For ‘Mom,’ a chance to grow up
The third-year comedy returns after a strong second season
November 5, 2015

“Mom” wasn’t CBS’s highest-rated show last season – far from it – but it was arguably the network’s most impressive one.
The comedy, which returns for its third season tonight at 9 p.m., posted series-high numbers after unexpectedly getting promoted to the timeslot behind top CBS comedy “The Big Bang Theory” last fall following some other programming snafus.
“Mom” held a respectable portion of “Bang’s” lead-in, and it impressed the network so much that eventually CBS promoted “Mom” to the 9 p.m. Thursday anchor spot for the final few weeks of last season.
The show continued to post good numbers even without airing directly behind “Bang,” something few sitcoms can claim to do.
That convinced CBS that the comedy, which averaged a 2.3 adults 18-49 Nielsen rating last season, should remain in the 9 p.m. slot this fall.
Of course, while “Bang” certainly helped get greater sampling for “Mom,” the show’s creative improvements were also an important part of its rise, with ratings up 10 percent in season two.
The show gave the lead characters played by Anna Faris and Allison Janney greater depth, recognizing the women’s talent for both comic and dramatic moments. The payoff has been more audience interest in their fates, which continues tonight as Janney confronts her own mother for the first time.
A look at this week’s top TV draws |
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 |
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Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
8 p.m. |
CBS |
“The Big Bang Theory” (C) |
The comedy moves back to its Thursday night timeslot. |
8:25 p.m. |
NFL Network |
“Thursday Night Football” (S) |
The first non-CBS Thursday game of the season features Cleveland and Cincinnati. |
9 p.m. |
Lifetime |
“Project Runway” (R) |
Season finale. The designers make final adjustments to their collections before the winner is selected. |
10 p.m. |
WE tv |
“Selling It: In the ATL” (R) |
Series premiere. New real estate reality show set in Atlanta. |
10 p.m. |
CMT |
“I Love Kellie Pickler” (R) |
Series premiere. Reality series following the country singer and her husband. |
10 p.m. |
CBS |
“Elementary” (D) |
Season premiere. Holmes faces criminal charges following his relapse. |
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 |
|||
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
3 a.m. |
Netflix |
“Master of None” (C) |
Series premiere. New comedy starring former “Parks and Recreation” actor Aziz Ansari. |
8 p.m. |
Fox |
“MasterChef Junior” (R) |
Season premiere. Season starts with 24 contestants making a burger and a side dish. |
9 p.m. |
ABC |
“Shark Tank” (R) |
The sharks hear a pitch from Jimmy Kimmel and his sidekick Guillermo. |
9 p.m. |
Animal Planet |
“Restoration Wild” (R) |
Series premiere. Aging structures are remodeled for new uses. |
9 p.m. |
Fox |
“World’s Funniest” (C) |
Season premiere. Ross Matthews, Natasha Leggero and Josh Wolf serve on the panel. |
10 p.m. |
CNBC |
“American Greed” (N) |
Season finale. The story of a New York stockbroker who got $140 million out of investors. |
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 |
|||
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
12 p.m. |
ABC |
“College Football” (S) |
A very solid Pittsburgh team hosts traditional power Notre Dame. |
12:30 p.m. |
NBC |
“Premier League Soccer” (S) |
Struggling Chelsea tries to get its season back on track at Stoke City. |
3:30 p.m. |
Fox |
“College Football” (S) |
A key Big 12 matchup between TCU and Oklahoma State. |
8 p.m. |
Hallmark Channel |
“Ice Sculpture Christmas” (M) |
Romance blooms within a team at a holiday ice-sculpting contest. |
8 p.m. |
CBS |
“College Football” (S) |
Alabama hosts LSU in a huge SEC game. |
9 p.m. |
Reelz |
“Jackie Kennedy: Behind Closed Doors” (N) |
New documentary profile of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. |
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8 |
|||
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
2 p.m. |
NBC |
“NASCAR Racing” (S) |
The Sprint Cup AAA Texas 500 in Fort Worth. |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox Sports 1 |
“Major League Soccer” (S) |
The first game of a conference semifinals doubleheader, teams to be determined. |
8 p.m. |
Starz |
“Flesh and Bone” (D) |
Series premiere. New drama set in the world of ballet in New York City. |
8:20 p.m. |
NBC |
“Sunday Night Football” (S) |
An NFC East game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. |
9 p.m. |
TNT |
“Agent X” (D) |
Series premiere. Sharon Stone stars as the Vice President in this new drama about a top secret agent. |
10 p.m. |
HBO |
“Getting On” (C) |
Season premiere. New season picks up eight months after the corporate hospice scandal. |
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show. |
Tags: cbs, comedies, mom, mom ratings, sitcoms, thursday tv this week, tv this week
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