CBS will end its sitcom Mom this year during the eighth season run, following the shocking and abrupt departure of lead star Anna Faris last year.
Despite Faris leaving just days before production was due to begin, the show continued with her co-star Allison Janney at the helm – who yesterday described going back to set without Faris as ‘odd’.
‘For the past eight years, we’ve had the great honor to bring these wonderful characters to life, sharing their struggles and triumphs with millions of viewers every week,’ said executive producers Chuck Lorre, Gemma Baker and Nick Bakay, in a statement obtained by Variety.
Tearful goodbyes: Mom is CANCELLED after 8 seasons following the dramatic exit of lead Anna Faris… despite co-star Allison Janney wanting it to continue
‘We are forever grateful to our brilliant cast and guest stars, wonderful writers, and amazing crew for going on this journey with us,’ the statement concluded.
It comes after Janney, 61, spoke about Faris, 44, and her exit on The Ellen DeGeneres show saying: ‘Yeah, it was very odd and she’s very missed. Anna is missed and her character on the show is missed.’
While she still supports Faris’ decision to leave, Janney explained that their focus now is making the sitcom work without her, despite Faris having been marketed as the main star and character of the show when it first premiered in 2013.
How they are now: The eighth season of Mom features its regulars, Mimi Kennedy, Kristen Johnston, Allison Janney, Jaime Pressley and Beth Hall
What happened?! Allison Janney sat down to talk to Ellen DeGeneres this week about Anna Faris abruptly leaving their hit CBS show Mom last September
‘We’re just happy that she’s doing what she wants to do now, and we’re happy even more so that we’re able to still tell these stories about these great women in recovery,’ she said, referring to the fact that the series takes place in an Alcoholics Anonymous group.
Janney continued: ‘And I think there are some really wonderful characters that have been established. And people love the show so, we’re gonna keep telling the stories as long as we can.’
However, it’s now the end of the road for the series, despite the great work put in by the ensemble cast.
The creators statement added: “From the beginning, we set out to tell stories about recovery from alcoholism and addiction that are rarely portrayed in a network comedy series.’
“Whether it was the emotional reactions of the live audience on tape night inside Stage 20, or discussions at The White House regarding the opioid crisis, or the personal stories we continue to receive on social media, we take great pride in knowing Mom has positively impacted so many lives.”
New style: Janney, 61, showed off her new grey ‘do while appearing on Ellen
‘Very odd’: Anna Faris was marketed as the main star and character of the show Mom when it first premiered in 2013, but it will now continue without her
Created by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky and Gemma Baker, Mom was initially conceived as a vehicle for Faris, after her string of successful comedic roles in movies, including The House Bunny and Smiley Face.
However, the show – which deals with the topic of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction – went through its fair share of changes throughout seasons.
By season three, it was less about Faris’ character Christy and her children, and more of an ensemble comedy – with supporting actors Jaime Pressley, Mimi Kennedy and Beth Hall getting more screentime.
In 2018, Kristen Johnston make a big impact playing Tammy Diffendorf, Bonnie’s (Janney) foster sister who ended up in prison after she attempted to rob an Outback Steakhouse.
It wasn’t long before Johnston was invited to be a series regular, and the show is now seen as an ensemble piece between the five actors – arguably with Janney as the lead.
Meanwhile, Faris released a statement at the time of her shock exit, saying: ‘The past seven years on Mom have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career.’
She added: ‘I’m so thankful to Chuck [Lorre], the writers, and my amazing castmates for creating a truly wonderful work experience.’
Mother daughter duo no more: Faris and Janney had incredible chemistry on the show, which made Faris’ exit all the more shocking (the pair pictured in 2018)