The first season of the television comedy series Mike & Molly aired on CBS from September 20, 2010, to May 16, 2011. The season was produced by Chuck Lorre Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with series creator Mark Roberts serving as executive producer along with Chuck Lorre, James Burrows and Don Foster.
The series focuses on the title characters Mike Biggs (Billy Gardell) and Molly Flynn (Melissa McCarthy), a couple who meet at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting in Chicago, Illinois. After Molly, a primary-school teacher, invites police officer Mike to give a talk to her class, they begin dating. Molly lives at home with her mother Joyce (Swoosie Kurtz), and sister Victoria (Katy Mixon). Joyce is in an on-off relationship with widower Vince Moranto (Louis Mustillo), who is often seen at the house. Mike lives alone in an apartment but is regularly kept company by his best friend and partner in the police force Carl McMillan (Reno Wilson). Other prominent characters in the series include Carl's grandmother Rosetta (Cleo King); Mike's mother Peggy (Rondi Reed) and cafe worker Samuel (Nyambi Nyambi). Season one of Mike & Molly consisted of 24 episodes and aired Mondays in the United States at 9.30 p.m. until April 11, 2011, with the final three episodes airing at 9.00 p.m.
The season received mixed reviews from critics, some of whom believed the show was clichéd and re-trod the path of old sitcoms. Some critics questioned the subject matter, with one particularly controversial article from Marie Claire commenting on the idea of two overweight actors playing starring roles. Nevertheless, the series received average ratings of 11.14 million viewers, placing it as the number 35 most watched show of the television season. Melissa McCarthy won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards for her performance as Molly, and the series was also nominated for a People's Choice Award for Best New Comedy. Mike and Molly was renewed for a second season to premiere in the 2011–12 television season.
Cast
Main Billy Gardell as Mike Biggs (24 episodes) Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn (24 episodes) Reno Wilson as Carl McMillan (24 episodes) Katy Mixon as Victoria Flynn (24 episodes) Nyambi Nyambi as Samuel (24 episodes) Rondi Reed as Peggy Biggs (9 episodes) Cleo King as Rosetta McMillan 'Nana' (12 episodes) Louis Mustillo as Vince Moranto (12 episodes) Swoosie Kurtz as Joyce Flynn (24 episodes)
Recurring and guest appearances David Anthony Higgins as Harry Reginald VelJohnson as Brother Heywood Brendan Patrick Connor as George Lamont Thompson as Andre David Mazouz as Randy Rebecca Field as Jill Robert Gant as Kyle Keone Young as Abe William Sanderson as Dennis
Episodes
Ratings Episode # Title Air Date 18-49 Viewers(millions)1 Pilot September 20, 2010 3.9/10 12.232 First Date September 27, 2010 3.7/9 11.123 First Kiss October 4, 2010 3.9/9 12.214 Mike's Not Ready October 11, 2010 3.5/9 10.725 Carl Is Jealous October 18, 2010 3.5/9 10.906 Mike's Apartment October 25, 2010 3.7/9 10.817 After the Lovin' November 1, 2010 3.6/9 10.758 Mike Snores November 8, 2010 3.5/9 10.809 Mike's New Boots November 15, 2010 3.7/9 12.1510 Molly Gets a Hat November 22, 2010 4.0/10 12.9311 Carl Gets a Girl December 6, 2010 3.4/8 11.0412 First Christmas December 13, 2010 3.6/9 11.9613 Mike Goes to the Opera January 3, 2011 3.7/9 12.3914 Molly Makes Soup January 17, 2011 3.7/9 12.8015 Jim Won't Eat February 7, 2011 3.5/9 12.5516 First Valentine's Day February 14, 2011 3.8/10 12.9217 Joyce & Vince and Peaches & Herb February 21, 2011 3.2/8 11.2018 Mike's Feet February 28, 2011 3.4/9 11.3519 Peggy Shaves Her Legs March 21, 2011 3.0/8 9.7020 Opening Day April 11, 2011 2.5/6 7.9121 Samuel Gets Fired April 18, 2011 2.6/6 9.9822 Cigar Talk May 2, 2011 2.4/6 8.1923 Victoria's Birthday May 9, 2011 2.3/6 7.6324 Peggy's New Beau May 16, 2011 2.6/6 8.64
References
External links Episode recaps at CBS.com List of Mike & Molly season 1 episodes at Internet Movie Database