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I'll definitely be tuning into the pilot, Brady. There's many different directions this series could go and the possibilities are endless, really. I'm anticipating this pitch

Thank you so much, Chris! Although, I haven't totally fleshed out each episode, I know we've discussed quite in depth about where I plan to go with the first season and it's all about creating episodes that'll get to know the characters, direct the plotlines and make for some good episodes, lol. Thanks for your support!




I like that it does remind you of a format of something existing but I feel like once you see where I'm going with the series, you'll definitely get a sense of originality because there's a lot of different factors that I hope makes this series quite different. Hopefully I'll be able to portray this in the pilot. Thank you for commenting, David! I definitely will be pushing forward on this.




I feel as though the show is in the same vein as Desperate Housewives and Modern Family, personally but I like that it gives a different impression. I've seen a few episodes of Summerland and I thought it was a great show, so thank you, lol. I love family based shows because of that exact reason. I'm enjoying planning the route that I'll be taking with 'How To Be Mom' because there's so many dynamics to think about and it's quite layered, especially the development of the family both personally and together as a whole.

I'm glad you like the characteristics of the siblings and felt like it seemed authentic because of my personal experiences. Like you, I'm nothing like my siblings but I do share some similar qualities which I intend on reflecting with the siblings. Different yet similar. Thank you, I feel like Alyssa Milano is the perfect fit for Melissa. I can't imagine anyone else playing her.

Well, the premise is set after a terrible loss that's felt amongst the core cast members and it's never dismissive of the fact that there's been a death in the family. The planning process of this first season will show everyone trying to move past it and live their lives which of course isn't easy. This pitch is based off of true events in my personal life and I have taken quite a bit of the story from my own life. The show definitely will steer towards the heartache, the comedy side of things and the adjustment period, essentially. It's all about balancing the funny and the sad, you know? I hope I can do that well.

I definitely won't steer away from those raw emotional moments that you have mentioned because I think that's where most of the major developments will occur between Melissa and Hannah/Danny/Millie, as well as with the other characters. I feel as though it's a slow burning topic of 'what do we do now?' and the siblings will try to build a bridge with Melissa and with themselves. I have been planning this show for well over a year now and it's a pitch that's landed on both MZP and VPN so I'm very passionate about building the major plotlines between Melissa and the siblings and making sure it's authentic as can be. There's definitely a long way to go for me to be happy with the progression and setting up great storylines that really touches people.

I'm really glad you love the concept and I hope you tune in once the pilot is complete. Thank you, Jay!

I'll be making some additions (with recurring characters, episode guides and adding notes), so you guys can get a better understanding of the series I'm attempting to create. I hope you guys stay tuned! I love the support I've received already!

It's a great start to this pitch, Matthew! I always love a mystery series that keeps me guessing what's going to happen next. I really do potential in this pitch. I like the formed cast you've got and I am a big fan of Dylan O'Brien, so kuda on casting him the lead, haha. I can't wait to see more!

Thanks for your comment, Connor! I really want to portray the show in the best way I can with layering on too much on and having it pan on badly. In terms of my view for the beginning would mainly be about transition from Single Woman to Guardian and also focusing how Melissa and the kids cope with the massive change in their lives.

I've had some time to add to the pitch since I know it wasn't a lot to go on but I added an extended episode guide with more additions to come along.

Meet Melissa Hamilton, a single, carefree party girl who hasn’t experienced a moment of real responsibility in her life. Living as if she’s still in her twenties, Melissa’s life is in fact perfect in her eyes. During the day, she’s an established Event Planner and by night, she’s 21 again. But her life is turned upside down at the news of her sister’s death and the inheritance of her three orphaned children, she’s presented with the challenge of changing her life to become the guardian she mindlessly promised to be years ago.

How To Be Mom is an hour long dramedy that follows Melissa as she struggles to come to terms with her new role in the Walker family’s lives. It comically focuses on her inability to decide whether or not she should be the fun aunt or the strict guardian as she tries to deal with the children’s grief and reactions to their loss of their mother.



Melissa Hamilton (played by Alyssa Milano) is the party girl with no responsibility, that was until her sister died and left her three children to raise. She’s known for her busy social nightlife, inappropriate clothing and wild personality in her neighbourhood. Despite being young at heart, she’s managed to build a successful career as a Party Planner. She’s thrown in the deep when her nieces and nephew come to live with her after the death of their mother and her sister, Sandra. She realises that learning how to be a mother isn’t as easy as she thought.


Hannah Tyler (portrayed by Phoebe Tonkin) is everything you don’t wish a teenager to be. She’s a twin and nothing like the other. She’s moody, brash, blunt and extremely sarcastic. Very different to how Melissa remembers her, she’s changed quite considerably since entering her teen years. She tends to be rather independent and rebellious, also preferring to follows her own rules. Her mother's death has really affected her and she's a lot more disclosed and rebellious than usual. She's rather closed off from her family since her mother’s death.


Danny Tyler (portrayed by Connor Paolo) is the other twin and the most responsible one of the three. He's rather quiet, reclusive and dependable most of the time. Isn’t the most popular in school and tends to confide himself to his gaming lifestyle. He does his best to stay out of trouble and doesn't try and make trouble for Melissa, preferring to stay in the shadows the majority of the time. He’s been almost unaffected by his mother’s death and seems to bottle most of his emotions in. Despite his role in the family home, for the last year, he’s been involved in dealing drugs which begins to spiral into unchartered territory since the passing of his mother.


Millie Tyler (portrayed by Ariel Winters) is the youngest and probably the most perceptive and smartest of the three. Nicknamed by Hannah as ‘Randall’ for being a tattler in her life, getting the older two in trouble with Mom. Millie likes to read and journal every corner of her life in a book her mother gave her at 7. The death of her mom causes her to look at life differently. She struggles to warm to her aunt who has been absent for the majority of her life.


Angela Johnson (portrayed by Rochelle Aytes) was Sandra’s old neighbour and best friend. Angela is a recently divorced single mother who quit her job as a lawyer to become a homemaker. She's rather intrusive and can be quite judgemental towards Melissa’s lifestyle and mocks her attempt at being a mother to the kids. She can be uptight at times but she's had a hard life. She likes to think of herself as the kid’s second mother at times. She believes she has Melissa figured out because of what she knows prior to meeting her.

Recurring Cast

Sadie Halston (portrayed by Eliza Coupe) is Melissa’s assistant and close friend. She’s very much Melissa's right hand girl. She speaks before she thinks most of the time and is always going through a ‘crisis’ with her boyfriend. She comes across quite ditzy and slow but is very good at her job. Despite her distant nature, she’s a perfectionist and is always on hand to help Melissa.



Marckus Bernardo (portrayed by Tyler Posey) is Danny’s best friend and gaming buddy. The two are almost always in contact with each other whether it’s being in the same room or Skyping whilst playing video games. He’s had a massive crush on Hannah since forever and she’s always treated him like shit which has beaten up his ego.



Penny Johnson (portrayed by Madison Pettis) is Angela's daughter and Millie's friend. She's quite bouncy and a girly girl, which differs in comparison to Millie. She comes across as a tad slow to keep up but is a sweet and innocent girl.


Arthur Hamilton (portrayed by Ian Mckellen) is Melissa's father and grandfather to Hannah, Danny and Millie. He comes across as quite loving, playful and generous. His relationship with Melissa is difficult and have been at odds since Melissa was a teen.

Episodes

1x01: Goodbye Mommy
The sudden death of Sandra Walker brings on a whole new set of responsibilities for Melissa Hamilton as she discovers she is the new guardian of her three nieces and nephew. The party girl faces a decision on her hands on whether or not she can handle everything that's going on. Melissa is already overwhelmed when Hannah disappear, Danny holes up in his bedroom and Millie refuses to talk to her at all. Her attempts to make the kids feel comfortable in her home is thwarted by Angela who seems to got her all figured out. In the search to stabilize things, she enlist her assistant Sadie to help find Hannah but things go from bad to worse when she comes home to the fire brigade tackling a tricky situation...

1x02: First Mom Day
After a long period of time off from school, Melissa feels as though it’s time for the children to return to school. Refusing assistance from Angela, she decides to do things her way and ends up dealing with Hannah who decides not to go school and Millie who constantly reminds her that she’s not her mother. Meanwhile, Danny begins to spiral out of control as he takes his dealing habits to a whole new level.

1x03: The Bitch Squad
In a bid to be more involved, Melissa decides to join the Parent-Teacher Association. Her attempts to join are thwarted by Lily Truscott, the leader of the PTA, who rallies the other mothers against her. Melissa goes ahead and offers her assistance in the upcoming school dance, which further causes problems for her and Hannah. With the help of Sadie, she pulls off a brilliantly dance but things turn sour when Hannah attempts to sabotage her.

1x04: I’m Failing Parenting
With everything going on, Melissa thinks it’s a good idea for the kids to see a counsellor to help them with their grief. An attempt to help them turns into a session all about Melissa. Millie decides she’d prefer to live with her grandfather which leads to Hannah feeling the same way. After a visit from her dad, Melissa contemplates whether she’s cut out to be a guardian.

1x05: Don’t Pray For Me, Dad.
Melissa’s father comes to stay with her for a while after she admits she’s struggling with the children but things gets worse when he begins to suggest changes to her lifestyle as well urging her to finally let her home go. Hannah & Millie take a day out to the beach for sisterly bonding, at their grandfather’s insistence. Meanwhile, Melissa asks Angela for help.

1x06: Hi, I’m Millie
Millie feels ignored in the house and decides to visit her friend Penny in which she discusses all the things she’s recently discovered in the Tyler Residence. Angela feels as though Melissa isn’t doing enough to protect the children from danger and doubts her ability.

1x07: On The Dance Floor Sexting
Melissa comes across a series of sext messages on Hannah’s phone and ponders on how to approach the situation. She attempts to discuss sex with her which doesn’t go to plan. After getting nowhere with Hannah, she decides to read her online Tumblr blog where she discovers more than she’s bargained for. Eyebrows are raised when money is found in Danny’s bedroom.


1x08: The XX Factor
1x09: First Christmas
1x10: Prom Night
1x11: Something's Coming
1x12: N/A
1x13: N/A
1x14: N/A
1x15: N/A

Notes:

"How To Be Mom" is a dramedy that's inspired by true events. It follows Melissa and the Tyler family as they get over the death of a loved on. Having to rebuild what's left of their tattered lives and make sense of the horrible tragedy that they've experienced. They'll be quite a few compelling plotlines that involves the character's coping mechanism and develop their relationships with their new guardian, Melissa who is also trying to find her feet whilst being undermined by those around her.

I have to say, firstly I was attracted by the title of the series. I love the name you've chosen because it's simple and direct to what the show is exactly about. I've always been a fan of Supernatural themed shows, so this was definitely something that attracted me. This is probably one of the most creative and engaging pith I've seen in such a long time, congratulations Jay.

Secondly, the whole setup and mythology of the show is really interesting so far. I really do love that you've given the werewolves individual and specific abilities instead of them being quite general and passive like they've been portrayed in other shows. I am a fan of the whole darker element that you mentioned and I can definitely get that impression. As mentioned before, the comparison of Teen Wolf and this pitch is probably because of the college setting and the character's involvement but that's not bad because there needs to be that neutral base that glues people together. I would've assumed that Black Creek wasn't an especially big town and it could've done with that just to avoid the comparison between shows but it's not a big deal. I also see some similarities with The Secret Circle because of the whole mythology and plot of the show. I really do like and is probably an added bonus for me personally, haha.

I really love the casting of the show, I'm a big fan of a number of them. I love that you haven't chosen someone very common to play the lead because I don't think Steven Strait is that hugely popular, so it's easier to imagine him playing this character. I am pretty excited that you cast Amber Heard because I've been a fan of hers for so long now.

Overall, this is a pretty amazing pitch and I cannot wait to see to see more. Good luck! I'm eagerly waiting xD


PS. I love the credits <3

This show is currently one of the best things on television right now. I mean, COME ON! The story line for each season is amazing and the current season three is looking to be pretty amazing. I was sad to see certain folk go but I just love where they're taking us right now. As a long time fan of the comic books (I have all the 'chapters' and it cost me well over 100 pounds), I'm really pleased to see how all the characters are being spotlighted right now.

Am I the only one who wants to murder Merle for being the typical douche he always is? Are we sympathetic towards the Govenor's actions? (He reminds me of that Bear in Toy Story 3 who led people to believe he was this nice and lovable person but really isn't.) Do we think Laurie shouldn't have....you know?

I want to discuss!

Reading the pitch alone, I have to say, I really enjoyed reading it. I'm going to read the script eventually but I'm highly anticipating it since I love Supernatural genre shows. It looks awesome!