For many of us, the sitcom was our first non-cartoon introduction to the adult world. My fondest sitcom memories were of watching the potent NBC comedy lineup of Diff'rent Strokes and Silver Spoons on Friday night.

And as ridiculous as it sounds, the sitcom was also one of my first introductions to the world of beautiful women. Sure the women in sitcoms were usually less provocative than their soap opera or primetime drama counterparts, but as a 10-year-old boy, there was nothing finer than seeing Erin Gray make her weekly entrance on the set of Silver Spoons. And in the sitcom hierarchy, there is nobody hotter than a sitcom mom (case in point: Justine Bateman or Meredith Baxter-Birney - if you even hesitated with that answer your manliness credentials are seriously in doubt buddy!).

So with Mother's Day coming up, this is my ode to the gorgeous sitcom mom. They are the babes that hold the fictional families together and hold our attention until the next commercial break...


1. Rebecca "Becky" Donaldson

Show: Full House (1987-1995)
Actress: Lori Loughlin
Mom Credentials: Becky had twins in season 5 and prior to that she served as a pseudo-mother for the Tanner girls.
Notes: Becky or not, Lori Loughlin is just plain hot. Now why her character was hanging out with a schmoe like Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos) is beyond me. Here's a link if you need a fix.


2. Joy Turner

Show: My Name is Earl (2005-present)
Actress: Jaime Pressly
Mom Credentials: Earl's ex-wife (currently married to Darnell, aka "Crabman"). She is mother to Dodge and Earl Jr. Neither child is Earl's.
Notes: The link just makes her all the hotter.


3. Elyse Keaton

Show: Family Ties (1982-1989)
Actress: Meredith Baxter
Mom Credentials: Meredith Baxter played a liberal post-hippie mom raising an arch-conservative son (Alex P. Keaton) and two girls. A fourth child was added in the fourth season.
Notes: Elyse Keaton was a successful architect, how cool is that?


4. Wanda McCullough

Show: The Bernie Mac Show (2001-2006)
Actress: Kellita Smith
Mom Credentials: While technically not a mother, Wanda (along with husband Bernie) serves as parental guardian for her sister-in-law's three kids.
Notes: link that shows why Wanda was hot. And link ain't too shabby either.


5. Lily Munster

Show: The Munsters (1964-1966)
Actress: Yvonne De Carlo
Mom Credentials: Mother to Eddie Munster (prepubescent werewolf boy).
Notes: As you can see from the photo below, Yvonne De Carlo was positively smokin' when not wearing her monster makeup. But the Dracula/Goth thing she has going on is pretty damned hot too.


6. Lindsay Bluth Funke

Show: Arrested Development (2003-2006)
Actress: Portia de Rossi
Mom Credentials: Has one daughter, Maeby, with Tobias Funke.


7. Debra Barone

Show: Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005)
Actress: Patricia Heaton.
Mom Credentials: Mother of twin sons and one daughter.
Notes: link (video clip).


8. Kate Summers

Show: Silver Spoons (1982-1986)
Actress: Erin Gray
Mom Credentials: Becomes Ricky Stratton's step mom after she marries his father in season 3.
Notes: Erin Gray also starred in Buck Rogers (Wilma Deering) and Magnum P.I. (J. "Digger" Doyle). Two very hot roles.


9. Betty Rubble

Show: The Flintstones (1960-1966)
Actress: (voice) Bea Benaderet (seasons 1-4) Gerry Johnson (seasons 5-6)
Mom Credentials: Mother of the super-strong "Bam Bam".


10. Jordan Sullivan

Show: Scrubs (2001-present)
Actress: Christa Miller
Mom Credentials: Jordan Sullivan is Dr. Cox's ex-wife and current partner. Has two kids on the show.
Notes: Starred in The Drew Carey show prior to Scrubs.





Honorable Mentions:



Rachel Green of Friends
(Jennifer Aniston)



Midge Pinciotti of That '70s Show
(Tanya Roberts)



Kim Warner of Yes Dear
(Jean Louisa Kelly)



Cheryl of According to Jim
(Courtney Thorne Smith)



Maude Flanders of The Simpsons
(voice of Maggie Roswell)




Be sure to check out my other Fanpop Soapbox posts:
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