smart honor student. She is known as the unimaginably smart, pretty, popular, talented, funny, and stylish person ever.
  • Maggie Turner (Sheryl Lee Ralph) Stephanie's mom who is trying to make Stephanie a better mom by butting into her personal life when in a family crisis Stephanie isn't used to.
  • James Phillips (Tylen Jacob Williams) the middle sibling of Gabby and Aaron. He is known as the trickster of the family and trying to pull pranks. He doesn't admit it, but is envious of Gabby's superiority and tries to pull pranks on her, but not before having them redirected at him.
  • Aaron Phillips (Damarr Calhoun) the youngest sibling of Gabby and James. He is seen as the boy who acts the cutest one of the family.

Episodes[edit]

Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
1 23 September 29, 2013 (2013-09-29) June 12, 2014 (2014-06-12)
2 16 October 2, 2014 (2014-10-02) June 3, 2015 (2015-06-03)
3 26[9] September 19, 2015 (2015-09-19)[10] December 2015[11]

Production[edit]

On August 3, 2012, Nickelodeon announced that it had green-lit the Instant Mom pilot.[12] Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Duane Martin, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Sydney Park, Tylen Williams, and Damarr Calhoun were cast on November 26, 2012.[13] Michael Boatman would later replace Duane Martin.[14] It was announced on April 3, 2013, that Instant Mom was officially picked up for a 13-episode first season to air on NickMom in late 2013.[15][16] Later on August 19, 2013, Nickelodeon ordered 7 additional episodes bringing the series' first season to 20 episodes.[17] On November 22, 2013, 6 additional episodes were added first season.[4] Despite previously being announced that the series would air on NickMom, it has since been shifted to air on Nick at Nite, presumably due to the former's ubiquitous distribution. It continued to air same night on NickMom until the block was ended on September 28, 2015, becoming the only series to air through the majority of the block's run without being cancelled.[17] Filming took place at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California.[18]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Result
2014 20th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards Comedy Won
2015 21st Annual NAMIC Vision Awards Comedy Nominated

Critical reception[edit]

Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave the show 4 out of 5 stars.[19] Brian Lowry of Variety said the show mirrors Trophy Wife.[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Reiher, Andrea (September 7, 2013). "Tia Mowry-Hardrict is 'Instant Mom' for Nick at Nite". Zap2it. Retrieved September 13, 2013. 
  2. ^ Instant Mom on Nickelodeon, The Futon Critic
  3. ^ a b "Nickelodeon Greenlights Second Season of Nick at Nite Original Family Comedy Instant Mom, Starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict" (Press release). Viacom. November 22, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2014. 
  4. ^ a b Kondolojy, Amanda (November 22, 2013). "'Instant Mom' Renewed for Second Season by Nickelodeon". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 22, 2013. 
  5. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 9, 2014). "Nick Comedy ‘Instant Mom’ Renewed For Season 3". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 21, 2015. 
  6. ^ Elavksy, Cindy (April 30, 2015). "Celebrity Extra". King Features. Retrieved April 30, 2015. 
  7. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 21, 2015). "‘Instant Mom’ To End Run After 3 Seasons At Nick at Nite". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 21, 2015. 
  8. ^ Villarreal, Yvonne (July 26, 2013). "Tia Mowry goes from teen to parent in 'Instant Mom'". Los Angeles Times. 
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ "Instant Mom". zap2it.com. 
  11. ^ [2]
  12. ^ Morabito, Andrea (August 3, 2013). "TCA: Nick Greenlights 14 New Projects". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved September 13, 2013. 
  13. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 26, 2012). "Duane Martin Cast In Nick Pilot ‘Instant Mom’, Natalie Morales In ABC’s ‘Trophy Wife’". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 13, 2013. 
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 30, 2012). "Michael Boatman Replaces Duane Martin In Nick At Nite Comedy Pilot ‘Instant Mom’". Deadline Hollywood. 
  15. ^ Ng, Philiana; Goldberg, Lesley (April 3, 2013). "Tia Mowry's 'Instant Mom' Comedy Gets Series Order". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 13, 2013. 
  16. ^ "NickMom Picks Up 13 Episodes of "Instant Mom," the TV Block's First Original Scripted Comedy Series Starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict". The Futon Critic (Press release). April 3, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013. 
  17. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (August 19, 2013). "New Nick Comedy ‘Instant Mom’ Gets Launch Date, Order For 7 More Episodes". Deadline Hollywood. 
  18. ^ "Tia Mowry-Hardict Talks About Her Son Becoming an Actor". CocoaFab. August 28, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013. 
  19. ^ "Instant Mom". Common Sense Media. Retrieved October 6, 2013. 
  20. ^ "TV Review: ‘Instant Mom’". Variety. September 24, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2013. 

External links[edit]

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