My Favorite TV Character Right Now

This week I was going to share a list of my favorite current tv characters, but there's really only one character that comes to mind: the loudmouth, scene-stealing, hilarious Tammy Diffendorf on Mom (Kristen Johnston).  First appearing in season 4 as Bonnie's incarcerated ex-foster sister who held a grudge against Bonnie for getting her kicked out of their foster home, sending her down a dark path towards prison (she robbed an Outback Steakhouse), Johnston clearly made an impression.  This season, 2 years later, the show brought the character back full-time.  Newly released after a 7-year prison stint, Tammy is now having to readjust to life on the outside, in episodes focused on her finding a job, reentering the dating scene, and living with first Christy and Bonnie but now Marjorie.  Johnston steals every scene that she's in by imbuing the character with an unfiltered but endearing vibe.  Many have complained that the character is annoying, but I think that she's almost single-handedly revived a sitcom whose quality was starting to wane.  Instead of stealing time from other characters, her presence adds to their storylines.  She often annoys the heck out of her new friends, but her love for them is palpable, providing a needed break from the biting wit and sarcasm thrown around by everyone else.  I would compare her addition to that of Bernadette and Amy to The Big Bang Theory; it feels like she's simply part of the gang and has been there all along.

I've been a fan of Johnston since her time on the 90's sitcom 3rd Rock From the Sun.  In real life she's gone through a lot of hardship since she first appeared on television, dealing with things like drug addiction and lupus (which has caused a noticeable weight gain).  One of the best things about Mom, a show about recovering addicts, is that it has a history of employing actors that are in recovery themselves.  Jaime Pressly, who plays the wealthy, snobbish divorcee Jill, is well-known for her alcohol addiction and DUI arrest in 2011.  These experiences give the actresses an advantage at believably playing their characters, but they don't need much help as they are both talented comics to begin with.

When Tammy was absent from a recent episode, her presence was definitely missed, especially considering that she was originally just supposed to be a guest star.  Here's hoping Johnston continues on the show during its just-announced 2 additional seasons.