Anna Faris will exit CBS sitcom Mom ahead of season 8. Premiering in 2013, Mom became a smash hit for CBS and featured Faris in her first major role for television after breaking into the comedy world with her appearances in the Scary Movie franchise. Starring Faris as Christy Plunkett, Mom continues to pull in strong ratings for its home network, along with Young Sheldon and The Neighborhood, while garnering numerous accolades.
Created by Chuck Lorre, Mom follows dysfunctional mother/daughter duo Christy (Faris) and Bonnie (Allison Janney), who reside in Napa Valley and navigate life’s hurdles as single mothers while struggling with sobriety and attempting to rebuild their relationship after years of estrangement. Mom has received praise for doling out hilarious moments while tackling topical issues such as addiction, teen pregnancy, domestic violence, and relapse. Hailed for its powerhouse performances by Faris and Janney, Mom season 7 closed out with Christy going back to school to pursue her dream of studying law. Now, Mom season 8 will premiere without one of its title characters.
Per TVLine, Faris will not be featured in season 8, as the actress has opted to exit Mom during the sitcom’s hiatus. As of this writing, it remains unclear how Faris’ character will be written out of the show. Reportedly, the writers of the series have been hard at work to tackle Christy’s notable absence in the season 8 storyline. Experiencing radical life-changes during her run on Mom, Faris expressed her gratitude for her time spent on the series and revealed she is leaving Mom in order to pursue other projects:
The past seven years on Mom have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career. I’m so thankful to Chuck, 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.
Additionally, Faris’ exit comes as a surprising move since her contract had been renewed through season 8. However, Faris appears to remain in good rapport with the creative forces behind Mom. Lorre addressed Faris’ exit and stated, “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.” Sans the second leading lady, Mom is slated to begin production on September 14.
Faris has been regarded as an anchor for Mom, both on and off-screen. Popular series who bid farewell to a central character, such as Fox Mulder in The X-files, Fiona Gallagher in Shameless, and Michael Scott in The Office, tote a short shelf-life after the lead’s exit. Faris has not stated if she would appear in the future series finale of Mom, but the show could leave the door open for Christy to make a return. Mom is expected to air season 8 in November and will kick off with Janney at the helm, and the absence of Faris’ Christy Plunkett.
Source: TVLine