Some of the best TV moms are the ones that make us laugh until we cry. There are plenty of hilarious sitcom characters and in many sitcoms, both past and present, the moms on the show are the best characters.
Whether they remind us of our own upbringing or their behavior is so outlandish we can’t imagine what it would be like to live with them, some of the funniest moms in TV history come from sitcoms such as “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and “That ‘70s Show.”
Both on television and in real life, we celebrate mothers and all the sacrifices they make for their families. The best TV moms run the gamut from stay-at-homes to working moms to single moms. Aside from their wit, sarcasm, and tendency to lose their cool, what the greatest TV moms of all time have in common is that they love their children, even if they have a hard time showing it sometimes.
No matter what your opinion is of some of the moms from popular sitcoms or other TV shows, we can agree that the greatest TV moms make us laugh. Some of them make parenting look easy and others are pretty relatable with their daily struggles to get everything done while still being patient with their kids. Regardless of what the TV moms do, we love them for their sense of humor and wit.
To create this list of the funniest TV moms, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous entertainment and news sources, including Rotten Tomatoes and Business Insider. Here are 10 of the best TV mothers who always make us laugh. (After this article, check out America’s Most Beloved TV Families.)
Debra Barone, “Everybody Loves Raymond”
- Played by Patricia Heaton
“Everybody Loves Raymond” fans may disagree on which mom on the show is the most entertaining. Marie definitely has her funny moments, but Debra isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. She puts up with Marie’s criticism as best as she can, but sometimes she loses it on Marie, or whoever else happens to be in the room.
Moira Rose, “Schitt’s Creek”
- Played by Catherine O’Hara
Moira Rose is a former soap opera star and mother of an adult son and daughter who act more like children, especially at the beginning of the series. Despite how out of touch with reality Moria seems, she’s a popular actress due to her famous role as Vivien Blake on a show called “Sunrise Bay.” Her overly dramatic attitude and attempt to turn everything into a theatrical performance make her an entertaining character.
Virginia Mosby, “How I Met Your Mother”
- Played by Cristine Rose
Virginia is Ted Mosby’s mother in “How I Met Your Mother.” At the beginning of the series, her interactions with Ted and the rest of the crew are funny because she tends to avoid any uncomfortable conversations. However, when she divorces Ted’s father and marries Clint, she starts to share too much as fans remember from Clint’s song, “Ode to Virginia.”
Marge Simpson, “The Simpsons”
- Played by Julie Kavner
It can’t be easy being married to Homer Simpson, but Marge handles the pressures of family life with a positive attitude. Compared to her husband, she’s mostly even-tempered and tries to display good moral character, even if she’s not always as moral as she seems. Even though she’s often described as a killjoy, she also gets into trouble and manages to have a sense of humor through it all.
Rainbow Johnson, “Black-ish”
- Played by Tracee Ellis Ross
Rainbow Johnson is the mother of five children and the wife of Dre Johnson on “Black-ish.” She’s portrayed as a loving and caring mother, even if she does have her flaws. Bow’s relationship with her husband is a significant part of the show and there are many funny moments between them.
Lois Wilkerson, “Malcolm in the Middle”
- Played by Jane Kaczmarek
You’ve got to have a sense of humor as the only woman in a house full of boys. Lois, the mother from “Malcolm in the Middle,” has five boys on the show and she’s one of the funniest moms in TV history. This mom’s strong personality and struggle to control her temper stem from her upbringing, which is evident when we get to know her own mother, Ida. Despite her struggles, Lois is a hardworking mom who tries her best to love her husband and her kids.
Judy Geller, “Friends”
- Played by Christina Pickles
Judy isn’t exactly the most supportive mother, although she clearly favors Ross over Monica. Her reactions make for hilarious moments on the show even though she lacks self-awareness about her constant criticism. It’s unsurprising that Monica obsesses over every detail when you realize Judy takes every opportunity to criticize Monica’s choices.
Kitty Forman, “That ‘70s Show”
- Played by Debra Jo Rupp
“That ‘70s Show” is one of the most beloved sitcoms from the 1990s and early 2000s. Kitty Forman is Red Forman’s wife and mother to Laurie and Eric. She’s a loving mother and a bit eccentric, but it’s hard not to crack up along with her when you hear her classic shrill laugh. She’s not only a mom to her two kids, but she also allows all the neighborhood kids to hang out at their house, treating them like they’re her own.
Lorelai Gilmore, “Gilmore Girls”
- Played by Lauren Graham
Every fan of “Gilmore Girls” knows that Lorelai acts like a friend or big sister to Rory more than she acts like a mom–even though there are a few instances on the show when she has to pull the “mom card.” Their close relationship is part of what makes Lorelai’s character so entertaining. Since she had Rory at sixteen, she didn’t always make the best decisions but once Rory becomes a teenager, they get into the most hilarious situations together.
Lucy Ricardo, “I Love Lucy”
- Played by Lucille Ball
By far one of the most hilarious TV characters of all time, Lucy is both funny and lovable. Lucille Ball was a trailblazer in many ways, and she was the first woman to be pregnant on one of the major TV networks. The only thing funnier than her character’s regular antics is pregnant Lucy, especially when she’s experiencing pregnancy cravings and dipping a dill pickle in her milkshake. (Next, don’t miss The Biggest Icons of the 1950s.)