Instant Mom is an American sitcom developed by Howard Michael Gould and starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict as a stepmother of three children alongside her husband. It aired on Nick at Nite and TV Land from September 29, 2013 to December 19, 2015. The series produced the block's best debut ratings in the channel's history. On November 22, 2013, the series was renewed for a second season of 20 episodes. The series was renewed for third season on September 9, 2014. Nickelodeon announced on October 21, 2015 that Instant Mom would not extend beyond its third season and would end its run with the 65 episodes produced.
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. 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 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 is Stephanie's older husband who is a doctor and the father of three children by his first wife.
Maggie Turner 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" Beatrice Phillips 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 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 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. Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Duane Martin, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Sydney Park, Tylen Williams, and Damarr Calhoun were cast on November 26, 2012. Michael Boatman would later replace Duane Martin. 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. Later on August 19, 2013, Nickelodeon ordered seven additional episodes bringing the series' first season to 20 episodes. On November 22, 2013, six additional episodes were added first season. Despite previously being announced that the series would air on NickMom, it was shifted to premiere episodes on Nick at Nite, presumably due to the former's ubiquitous distribution and NickMom's establishment struggles. It continued to premiere new episodes the same night on NickMom until the block was ended on September 28, 2015, becoming the only series to air through the majority of the block's run without being cancelled. Filming took place at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California. 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.
