"Meet My Master's Mother" was the only episode to feature Tony's mother, played by veteran actress Spring Byington, in her penultimate role. Her surprise visit from Bridgeport does not meet with Jeannie's approval, especially as she finds fault in his housekeeping. Sleeping on the couch would normally be rough on top of a door, but not with Mother's bad back. Jeannie's noisy night fails to awaken her rival, who reveals the main reason for coming is to try to marry off her son. Mother washes out Jeannie's bottle, with the drenched genie still inside. A simple living room conversation with Dr. Bellows becomes shrouded in fog: "I do hope you'll come again, on a clear day!" None of this ever fazes Mother, who only agrees to leave after meeting the blonde single Jeannie. A rare episode without Major Healey.
3 Reviews
Mother's Day
DKosty12315 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This episode does a lot as it brings in Tony's mom full force. At first Jeannie reacts to her as a mother-in-law and does not get along with her. Then later in the show she realizes she can use mom to at long last marry her master.
It takes until the last season to get to there, but this marriage plot always worked quite well on TV. It created a star later when Bruce Willis did Moonlighting and works today on the cable series Castle. There's always something about being on the edge of marriage that gets viewers. The most successful plot line ever, even the Marx Brothers sold tickets with it in their movies.
Marriage and relationships and family still represent stability in peoples minds or at least the media still sells that. In the real world of business partnerships are the most dangerous business model and in a way marriage is too. This blonde is a woman who if she really loved me I'd marry. Then I'd find out about her true baggage.
It takes until the last season to get to there, but this marriage plot always worked quite well on TV. It created a star later when Bruce Willis did Moonlighting and works today on the cable series Castle. There's always something about being on the edge of marriage that gets viewers. The most successful plot line ever, even the Marx Brothers sold tickets with it in their movies.
Marriage and relationships and family still represent stability in peoples minds or at least the media still sells that. In the real world of business partnerships are the most dangerous business model and in a way marriage is too. This blonde is a woman who if she really loved me I'd marry. Then I'd find out about her true baggage.
Go home, Mother!
gregorycanfield4 July 2023
In this episode, we get another variation on a tired, overused theme. Someone's mother (or mother-in-law) comes to town, and the same basic things always happen. They find fault with the housekeeping. They are determined to get their son or daughter married off. Who really cares? As Tony's mother, Spring Byington is a typical pain in the "you know what." But, that was all. She was absolutely unfunny. She didn't have one memorable line, or make much of an impression at all. One curious thing is when she invited herself to move in with Tony. No mention was made of Tony's father. Was she still married to him? Was he even still alive? Overall, this is the same thing you've already seen in a hundred other shows. Somebody, get another idea.
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