Tina Casey
Professor Thomas
ENC-1101
July 12, 2015 Mike & Molly an American Sitcom at its Finest
Mike & Molly is an American sitcom created by Mark Roberts which premiered on CBS on September 20, 2010. The series stars Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy as the eponymous Mike and Molly, a couple who meet in a Chicago Overeaters Anonymous group and fall in love. Chuck Lorre is the executive producer, he does well with everything he produces. In 2009 he received a star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame,” and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2012. (Wikepedia 2015) It’s another great American sitcom at its finest, and producer Chuck Lorre wins another notch on his belt for long standing shows that make us laugh. In the show, Billy Gardell as Officer Michael "Mike" Biggs, a Chicago Police officer attempting to lose weight, doesn't appear to be a deep thinker, but he's good-hearted and humorous. He often caves in to his mother's demands, much to Molly's dismay, but his relationship with Molly has made him much more independent from his mother. Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn, a fourth-grade teacher at Walter Payton Elementary School, is also attempting to lose weight. She is sweet, happy, intelligent, and caring. She is the rational member of her family, but is known to have a quick temper and has built up much debt from lavish shopping and traveling. She quits her teaching job in Season 4 to become a writer. (Wikepedia 2015) Then we have Mike’s partner, Reno Wilson as Officer Carlton "Carl" McMillan, a Chicago Police officer and best friend, tends toward self-pity. He lived with his grandmother for a long time until she made him move into his own apartment. He struggles in relationships with women and is depicted as lonely. At the end of Season 4, Carl is in a relationship with Victoria. Katy Mixon as Victoria Flynn, Molly's dimwitted, kindhearted, party-girl sister who is often high on marijuana is employed as a funeral-home beautician. She likes to have fun and sleep around, frequently with married men, but at the end of Season 4, she is in a relationship with Carl. (Wikepedia 2015) Lastly, we have the parents that bring the show together, with laughs and some awkward moments to say the least. Swoosie Kurtz as Joyce Moranto, mother of Molly and Victoria, was widowed when her daughters were young. She began dating Vincent Moranto in Season 1. She is very modern and attempts to stay youthful, she also drinks heavily and has a hair-trigger temper. Louis Mustillo is Vincent "Vince" Morant, Joyce's on/off boyfriend, then fiancé, now husband and Molly and Victoria's stepfather. A widower, he tends to be flirty, chauvinistic, and sarcastic, A high-school dropout, he's not the most intelligent, but is likable. Last we have Rondi Reed as Margaret "Peggy" Biggs, as Mike's mother, she is very controlling and traditional, as well as grumpy and cranky. She often refers to her ex-husband Jack leaving her and running away to Florida with a prostitute. Peggy is also very fussy over her dog "Jim," whom she treats more like a son than a pet. (Wikepedia 2015) In my opinion, Mike and Molly is hilarious thanks to the writers, funny because the actors do a great job with their lines, and a touch of reality of everyday life all rolled into one show. Molly Flynn is a star on this show, all though true, Melissa McCarthy has had some bombed out movies, but in this show she is fantastic. She and the rest of the cast show how people today, because of the economy are forced to move in with family to make ends meet, and live comfortably without starving to death. The show has been on for five years now and is still a big success says CBS. Molly finds true love in a man who is fighting the same battle that she is, over-eating, and together they make you feel ok to be overweight so long as you’re happy with yourself. A mother who has her own problems with drinking and
