We've had numerous requests from readers and bloggers for more about the reality show
Momma's Boys, on SABC3 on Mondays at 20h00.
The result: recaps from NBC, who make the show. The recaps are written by the network's online community team so they cover the show from one person's perspective and include commentary and opinion.
The seven-episode series premiered two weeks ago, on Monday, 30 November, 2009 so here's a debut recap of Episode 1. Episode 2 to follow shortly.
Episode 1
First Impressions32 Women. 3 Mothers. 3 Sons.
Meet Michael, 25, a firefighter... and in my opinion the stud of the group. Meet Lorraine, Michael's mom. He lives at home; she makes his bed, does his banking, cooks for him and sometimes calls him 100 times a day.
**No wonder he hasn't found a woman... he doesn't have time to talk to anyone else but his mother.
Meet Rob, 24, a commercial real estate agent.
Meet Esther, Rob's mom. She calls herself the typical Jewish mother. She buys Rob's underwear
**(RED FLAG), does his laundry and constantly sings his praises.
Meet JoJo, 21, a hockey player, a college student and a total momma's boy.
Meet Mrs. B, JoJo's mom. She can't stand a Jewish girl, can't have a black girl, doesn't want someone from a divorced family, doesn't want someone who wears a lot of makeup, can't have a big butt girl, can't have a tall one, can't have a Muslim, can't have an Asian girl... only a nice Catholic, petite, pretty white girl who cooks and cleans. And beware if she doesn't like your boobs, your hair or anything else, she'll tell you.
**It's truly hard to believe that a woman like this exists. Personally, I would be mortified if this was my mother and the last thing I would want to do is put her on national television and share her feelings with the world. Frankly this makes me question JoJo's intelligence.
I can't be the only woman to think this... am I? But, the larger question is can you have a successful relationship with a Momma's Boy if you don't fit into the perfect mold his mother will accept? Or would you even want to date someone with a mother like this? More on this later.**
Out of the 32 women who moved into the Santa Barbara, CA mansion there are few standouts worth mentioning. But first, I mean really, how many nude models/playmates/penthouse pets/porn stars can you fit into one house? Ok, on second thoughts, don't answer that.
There's Megan, the "I don't want to be the 40-year-old virgin" with nerd goggles who is more comfortable cleaning dishes than introducing herself to the guys. Then there's Cara.
There's Amanda, a medical student; Mindy the kindergarten teacher; Michelle, a spokesmodel (for what we have no idea) who paid for her second boob job with her student loan money; Erica the 2008 Penthouse Pet of the Year; Vita the critical care nurse in the military; and Misty, the woman JoJo's mom is going to hate from the start.
Like any good sorority house there are the catty girls, the chatty girls, the quiet girls, the smart girls, the crude girls and well, the slutty girls. Oh, and in this house you can't forget the nude model/Playmate girls and those who have seen the inside of a jail cell ...
The big question this series seems to ask is: Who really is the most important woman in a man's life?
I would love to say that a man should never have to choose. That his woman and his mother are both important and that neither would ever put him in a position to choose one over the other. But, my experience has shown me differently.
Whether in my own personal relationships or watching my friends in theirs, men are constantly torn between the two. And sometimes they are torn between the two when no one is asking them to choose. Sometimes they use one or the other as an excuse. Sometimes... oh, I could go on and on, but I'll stop for now.
Here are a few more questions I'm thinking about:
1) If a mother has raised her son to be open, honest and loving, why would a son need her help to choose the right woman? If they are perfect, why can't they be trusted to find the right person for themselves?
2) In a relationship, when has your spouse's mother crossed the line? When is too much, too much?
3) Where should the boundaries begin?
4) Women: If a man's mother is still buying his underwear, is he really ready for love?
5) Should your mother be the matchmaker?
6) When is it time for a man to let his mother's expectations go, and follow his heart?
7) Shouldn't a mom be able to just be happy for her son, if he finds someone that makes him happy?
Back to the episode ... the moms move in ...
Lorraine joins the women in the house first. So far, she's made a smooth transition. She appears to be a young, cool, hip mom that the woman can relate to easily and get to know. Esther's next. She's a hit from start. With a glass of wine in hand, she mingles throughout the house. And then... Mrs. B arrives. Cue the drum roll please ...
Everyone has been stewing on Mrs. B's strong opinions of the perfect woman for her JoJo since they watched her DVD earlier in the day. The introductions between Mrs. B and the women start as friendly as one can expect... and then take a turn for the worse... quickly.
Mrs. B decided to single out a few "lady picks" to get to know within five minutes of arriving at the house and Brittany was top on her list. Well, she was on the top of her list until she found out Brittany was half Jewish, then it was time to move on to the next.
When a few of the black women in the house pulled Mrs. B aside to get to know her a little better, giving her the benefit of the doubt, it was obvious Mrs. B was not going to extend the same courtesy. She started in with the stereotypes right away... asking if the women played basketball. Vita, biting her tongue, kept it together even through Mrs. B's questioning on how her parents feel about white/black relationships.
Then, Vita decided to confront Mrs. B about her video. Next thing... words like "ass" and "racist" are getting tossed around while the crowd around them grows one at a time. Then all hell breaks loose when Mrs. B calls Vita a bitch.
Let's just say, I'm sure these first impressions will be lasting ones.
Next week, a mother's wishes are put to the test when a son's desires conflict with hers.
Source: NBC.com