When you start enjoying the same entertainment as your 59-year-old mother, does that mean she’s getting cooler or you’re getting older?Over the last year, my mom has become addicted to House, Boston Legal, and, most recently, Brothers & Sisters. Each week, I get calls to talk about them, and her reviews are so spot on — she’s had enough of B&S’s Holly and Rebecca — that I’m beginning to think I should’ve given her beloved JAG a chance. (That woman loved her some David James Elliott.)
Maybe it’s strange that my appreciation for her grows even greater every time she bestows her highest compliment, "He’s just so cool" (usually reserved for Jeff Goldblum), on Hugh Laurie (pictured) — or when she phones just to reiterate that she "lives for" James Spader’s closing arguments — but it does. I bet I’m not the only one who’s been put on primetime speed dial. In honor of Mother’s Day, let’s share the entertainment-themed moments that made/make us feel like we are our mother’s children. A few more of mine:
- Then an elementary school teacher, my mother decorated a wall in mychildhood home with a giant fishnet that she pinned photos of thefamily to — along with one of Conway Twitty.
- When we get to a movie theater early, she’ll play "Suicide is not anoption" with me. That’s a game where you give someone two names —either two people that she loves or two people that she loathes — andforce her to chose who she’d spend a night with. ("Sean Connery orRichard Gere" makes her head explode.)
- When she’s watching a close Penn State football game or a NASCAR racethat Mark Martin is leading, she gets so nervous that she has to leavethe room. (I, however, force myself to watch through the pain because that suffering is payment to God for the outcome I desire.)
Your turn.
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My mom was always a big fan of Lou Rawls. We’ve got that in common, plus a shared passion for public scandals
My mother is 83, so she and pop culture are pretty far apart these days. However, she can still tell you the names and stats of every player on the Seattle Mariners by heart.
My mother got hooked on Grey’s Anatomy way before I did (she’s addicted to soap operas). Ever since I started watching it, that’s one of our favorite conversations. There was one episode (I can’t remember which one right now) that she called me during every single commercial break with her commentary. We both got so into it, you would swear we were high school best friends (shrieking and “Oh my God’s!” included). I guess the older I get, the more like her I become…
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On long trips, my sister and I tried to teach my mom something – anything – about sports. We would name a team and she would have to guess the sport they played. Being from Atlanta, she really only knew the Braves and some of the teams they played. But occasionally she would surprise us. Someone would shout “St. Louis Rams” and she would answer “Football!” And then would celebrate with high fives for the next couple of miles. Go Mom!
First there are the TV shows, M*A*S*H in particular. I’ve seen them all SO many times and Mom still watches and I still watch with her. Three decades of that.
We were both watching Brothers & Sisters for a while, but I just had to leave it behind ’cause I was falling asleep every ep.
Then when I was growing up, Mom had like 15 records she would play over and over and over again. It wasn’t until recently that I realized that Neil Diamond’s Desiree is really twisted. And much worse than Rick Springfield’s Inside Sylvia, which I still remember her bemoaning 30 years ago.
Our movie tastes totally differ, but one thing will always remain the connection point — the original The Goodbye Girl. So cry on the horsie, OK?
I wish my mom and I had more pop culture stuff in common. She doesn’t listen to much of any music and her only TV obsession is “ER” (I’m a “House” girl myself). However, we both share a fondness for British mystery writers, so that’s something…it’s fun to discuss the latest P.D. James with her anyway.
We share a love for Grey’s Anatomy, and (sadly) Neil Diamond
When it was first becoming popular, my mother called me to ask what “bling” meant, and then began using it in conversation. I never really used the term, except in a snarky making fun of myself way, but I still think that’s one of the cutest “my mom is so cool” stories ever.
Perfect for me! My mom is a TV addict! At age 58, she watches more TV hours than anyone I know. Huge Buffy/Angel fan – we shared that. Talked endlessly after each episode. Now I got her into Veronica Mars. She loves Logan, can’t get enough of poor misunderstood bad-boy Logan! Aw, Mom, you’re such a softie! I love ya!
My mom and I both lurved MASH, but for different reasons (I hope) Also, “The Golden Girls” and yes, BARRY MANILOW. Come on, you know that you know all the words to “Copa” and “Mandy” – don’t lie! Oh, and we went to the Lion King on Broadway – does that count as pop culture?
My mom and I watch awards shows over the phone (we used to get my grandmother on the other line too!)–one of us calls the other during every commercial break. And we’ve watched the Kennedy Center Honors together every year since I was 1.
Not to mention the fact that she’s hooked on SVU and House…and she has mastered the DVR enough to keep stuff for me to watch when I come visit.
Just thought of a funny one. My 14 year old brother got my mom to watch Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Boondocks and Family Guy on Adult Swim (all three are personal faves). She’s gotten so into Family Guy that there’s a Brian figurine on her dashboard. Given how conservative my mom’s gotten in recent years, this was a breath of fresh air. Though it’s still a little odd to me that she holds her own when my brother and I discuss the mooninites during family vacations…
Since the beginning, my mom and I have had a special bond with Gilmore Girls. Rory moved out to go to college a year afer I did and ever since then, we’ve had a ritual post-episode gab fest. (There is never any talking during the show).
The loss of the show and these moments will be tough for the both of us
Gilmore girls became our bonding show. We’re both going to cry like babies when the series finale airs next week. House is another fave and (I guess) it’ll take GG’s place.
And last, while watching Bjork perform with her all-female horn section/backup singers, my mom asked, “Are those her homies?” My 50-something, Southern suburban mom said homies. I will never forget that.
My mom and I got into really analytical discussions about Alias. We tried to interpret every single thing Sloane said, and, of course, we tried to figure out what was going on with the Rambaldi prophecy. However, Jennifer Garner kicking butt in sexy costumes was more of a shared interest with my father. We also both watched Buffy and Melrose Place religiously.
I was addicted to Gilmore Girls, then I pulled my mom in. She hated Paris so much (I like her), she would mute the tv whenever Paris was on and we would argue about missing the plot because of it.
When Tommy Boy first came out, my three brothers and I would say “Holy Shnikes!” all the time. To this day, she still says it, even though no one really knows what it is from.
Suz, my mom had the same bling moment too! She still uses it, but she’s just so darn cute I don’t have the heart to stop her anymore.
I am so on board with the “Gilmore Girls” bonders! My 54-year-old mother actually watched “GG” before I did, often singing the theme song when she comes to visit me in New York. She calls me “my Rory” (even though I think I’m more like Lorelai). She ogles Lauren Graham’s wardrobe, and we gab – and gab – about the bonds among the three Gilmore generation and the parallels to our own lives.
Tuesday is going to be a ROUGH day in our lives.
My Mom goes to all the Indianapolis Colts home games and then gives me a play-by-play of the whole game (I don’t live in Indy anymore). We were both so excited about the Superbowl we could barely function.
My mom is so weird. She watches Smallville and Ghost Whisperer as though they were the greatest shows ever…and nothing else.
My Mom loves Donnie Darko and it has since become a family favorite. I’ve lost count how many times my mother, my two sisters, and I have seen that movie.
My mom and I share a couple of TV loves- but we never have the same opinions on them.
The Amazing Race (my mom will actually scold anyone who calls her during the show) We’d have a weekly sparing match over Rob and Amber (well until they were eliminated) as she was pro Rombah and I was decidely anti. Then we just bonded of our annoyance of Charla and Mirna.
Then there’s General Hospital. I’ll admit I watch it more to snark on it. But we’ll occassionally get into it over the stupidity in Port Chuck.
And my husband actually got my mother in law hooked on the Office. And another Office fan is always a good thing.
My mom and I both watch Grey’s Anatomy and a share a love for the Food Network.
and there is nothing sad about Neil Diamond!
My mom and I have way too much in common, pop culture taste-wise. She agreed with me on Spider-Man 3 and I haven’t gone to a comic book movie without her. She loves my Broadway CDs and she always calls to get me to vote for Idol. Also, she’s a HUGE Johnny Depp fan. I bought her an action figure as a joke last Mother’s Day and it’s been on her desk at school ever since.
My mom shocked me when she told me that she too loves my guilty obsession – America’s Next Top Model.
During West Wing’s hay day I was in college and my mom and I would call after each episode and gab. But when that went of the air we quickly supplimented it with our new mutual obsession – Lost. We have a regular Wednesday evening run down.
My mom is 40 years older than me (64 and 24), but we still watch tv and movies together all the time. She got me into House and the NY Mets, I got her into Heroes, The Office and Ugly Betty and she is the reason I can (almost always) finish the crossword puzzle in the paper. One day she told me that I keep her young. Pop culture has definitely brought us closer…
My mom’s pretty easy to please – give her a romantic film, and she’ll watch it 50 times on DVD. She LOVES Sandra Bullock. Most of The Lake House’s theatrical gross is a direct result of her multiple viewings.
It’s a running gag of mine to make fun of her favorite stars. When Seasbiscuit came out, I asked her if she was going to see the new Julia Roberts movie. When Crash came out, she asked for my opinion – I was all too excited to tell her my favorite part is where Sandra Bullock falls down a flight of stairs.
Mother-son bonding is great, isn’t it?
I’ve been watching Days of Our Lives with my mom since I was born… It’s awful now, but we love to recall the good old days of Stefano. My mom is also obsessed with My Name is Earl – good taste!
Whenever 50 Cent is on tv, my mom pronouces it FIDDY Cent. She thinks its the funniest thing ever. And that is why I adore her.