Imaginary Mary

{{Infobox television

| image = Imaginary_Mary_Logo.png

| genre = {{ubl|Fantasy|Sitcom}}

| creator = {{Plainlist|

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

Jenna Elfman
Stephen Schneider
Nicholas Coombe
Matreya Scarrwener
Erica Tremblay

}}

| voices = Rachel Dratch

| composer = Michael Wandmacher

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 9

| executive_producer = {{Plain list |

Adam F. Goldberg
David Guarascio
Doug Robinson
Patrick Osborne
Shawn Levy

}}

| producer =

| location =

| cinematography =

| editor =

| camera = Single-camera

| runtime = 22 minutes

| company = {{Plain list|

David Guarascio Productions
Adam F. Goldberg Productions
Happy Madison Productions
ABC Studios
Sony Pictures Television

}}

| network = ABC

| first_aired = {{start date|2017|3|29}}

| last_aired = {{end date|2017|5|30}}

| related =

}}

Imaginary Mary is an American live-action/animated fantasy sitcom television series created by Adam F. Goldberg, David Guarascio and Patrick Osborne that aired on ABC from March 29 to May 30, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/abc-midseason-schedule-time-after-time-american-crime-the-catch-dirty-dancing-others-get-premiere-dates-1201882316/|title=ABC Midseason Schedule: 'Time After Time', 'American Crime', 'The Catch', 'Dirty Dancing', Others Get Premiere Dates|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=January 10, 2017|date=January 10, 2017}} The series is executive produced by the creators and was greenlighted to series order on May 12, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/05/notorious-comedy-imaginary-mary-picked-up-to-series-at-abc-1201754944/|title=Drama 'Notorious', Comedy 'Imaginary Mary' Picked Up To Series At ABC|date=May 12, 2016|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|work=Deadline}} A first-look-trailer was released on the same day.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT5NOaoxdwk Trailer for "Imaginary Mary"] from YouTube ABC reduced the number of episodes from thirteen to nine on September 28, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/imaginary-mary-episode-count-cut-933627|title='Imaginary Mary' Episode Count Cut From 13 to 9|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=28 September 2016|access-date=September 28, 2016}}

On May 11, 2017, the series was cancelled after one season.{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/05/11/dr-ken-canceled-abc/|title=Dr. Ken and two more comedies canceled by ABC|last=Snierson|first=Dan|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=May 11, 2017|access-date=May 11, 2017}}

Plot

The series follows Alice when an imaginary friend being from her childhood, named Mary, reappears when she is now a single public relations executive falling in love with a single father of three children. Mary hopes to guide (or misguide) her.

Cast

Jenna Elfman as Alice
Stephen Schneider as Ben Cooper, Alice’s love interest
Nicholas Coombe as Andy Cooper, Ben's son
Matreya Scarrwener as Dora Cooper, Ben's daughter
Erica Tremblay as Bunny Cooper, Ben's daughter
Rachel Dratch as the voice of Mary

Production

The series was first announced in 2015 as Imaginary Friend which was then changed to Imaginary Gary. In the original pilot, the main characters were both men and the love interest was a single mom.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/imaginary-friend-live-action-cgi-comedy-adam-f-goldberg-patrick-osborme-abc-pilot-order-1201568110/|title = 'Imaginary Friend' Live Action-CGI Comedy from 'The Goldbergs' Duo & Top Disney Animator Gets ABC Pilot Order|date = 6 October 2015}} When the series went into development, the genders of the characters were flipped. Elfman filmed her scenes first with a puppet in order for the animators to have a reference point, and then in a later take without anything to show what she was talking to. Dratch did her voice work separately in New York with the scenes already filmed. She said at the TCA press tour, "I have the freedom to go crazy."{{cite web|url=https://decoy.tvpassport.com/news/beyond-imagination-jenna-elfman-rachel-dratch-star-new-abc-comedy?subid=|title=Beyond imagination: Jenna Elfman, Rachel Dratch star in new ABC comedy|last=Dresch|first=Cassie|publisher=TV Media|access-date=March 27, 2017}}

In September 2016, it was reported that the show's crew would make changes with the animation for the character, Mary, after it received a poor reception from ABC.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/09/imaginary-mary-order-cut-four-episodes-1201827939/|title='Imaginary Mary' Order Trimmed By ABC|work=Deadline|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|date=September 28, 2016|access-date=November 7, 2017}} ABC then reduced the original thirteen-episode order for the first season to nine episodes in order to allow the show's crew to make changes with the animation.

Episodes

{{Episode table |background=#edcb62 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |prodcode= |viewers= |country=US |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Pilot

|DirectedBy = Shawn Levy

|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s=Adam F. Goldberg & David Guarascio & Patrick Osborne|t=Adam F. Goldberg & David Guarascio}}

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|3|29}}

|ProdCode = 100

|Viewers = 5.39{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/wednesday-final-ratings-march-29-2017/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331012748/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/wednesday-final-ratings-march-29-2017/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2017|title='Modern Family,' 'Survivor' and 'Chicago PD' adjust up: Wednesday final ratings|last=Porter|first=Rick|date=March 30, 2017|work=TV by the Numbers|access-date=March 30, 2017}}

|ShortSummary = Alice falls in love with a divorced dad but she then learns that he has 3 kids. Alice becomes consumed by her fears and contemplates giving up until her old childhood imaginary friend, Mary, comes back.

|LineColor = edcb62

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = The Mom Seal

|DirectedBy = Shawn Levy

|WrittenBy = Sarah Haskins & Emily Halpern

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|4|4}}

|ProdCode = 101

|Viewers = 3.45{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-april-4-2017/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406110516/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-april-4-2017/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 6, 2017|title='NCIS' and 'The Middle' adjust up: Tuesday final ratings|last=Porter|first=Rick|work=TV by the Numbers|date=April 5, 2017|access-date=April 5, 2017}}

|ShortSummary = Alice is tasked in taking care of Bunny. A task she takes too far. Ben pressures Andy to take his driving test.

|LineColor = edcb62

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = The Parent-y Trap

|DirectedBy = Peter Lauer

|WrittenBy = Margee Magee

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|4|11}}

|ProdCode = 104

|Viewers = 3.06{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-april-11-2017/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413072308/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-april-11-2017/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 13, 2017|title='The Middle' adjusts up: Tuesday final ratings|last=Porter|first=Rick|work=TV by the Numbers|date=April 12, 2017|access-date=April 12, 2017}}

|ShortSummary = Alice learns the emotional highs and lows of being a parent when Andy considers auditioning for the school musical; Dora creates her own feminist musical.

|LineColor = edcb62

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Prom-Com

|DirectedBy = Richie Keen

|WrittenBy = Adam F. Goldberg & David Guarascio & Chris Bishop

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|4|18}}

|ProdCode = 108

|Viewers = 3.15{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-april-18-2017/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420144557/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-april-18-2017/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 20, 2017|title='The Middle' adjusts up: Tuesday final ratings|last=Porter|first=Rick|work=TV by the Numbers|date=April 19, 2017|access-date=April 19, 2017}}

|ShortSummary = Andy has a hard time finding a prom date while Dora keeps turning away a guy who persistently asks her, but Alice tries to convince her to go. Meanwhile, Ben struggles to deal with kids growing up and tries to scare away Dora's date.

|LineColor = edcb62

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = In a World Where Worlds Collide

|DirectedBy = Paul Murphy

|WrittenBy = Brian Gallivan

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|4|25}}

|ProdCode = 103

|Viewers = 2.88{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-april-25-2017/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426235903/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-april-25-2017/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 26, 2017|title='The Mick' and 'Agents of SHIELD' adjust up, 'iZombie' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings|last=Porter|first=Rick|work=TV by the Numbers|date=April 26, 2017|access-date=April 26, 2017}}

|ShortSummary = After a hesitant Alice meets Ben's friends, Alice wants to meet Ben's friends, but Ben is hesitant. Later: he makes a startling admission after devising a plan to impress her.

|LineColor = edcb62

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Alice the Mole

|DirectedBy = Lev L. Spiro

|WrittenBy = David Guarascio

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|5|2}}

|ProdCode = 102

|Viewers = 2.63{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-may-2-2017/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503232224/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-may-2-2017/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 3, 2017|title='NCIS' and 'The Middle' adjust up, 'Prison Break' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings|last=Porter|first=Rick|work=TV by the Numbers|date=May 3, 2017|access-date=May 3, 2017}}

|ShortSummary = Alice faces the dilemma of whether she should play the role of parent or friend as she tries to connect with Dora; Ben wants Alice to be his personal mole; Bunny infiltrates the one place Andy feels cool.

|LineColor = edcb62

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|Title = The Ex X Factor

|DirectedBy = David Katzenberg

|WrittenBy = Daniel Libman & Matthew Libman

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|5|9}}

|ProdCode = 105

|Viewers = 2.83{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-may-9-2017/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511001752/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-may-9-2017/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2017|title='The Voice' adjusts up, 'iZombie' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings|last=Porter|first=Rick|work=TV by the Numbers|date=May 10, 2017|access-date=May 10, 2017}}

|ShortSummary = When Ben's ex-wife says she doesn't believe Alice is a good influence on the kids, Alice goes out of her way to prove her wrong; Andy and Dora fake being sick at school.

|LineColor = edcb62

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|Title = Last Dance with Mary

|DirectedBy = Fred Goss

|WrittenBy = Melody Derloshon & Danielle Uhlarik

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|5|16}}

|ProdCode = 107

|Viewers = 2.80{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-may-16-2017/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517233155/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-may-16-2017/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 17, 2017|title='NCIS' finale and 'Bull' adjust up, 'The Middle' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings|last=Porter|first=Rick|work=TV by the Numbers|date=May 17, 2017|access-date=May 17, 2017}}

|ShortSummary = When Ben and Alice get engaged, Mary disappears, as Alice apparently no longer needs her. However, when Ben begins discussing the realities of marriage, such as living together and possibly having more children, Mary reappears to help Alice cope.

|LineColor = edcb62

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 9

|Title = Sleep Over

|DirectedBy = Luke Greenfield

|WrittenBy = Adam F. Goldberg & Chris Bishop

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|5|30}}

|ProdCode = 106

|Viewers = 2.13{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-may-30-2017/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603225306/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tuesday-final-ratings-may-30-2017/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 3, 2017|title='America's Got Talent' adjusts up, 'Imaginary Mary' adjusts down: Tuesday final ratings|last=Porter|first=Rick|date=June 1, 2017|work=TV by the Numbers|access-date=June 1, 2017}}

|ShortSummary = Alice is ready to sleep over at Ben's when his kids are in the house, but Ben worries the nightly rituals will put her off; when Alice gets rattled, she gets Mary's help in an attempt to fix the situation.

|LineColor = edcb62

}}

Reception

=Critical response=

The series received a generally negative response from critics. On review aggregator site Metacritic, Imaginary Mary has a score of 39 out of 100 based on 13 critics indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".{{cite web|title=Imaginary Mary Season 1 Reviews|website=Metacritic|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/imaginary-mary|access-date=March 29, 2017}} On Rotten Tomatoes, the show has a 27% approval rating, based on 22 reviews, with an average rating of 3.9/10. The site's critical consensus: "Imaginary Mary{{'s}} appealing cast is canceled out by uninspired material and a ridiculous premise whose deficiencies are compounded by an unfunny, ill-advised CGI creature."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/imaginary_mary/s01|title=Imaginary Mary: Season 1|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=January 6, 2019}}