The popular CBS sitcom “Mom”, starring Emmy Award winner Allison Janney, will end after the current eighth season.
Chuck Lorre’s comedy about a group of close addicts – including Janney’s main character, Bonnie – will end with the end of the season on May 6, which will serve as a role in the series, according to Variety.
The move comes after Anna Faris, who plays Bonnie’s daughter Christy, shockingly left the show just before production began on season 8, in September.
“For the past eight years, we have had the great honor of bringing these wonderful characters to life, sharing their struggles and triumphs with millions of viewers each week,” executive producers Lorre, Gemma Baker and Nick Bakay said in a statement.
“From the beginning, we set out to tell stories about recovery from alcoholism and addiction, which are rarely described in a network comedy series. Whether it was the emotional reactions of the live audience on the night of the Stage 20 gang, or the discussions at the White House about the opioid crisis, or the personal stories we continue to receive on social media, we are very proud to know that MAM so many lives have had a positive impact. We are forever grateful to our brilliant guest actors and stars, wonderful writers and amazing crew for embarking on this journey with us. ”
CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl added that the show, produced by Warner Bros. Television, “touched people’s lives by sensitive approach to difficult but related topics, with a perfect and skillful touch.”
In Tuesday’s episode of Ellen DeGeneres’ eponymous show, 61-year-old Janney told viewers that “it was very strange” that Faris, 44, would no longer be on the show, adding : “He misses her very much. Anna is missed and her character in the show is missed. And we’re just happy that she’s doing what she wants to do now and we’re even happier so we can still tell these stories about these great women and about recovery.
“And I think some really wonderful characters have settled down,” she continued. “And people love the show, so we’ll keep telling stories as much as we can.”
In a statement announcing her departure last year, Faris called it seven years on the show “one of the most satisfying and rewarding in my career.”
The show’s regular cast also includes Jaime Pressly, Mimi Kennedy, Beth Hall, Kristen Johnston and William Fichtner. Over the years, a number of other performers have been featured as recurring and guest stars, including Yvette Nicole Brown, Ellen Burstyn, Kristin Chenoweth, Beverly D’Angelo, Patti LuPone, Joe Manganiello, Emily Osment, Kevin Pollak, Richard Schiff, June Squibb, Octavia Spencer, French Stewart (originally a regular series), Kathleen Turner, Steven Weber, Bradley Whitford and Rainn Wilson.
The finale of the series will air at 9:00 pm on Thursday, May 6, on CBS.