CBS' edgy 'Mom' returns with new family twists

Not only is Anna Faris happy to be a mom in real life, she's pleased to continue playing one on television.

A parent of a 3-year-old son with actor husband Chris Pratt, the “Scary Movie” alum starts her third season of playing out an edgy mother-daughter relationship opposite Allison Janney — who recently won her second Emmy for the series — as the Chuck Lorre-produced CBS comedy “Mom” returns Thursday, Nov. 5.

Actually, it isn't fair to label the show as strictly a comedy. It deals with issues that frequently yield dramatic moments, underscored last season by the sudden death of Christy's (Faris) father and Bonnie's (Janney) ex-boyfriend.

“I really love it that with this project, it's very much focused on the quality of the jokes as opposed to the quantity,” the friendly Faris says. “So many times in this format, it's ‘small joke, big joke, small joke, big joke.' We will do something incredibly dramatic and address serious issues — then hopefully, we let the audience up with something a little outrageous at the end of the scene, so that there's a release with the laughter.”

The Season 3 premiere of “Mom” appears destined to hold to that formula, as Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn guest-stars as yet another mom ... the one who abandoned Bonnie as a small child, and now wants back into her life. The episode also marks the addition of Jaime Pressly (“My Name is Earl”), who's been a recurring guest star, as a full-time cast member.

The key acting relationship on “Mom” though, clearly remains that of Faris and Janney. “I really hope it never comes across as anything but truthful and sincere, but I am so lucky to work with someone who is such a dear friend,” Faris reflects. “I'm annoying her in her dressing room all the time.

“I'm addicted to her, and I learn from her — and I hope that because we have a lot of love for each other, as our characters fight and have struggles, hopefully the audience can feel that undercurrent of deep love.”

In playing a mother of two on the series, Faris allows that she picks up insight on parenting, though she admits it can fall on the not-so-sunny side.

“Mostly, I've had to come to terms with the fact that I constantly feel guilty, no matter what I do,” she says. “Men do, too, but maybe it's more so for women, for the enormous amount of pressure to do everything right. And to be a working mom, there's a whole other guilt process with that ... but I'm fortunate that our hours are pretty good for this industry, and I get to work in town (Los Angeles).”

Plus, Faris still gets to deal with subjects such as alcoholism and domestic violence that might be tricky for a reputed comedy on broadcast television, and she credits that largely to “The Big Bang Theory” and “Two and a Half Men” veteran Lorre.

“The first season, because people obviously weren't familiar with the show, it took them by surprise,” Faris recalls. “Because Chuck is so powerful in this (television) world and so brilliant, we can explore these things without a lot of resistance from other parties.”