Allison Janney is going to be left as a “Mom” without a child. Anna Faris is splitting from the CBS sitcom minutes before the 8th season starts shooting.
What? This was certainly not planned in the spring when season 7 ended and the show was renewed. Faris is not in any kind of demand for movie roles, so this makes no sense and all explanations are not to be believed.
Something is wrong, folks. There is concern about Faris’s health. She’s been dogged for years about rumors of possible anorexia. She’s even posted pictures to Instagram that the tabloids raced to call “scary skinny.” She’s lamented on her podcast of being labeled as ‘too thin’ but this abrupt exit from a show where she was being paid a handsome salary with incentives to stay for many seasons is a red flag.
Faris posted a photo to Instagram from a chat with actress Ellie Kemper from four days ago that should really get people wondering what’s wrong. Faris looks sick, I’m sorry.
How can you have a show called “Mom” without a kid, albeit a grown one? The show will now have to be called “Grand Mom.” Or Ashton Kutcher can be cast as her character.
Here are the official statements:
“The past seven years on Mom have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career,” Faris said in a statement. “I’m so thankful to Chuck [Lorre], the writers, and my amazing castmates for creating a truly wonderful work experience. While my journey as Christy has come to an end, allowing me to pursue new opportunities, I’ll be watching next season and rooting for my TV family.”
WBTV, CBS and Chuck Lorre Productions offered their own joint statement on Faris’ departure: “From the inception of Mom, Anna was the first and only choice for the role of Christy. We are so proud of the stories we have been able to tell during Anna’s seven years with us. We wish Anna all the best, and we thank her for her beautiful portrayal.”