Instant Mom

{{Infobox television

| image = Instant Mom logo.jpg

| genre = Sitcom

| creator = Jessica Butler
Warren Bell

| developer = Howard Michael Gould

| starring = Tia Mowry
Michael Boatman
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Sydney Park
Tylen Jacob Williams
Damarr Calhoun

| composer = David Wilde

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 3

| num_episodes = 65

| list_episodes = List of Instant Mom episodes

| executive_producer = Howard Michael Gould
Aaron Kaplan

| producer = Tia Mowry-Hardrict

| cinematography = Peter Smokler

| editor = Art Kellner

| camera = Multi-camera

| runtime = 20–22 minutes

| location = Paramount Studios
Hollywood, California

| company = Stockholm Syndrome
Kapital Entertainment
Nickelodeon Productions

| channel = Nick at Nite (seasons 1–2)
NickMom (seasons 1–2)
TV Land (season 3)

| first_aired = {{Start date|2013|09|29}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2015|12|19}}

}}

Instant Mom is an American sitcom produced for the NickMom block on the Nick Jr. Channel.{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/04/03/nickmom-picks-up-13-episodes-of-instant-mom-the-tv-blocks-first-original-scripted-comedy-series-starring-tia-mowry-hardrict-147212/20130403nickelodeon01/|title=NickMom Picks Up 13 Episodes of "Instant Mom," the TV Block's First Original Scripted Comedy Series Starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict|date=April 3, 2013|publisher=Viacom}} It was developed by Howard Michael Gould and stars Tia Mowry as a stepmother of three children alongside her husband.

The series first aired on September 29, 2013, on both Nickelodeon's Nick at Nite block (at 8:30 p.m.) and the NickMom block (at 10:30 p.m.).{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/09/05/nick-at-nite-debuts-instant-mom-original-family-comedy-starring-tia-mowry-hardrict-sunday-sept-29-at-830-pm-et-pt-18112/20130905nickelodeon01/|title=Nick at Nite Debuts "Instant Mom," Original Family Comedy Starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Sunday, Sept. 29, at 8:30 P.M. (ET/PT)|quote=The series also will air on the adult-targeted NickMom comedy block on the Nick Jr. channel at 10:00/9:00c.|date=September 5, 2013|publisher=Viacom}} The debut was the highest-rated premiere in the history of both blocks.{{cite press release|url=http://ir.viacom.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=809197|title=Nickelodeon Greenlights Second Season of Nick at Nite Original Family Comedy Instant Mom, Starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict|publisher=Viacom|date=November 22, 2013|access-date=February 9, 2014}} On November 22, 2013, the series was renewed for a second season of 20 episodes.{{cite news|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/11/22/instant-mom-renewed-for-second-season-by-nickelodeon/217604/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202235231/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/11/22/instant-mom-renewed-for-second-season-by-nickelodeon/217604/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |title='Instant Mom' Renewed for Second Season by Nickelodeon |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |work=TV by the Numbers |date=November 22, 2013 |access-date=November 22, 2013}} It was renewed for a third season on September 9, 2014.{{cite news |first=Nellie|last=Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/instant-mom-renewed-season-3-nick-831980/ |title=Nick Comedy 'Instant Mom' Renewed For Season 3 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=September 9, 2014 |access-date=October 21, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://naples.floridaweekly.com/news/2015-04-30/Arts_%28and%29_Entertainment_News/Tia_Mowry_does_double_duty_on_two_TV_shows.html|title=Celebrity Extra|last=Elavsky|first=Cindy|publisher=King Features|date=April 30, 2015|access-date=April 30, 2015}} Nickelodeon announced on October 21, 2015, that Instant Mom wouldn't extend beyond its third season and would end its run with the 65 episodes produced.{{cite web |first=Nellie|last=Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/instant-mom-cancelled-3-seasons-nick-at-nite-original-series-1201590102/|title='Instant Mom' To End Run After 3 Seasons At Nick at Nite |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=October 21, 2015 |access-date=October 21, 2015}} The third season premiered first on another Viacom-owned channel, TV Land.[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/instant-mom/listings/ Instant Mom on Nickelodeon], The Futon Critic

Premise

Set in Philadelphia, Stephanie Phillips is a food blogger and party girl, who has to drastically tone down her lifestyle when she marries Charlie Phillips, an older man with three children. She now has to be a mother to Charlie's teenage daughter, Gabrielle, and his grade school-age sons James and Aaron.{{cite web|last=Villarreal|first=Yvonne|title=Tia Mowry goes from teen to parent in 'Instant Mom'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-tca-press-tour-tia-mowry-from-teen-to-parent-in-instant-mom-20130726,0,6238169.story|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 26, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005075540/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-tca-press-tour-tia-mowry-from-teen-to-parent-in-instant-mom-20130726,0,6238169.story|archive-date=October 5, 2013|df=mdy-all}} Stephanie has to quickly learn how to be a full-time stepmom with the help of her overbearing mother, Maggie, while attempting to keep her social life active.

Episodes

Cast and characters

Stephanie Turner-Phillips (Tia Mowry-Hardrict) is the new step-mom and trying to be the best that she can be. She is a food blogger and a party girl.
Charlie Phillips (Michael Boatman) is Stephanie's older husband who is a doctor and the father of three children by his first wife.
Maggie Turner (Sheryl Lee Ralph) is Stephanie's mom who often butts into her daughter's personal life, usually with the explanation that she's trying to make the inexperienced Stephanie a better mother when there is a family crisis.
Gabrielle "Gabby" Phillips (Sydney Park) is the eldest sibling and only daughter of Stephanie and Charlie. She is 15 years old at the start of the series and, like many other teenage girls, she is very fashion-conscious. She is also a very smart honor student. She is seen as the most unimaginably smart, pretty, popular, talented, funny and stylish person ever.
James Phillips (Tylen Jacob Williams) is the middle sibling of Gabby and Aaron. He is known as the trickster of the family, and is frequently pulling pranks on both his siblings and parents. He doesn't admit it, but he is envious of Gabby's superiority and popularity and tries to pull pranks on her, often having them redirected at him.
Aaron Phillips (Damarr Calhoun) is the youngest sibling of Gabby and James. He is seen as the child who acts the cutest among all the family members. When he comes to realize this, he starts trying to use it to his advantage.

Production

On August 3, 2012, Nickelodeon announced that it had green-lit the Instant Mom pilot.{{cite journal|last=Morabito|first=Andrea|title=TCA: Nick Greenlights 14 New Projects|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/488171-TCA_Nick_Greenlights_14_New_Projects.php|journal=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=September 13, 2013|date=August 3, 2013}} Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Duane Martin, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Sydney Park, Tylen Williams, and Damarr Calhoun were cast on November 26, 2012.{{cite news|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=Duane Martin Cast In Nick Pilot 'Instant Mom', Natalie Morales In ABC's 'Trophy Wife'|url=https://deadline.com/2012/11/duane-martin-cast-in-nick-pilot-instant-mom-natalie-morales-in-abcs-trophy-wife-377159/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=November 26, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2013}} Michael Boatman would later replace Duane Martin.{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=Michael Boatman Replaces Duane Martin In Nick At Nite Comedy Pilot 'Instant Mom'|url=https://www.deadline.com/2012/11/michael-boatman-replaces-duane-martin-in-nick-at-nite-comedy-pilot-instant-mom/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203191937/http://www.deadline.com/2012/11/michael-boatman-replaces-duane-martin-in-nick-at-nite-comedy-pilot-instant-mom/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 3, 2012|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=November 30, 2012}} It was announced on April 3, 2013, that Instant Mom was officially picked up for a 13-episode first season to air on NickMom in late 2013.{{cite news|title=Tia Mowry's 'Instant Mom' Comedy Gets Series Order|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tia-mowrys-instant-mom-gets-432762|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=September 13, 2013|first1=Philiana|last1=Ng|first2=Lesley|last2=Goldberg|date=April 3, 2013}}{{cite press release|title=NickMom Picks Up 13 Episodes of "Instant Mom," the TV Block's First Original Scripted Comedy Series Starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/04/03/nickmom-picks-up-13-episodes-of-instant-mom-the-tv-blocks-first-original-scripted-comedy-series-starring-tia-mowry-hardrict-147212/20130403nickelodeon01/|work=The Futon Critic|access-date=September 13, 2013|date=April 3, 2013}} Later on August 19, 2013, Nickelodeon ordered seven additional episodes bringing the series' first season to 20 episodes.{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=New Nick Comedy 'Instant Mom' Gets Launch Date, Order For 7 More Episodes|url=https://deadline.com/2013/08/new-nick-comedy-instant-mom-gets-launch-date-order-for-7-more-episodes-566770/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 19, 2013}} On November 22, 2013, six additional episodes were added first season. Both NickMom and Nick at Nite aired episodes on the same nights until the NickMom block closed on September 28, 2015. Filming took place at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California.{{cite web |url=http://cocoafab.com/tia-mowry-hardict-on-her-son-following-her-footsteps-its-in-his-blood/ |title=Tia Mowry-Hardict Talks About Her Son Becoming an Actor |publisher=CocoaFab |date=August 28, 2013 |access-date=November 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131105220241/http://cocoafab.com/tia-mowry-hardict-on-her-son-following-her-footsteps-its-in-his-blood/ |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |url-status=dead }} The series aired 65 episodes over three seasons, premiering on September 29, 2013, and ending on December 19, 2015. The series outlasted the NickMom programming block by three months.

Reception

=Critical response=

Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media gave the show 4 out of 5 stars.{{cite web | url=http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/instant-mom | title=Instant Mom | publisher=Common Sense Media | access-date=October 6, 2013}} Brian Lowry of Variety said the show mirrors Trophy Wife.{{cite journal | url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/reviews/tv-review-instant-mom-1200663005/ | title=TV Review: 'Instant Mom' | journal=Variety | date=September 24, 2013 | access-date=October 6, 2013}}

=Awards and nominations=

class="wikitable"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Result
style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"\|2014 \|20th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards \| Comedy \|{{won}}
style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"\|2015 \|21st Annual NAMIC Vision Awards \| Comedy \|{{nom}}

class="wikitable"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Result

style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"|2014

|20th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards

| Comedy

|{{won}}

style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"|2015

|21st Annual NAMIC Vision Awards

| Comedy