My BFFs tell me all the time that my family needs to have our own reality show. The name of it might be something like, "My Big Fat Guyanese Family." It would be like the "Cosby Show" kids all grown up, except Caribbean American and totally out of their gourds in a fun, zany way, of course. At the center of my huge brood would be my amazing mother. My mom is smart, funny and pretty paranoid about her adult kids in their 30s surviving on our own.
Then again, reality TV has its own set of fun, crazy moms. Take the moms on "Toddlers and Tiaras" for example. There's enough "momsanity" there to last through sweeps and then some. TLC also has the show, "Mama's Boys of the Bronx" which follows five Italian American men who still live at home with their nurturing mommies. Then there are the wacky pop culture moms in the news like the ubiquitous "Octomom," Naya Suleman, and new news favorite, "The Tanning Mom," Patricia Krentcil.
Bravo's "Real Housewives" series has exposed America to the best, worst, and wackiest in mothering. Two fan faves, Kim Zolciak and Bethenny Frankel, were able to get their own spin-off series as a reward for getting pregnant and married, both in that order. There's NeNe Leakes of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." Her brash style of parenting doesn't seem to be working on her wayward older son. Of course, "Fabulicious" cookbook and bankruptcy aficionado Teresa Giudice of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" never met a bow that she didn't attach to her kids' hair.
So who's the reality TV mother of all reality TV mothers? That award would have to go to the one and only Kris Jenner!
I know that the Kardashian haters out there are asking, how could she utter the name of Kim Kardashian's mother? I ask you instead, how could I not? The wack(y) momager of the K-Klan managed to turn her daughter's "leaked" sex tape, her own marriage to aging Olympian Bruce Jenner, and their huge blended family into an empire. Executive Producer Ryan Seacrest could retire right now on just what he makes from the "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" franchise.
So how does Kris rate as a mom? On screen Kris is two parts likeable, one part pimp mama. Or maybe the other way around. That's what makes her so darn watchable. By the way, has anyone ever seen Kris and Sharon Osbourne in the same place at the same time?
Kris should watch it though because her daughter Kourtney Kardashian might be gaining on her. Kourt is mom to one Mason Dash Disick, and she's got a TV-ready bun in the over. Both Kourtney and "Beverly Hills 90210" alum Tori Spelling use their reality TV muscle to share positive mommy tips along the way.
Honorable mention goes to Renee Graziano of "Mob Wives." Between trying to support her son A.J. and dealing with the fallout of his dad, Junior, turning "state's evidence," that lady has been through it!
Ah, reality TV moms. Can't live with them, can't live without them. Except Dina Lohan. And Kate Gosselin. And the MTV kids of "Teen Mom."
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