Parents' Guide to

Mother Up

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Family Guy for moms relies on tired tropes.

TV Hulu Comedy 2013
Mother Up Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 15+

Based on 4 parent reviews

HaleySkye
HaleySkye Adult
June 24, 2019
age 14+

Sad to See One Season

I guess this show was just before its time because I had just seen it for the first time the other day only to find out that it came out in 2013 for only one season. I feel that if Hulu were to bring it back in 2019 or 20 that it would be received much better. It’s a hilarious half hour break from reality that will make you feel like a great mother.
Nene123
Nene123 Adult
January 3, 2015
age 13+

It Normal

I Feel Like People Need To Relax. You Already Watched It And That All They Need Whether You Like It Or Not. It Not That Funny But It Do Have Humor If You Can Spend 20+ Mins To Watch It. When Mom Have Kids They Lose Class And Can't Have Fun When They Need Too. Rudi Still Got Hers. What Do Want To See Shaggy Mom Eating Baby Food With Her Kids For The Rest Of Their Life. That A Nice Show
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What's the Story?

The theme song says it all: Eva Longoria's Rudi "used to be queen of the music scene, Cristal, Prada, and limousines," but now she's "stuck here in suburbia" and forced to MOTHER UP. Her husband took a flyer when she lost her job at Mass Exploitation record, and now she's Mr. Mom, except without the "mister." Children Steve and Apple, raised by nannies, are bewildered by Rudi's new absorption in their lives, but they're willing to give her a shot. Less open-minded are the cadre of judgmental super-moms who inhabit her neighborhood. Rudi's making a splash, and maybe not such a good one. But at least she's trying.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (3 ):

Family Guy for ladies sounds like a great thing -- after all, the long-running cartoon show is popular and funny, but, with its coarse humor, not all that appealing to women in general. The unfortunate problem with Mother Up is that it's not all that funny and relies on tired tropes for its comedy. Of course the leader of the super-mommies is a blonde harridan who's just mean to Rudi because she's jealous and who uses kids' birthday parties and swim lessons as her battlefield. Of course Rudi is a hard-edged career woman who finds out she has a secret soft spot for her kids. Of course, said kids are personality-free plot devices who conveniently disappear when the adults are talking.

Wouldn't it be nice to see a show about and for women in which the women supported each other instead of competing? There's plenty of comedy to be mined from the stay-at-home mom world (any SAHM could tell you that), but it's not on display in Mother Up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about which audience Mother Up is trying to reach. Is it meant for young people? Older people? Moms? Dads? Men? Women? How can you tell?

  • Mother Up is written by the same person who writes Family Guy. Does that surprise you? Do you see similarities between the two? What about differences?

  • Is the audience supposed to like or empathize with Rudi? What gives you this idea?

TV Details

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