Allison Janney describes Anna Faris abruptly leaving sitcom Mom as ‘very odd’

Anna Faris made a shocking and dramatic exit from the hit CBS comedy Mom last September, when she left with only days before production was set to begin on Season 8.

Her co-star Allison Janney was supportive at the time, and has given an update on how the series carried on despite the casting nightmare, in a sit-down interview on The Ellen DeGeneres show.

Describing the situation as ‘odd’ Janney expanded frankly: ‘Yeah, it was very odd and she’s very missed. Anna is missed and her character on the show is missed.’

While she still supports Faris’ decision to leave, Janney explained that their focus now is making the sitcom work without her, despite Faris having been marketed as the main star and character of the show when it first premiered in 2013.

‘We’re just happy that she’s doing what she wants to do now, and we’re happy even more so that we’re able to still tell these stories about these great women in recovery,’ she said, referring to the fact that the series takes place in an Alcoholics Anonymous group.

Janney continued: ‘And I think there are some really wonderful characters that have been established. And people love the show so, we’re gonna keep telling the stories as long as we can.’ 

Created by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky and Gemma Baker, Mom was initially conceived as a vehicle for Faris, after her string of successful comedic roles in movies, including The House Bunny and Smiley Face.

However, the show – which deals with the topic of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction – went through its fair share of changes throughout seasons. 

By season three, it was less about Faris’ character Christy and her children, and more of an ensemble comedy – with supporting actors Jaime Pressley, Mimi Kennedy and Beth Hall getting more screentime.