(May 2005) Top 10 All Time Greatest TV Moms

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2005--In honor of Mother's Day, Inside TV, the new weekly magazine for television fans, has chosen its picks for Top 10 All-Time Greatest TV Moms. Marge Simpson, the animated mother of the dysfunctional Simpsons, beat out Lorelai Gilmore ("Gilmore Girls"), Clair Huxtable ("The Cosby Show"), and even Mrs. C. ("Happy Days"). In an exclusive interview with Inside TV, daughter Lisa Simpson had this to say about her mom: "After all these years, she still makes pearls and a beehive work." Read the entire interview in the May 9 issue of Inside TV (on newsstands May 5).

Here are the Top 10 All-Time Greatest TV Moms, according to Inside TV:

10. Bree Van de Kamp ("Desperate Housewives," actress Marcia Cross). The law-abiding mother hides her son's hit-and-run accident to keep him from going to jail. Her words of wisdom: "I would love you even if you were a murderer."

9. Elyse Keaton ("Family Ties," actress Meredith Baxter). She doesn't agree with her rabid Republican son Alex, but supports his right to be different. Her words of wisdom: "I bet Skippy didn't stay up all night worrying about Watergate."

8. Carol Brady ("The Brady Bunch," actress Florence Henderson). She's a lovely lady who is also a loving mom and stepmom. Her words of wisdom: "The times might have changed, but people haven't."

7. Caroline Ingalls ("Little House on the Prairie," actress Karen Grassie). Even though the Ingalls are poor, Caroline manages to whip up pretty party dresses for her girls. And no one stands up to the snobby Mrs. Oleson like she does. Her words of wisdom: "I'm sure Nellie has her good qualities somewhere."

6. Marion Cunningham ("Happy Days," actress Marion Ross). This nurturing mom helped turn surrogate son Fonzie from a thug to a lovable lug. And she's the only one allowed to call him by his birth name -- "Arthur." Her words of wisdom: "Life would be so much more pleasant if we just had more closet space."

5. Lorelai Gilmore ("Gilmore Girls," actress Lauren Graham). She's a sassy single mom who is her teenager daughter's best friend. Her words of wisdom: "I'm afraid once you're heart is involved, it all comes out in Moron."

4. Olivia Walton ("The Waltons," actress Michael Learned). She gives up being a singer, painter, and dressmaker to raise her family, and battles polio, tuberculosis, the Depression and World War II. Her words of wisdom: "I think you could be anything you want to be, doll."

3. Clair Huxtable ("The Cosby Show," actress Phylicia Rashad). She's the supermom of the '80s -- a lawyer with five kids -- who stands her ground with Cliff. Her words of wisdom: "If you don't get it together and drop these macho attitudes, you are never gonna have anyone bringing you anything, anyplace, anytime, ever!"

2. June Cleaver ("Leave it to Beaver," actress Barbara Billingsley). She manages to vacuum while wearing fancy dresses, pearls and high-heels, with never a hair out of place. Her words of wisdom: "I wish Wally wouldn't use words like 'flaky' and 'kooky.'"

1. MARGE SIMPSON ("The Simpsons," animated - voice of Julie Kavner). She's a modern day June Cleaver who juggles bratty Bart, precocious Lisa, and pacifier-addicted Maggie, while keeping hubby Homer in check. Her words of wisdom: "Let's forget our troubles with a big bowl of strawberry ice cream."

May 04, 2005 10:01 AM US Eastern Timezone
http://home.businesswire.com

- Submitted by Trisha