By Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 9/29/25 – Few comedy teams can boast the trajectory of The Mommies, Caryl Kristensen and Marilyn Kentz, who first made their mark in the 1990s with their NBC sitcom, ABC talk show, and a Showtime special. Now, after a 30-year hiatus, the duo is back on stage with a new show, Aging in Our Last Trimester, a hilariously honest take on life as grandmothers, women, and unapologetically themselves.
During my recent interview with the pair, their warmth and humor were as evident as ever.
Click below for our exclusive interview:
The Mommies’ story began in suburban Petaluma, California, where Caryl and Marilyn met as neighbors on a cul-de-sac. Their friendship blossomed into a creative partnership that catapulted them to national television. But fame, they admit, came with confusion.
“We were a little lost,” Caryl recalled. “We didn’t understand the Hollywood game. But we learned quickly how easy it is to go down the Hollywood ladder.”
What resonated with audiences then was their candor. While the comedy landscape of the 90s was dominated by men joking about women, The Mommies offered something different: the raw and funny realities of motherhood. “We talked about childbirth, breastfeeding, teenagers… the things we were actually living,” Marilyn said. “Moms came in droves because they wanted to hear their own lives reflected back at them.”
Now reunited, Caryl and Marilyn bring that same authenticity to their new stage show, tackling everything from technology mishaps to hearing loss, aging bodies, and generational gaps, with a wink and a laugh.
“Marilyn heard an anti-drug ad about meth as ‘math,’” Caryl shared with a laugh. “She thought, ‘I hate math too, but it ruined your life?’ That’s how we find our comedy.”
Audiences can expect irreverent and unfiltered stories: Alexa confusion, colonoscopy surprises, and the challenges of staying relevant in a social media-driven world. As Caryl put it: “It’s adapt or die. Thankfully, we have younger people helping us figure it out.”
Their comeback isn’t about chasing fame, it’s about fun, connection, and supporting women. “From the beginning, we made women feel okay about themselves because we showed our flaws,” Marilyn reflected. “They trust us because we’re honest.”
The duo will perform at The Crow in Santa Monica on November 8th at 3:00 PM, a matinee they say perfectly suits their audience. “Nobody wants to drive at night anymore,” Marilyn quipped. “Give us brunch, a show, and then our jammies.”
The tour continues with Bay Area performances, including a benefit for Habitat for Humanity, a cause close to their hearts. “We actually did Habitat builds back when we were famous,” Caryl noted. “Housing is such a critical issue now, and it’s important to us to tie our reunion to something meaningful.”
Looking back, The Mommies see their impact more clearly. “At the time, we didn’t realize we were carving out a space for women and moms in comedy,” Caryl said. “We just hit a nerve.”
Today, their goal remains simple: make women laugh, feel seen, and embrace life, wrinkles, hearing aids, and all.
Fans can follow them at @themommies2025 on Instagram for tour updates and tickets, including their Santa Monica show at thecrow.com.
As for what comes next, the duo insists they’re in no rush. “We’re not doing a big national tour,” Marilyn said. “Just the West Coast, and only as much as we’re having fun. That’s the whole point.”
And after an hour in their company, it’s clear, The Mommies are still making women laugh, still making them feel okay, and still aging in public… fabulously.
