I’d like to thank the CW for making a show that rather than being about something everyone was thinking about but not making, was about something that absolutely no one was thinking of. A not-uncommon current formula for a network comedy is to pick a crazy non-nuclear family arrangement, and then have the characters, some of whom are not accepting of the new arrangement initially, have to make it work, no matter how uncomfortable and how many hijinks ensue. Think of The New Normal, or One Big Happy (well, you probably won’t remember anything about either of these quickly-cancelled series, but trust me, they’re about unusual family arrangements, and having to deal for the betterment of all involved). Significant Mother, for which like Scrotal Recall, the title is far and away the most noteworthy and memorable thing about the show, tries to top these crazy-family-hooks with one of its own.
Nate, an up-and-coming chef comes back home to Portland from some sort of vacation or business trip to find out that his best friend is sleeping with his mother. He’s naturally grossed out and furious at both of them. He’s further disgusted when he finds out that this is more than merely a one-night stand and that they’ve been doing this for a little while. He’s angry and frustrated. His mom and best friend, separately and together, both try to talk to him, initially promising that will never happen again. This is complicated when they both realize that they actually have feelings for each other and want to see where this goes. Eventually, as happens at the end of pilots in these types of shows, Nate begrudgingly accepts the situation, realizing it’s not going away, and that he doesn’t want to end his relationship with his friend or mother, nor keep them from happiness.
Other peripheral characters include Nate’s dad, who separated from his mom recently due to his serial philandering, but is still hoping to convince Nate’s mom to reconcile, refusing to sign divorce papers. Sam is Nate’s close friend who works at his restaurant and who he’s had a crush on for some time; unfortunately, she’s dating an organic farmer.
It’s not funny, but it’s not really cringeworthy either; it’s more ridiculous in terms of the concept than it actually is bad. There’s nothing else particularly noteworthy about it. There’s no reason you’re going to watch this show, and there’s no reason you should. I really have absolutely nothing to say about the characters or the dialogue; they’re not good in any way, but there is nothing obviously terrible worth talking about either. They’re utterly forgettable, following a sitcom template to a T. If that makes this a cheat review, I apologize.
So, if you ever hear of this show again in the future, which you probably won’t, you know what you need to: the title, and the nutso premise. That’s about it.
Will I watch it again? No. I’ve seen about all I need to.
Television, the Drug of the Nation 
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