From the creator of “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Call Your Mother” follows Jean, an empty-nester mom who wonders how she ended up alone while her children live their best lives thousands of miles away.
Jean decides her place is with her family, and as she reinserts herself into their lives, her kids realize they might actually need her more than they thought.
“Call Your Mother”
“Call Your Mother” premieres Wednesday, January 13th at 9:30 pm ET/PT on ABC.
I had the pleasure of attending an advanced screening of the pilot and a moderated Q&A session with panelists:
- Kari Lizer, creator & executive producer
- Kyra Sedgwick, “Jean Raines”
- Patrick Brammall, “Danny”
- Emma Caymares, “Celia”
- Joey Bragg, “Freddie Raines”
- Rachel Sennott, “Jackie Raines”
- Austin Crute, “Lane”
- moderator and “Extra” correspondent Rachel Lindsay
We got to screen the pilot and learn some fun facts about ABC’s “Call Your Mother.”
CALL YOUR MOTHER – ABC’s “Call Your Mother” stars Rachel Sennott as Jackie Raines, Patrick Brammall as Danny, Austin Crute as Lane, Kyra Sedgwick as Jean Raines, Emma Caymares as Celia, and Joey Bragg as Freddie Raines. (ABC/Brian Bowen Smith)
Fun Facts About ABC’s Call Your Mother
Executive Producer/Creator Kari Lizer is an empty nester and some experiences are based on her experiences.
Kari picked Iowa for a few reasons, but in part, because it’s sooooo different from Los Angeles, and “Jean would be a fish out of water when she got there.”
The show takes place in a post-COVID world.
CALL YOUR MOTHER – Jean, an empty-nester mom, wonders how she ended up alone while her children live their best lives thousands of miles away. She decides her place is with her family, and as she reinserts herself into their lives, her kids realize they might actually need her more than they thought on the series premiere episode of “Call Your Mother,” WEDNESDAY, JAN. 13 (9:30-10:00 p.m. EST), on ABC. (ABC/Lara Solanki) KYRA SEDGWICK, RACHEL SENNOTT, JOEY BRAGG
This is Kyra Sedgwick’s multi-camera format debut. She can’t wait until they can actually have a studio audience to perform in front of. “There’s nothing like making people laugh. It’s so vital.”
Rachel Sennott said she connects as Jackie and the balance of being put together for everyone else as you are falling apart yourself. Rachel says that Kyra plays a great mom, gives good advice, and is also a cool hang.
Emma Caymares felt like she wasn’t relatable at all to Celia at the beginning and about a week in realized she was a LOT like Celia in her honesty. Emma has no filter, but Celia is a Celia pleaser, not a people pleaser. This show brings joy in a time of mystery and uncertainty.
CALL YOUR MOTHER – (ABC/Lara Solanki) JOEY BRAGG, EMMA CAYMARES
Joey Bragg and Freddie are somewhat sympatico. He also had to take Spanish three times because he kept failing it. He said it feels like he’s playing himself.
Austin Crute was, as Lane calls it, “low-key homo” growing up in the church in Atlanta but burgeoned at NYU. Lane’s main thing is self-discovery and self-expression. That’s how Austin describes himself as relating to his character Lane. Austin believes there is a character for every type of person in this show.
Patrick Brammell as Danny is doing what he can to survive after his wife has left; he compares that to surviving in the U.S. after having recently moved here. The show has been a lifeline for Patrick, reinforcing a sense of connection.
CALL YOUR MOTHER (ABC)
Kyra can resonate with Jean as a mom in many, many ways. “You are everything to this child, and if you do this job right you get fired.” You want to be close to them, but if you’re lucky they turn out to be great people and they have better things to do.
Kari hopes the show is funny, first and foremost. Beyond that, she hopes that people see these characters really care about one another. “The pandemic has left us all isolated. This is a show about people trying to find one another again.”
Dog love. Ripper is played by Orbit, a 5-year-old actor dog. He has a very calming energy.
CALL YOUR MOTHER – (ABC/Lara Solanki) JOEY BRAGG, EMMA CAYMARES, AUSTIN CRUTE, RACHEL SENNOTT
Is “Call Your Mother” Safe for Kids?
If you love dry, sarcastic, and somewhat inappropriate humor, this show is for you! You’ll learn all the slang the kids are using these days.
However, this is not a show for kids and the content is not safe for kids. Call Your Mother is definitely inappropriate for anyone younger than high school, and frankly, maybe even 17+. I don’t necessarily want my teens watching this, as there are references to porno, STDs, and more. Humor for adults? Absolutely entertaining, especially for parents with older kids. But not content that is suitable for kids.
“Call Your Mother” premieres Wednesday, January 13th at 9:30 pm ET/PT on ABC.
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