Anna Faris and Emily Osment's comedy takes a sad turn in drug storyline

Publish date: 2024-03-24

It is a comedy that also confronts addiction. 

And on Thursday night's episode, Mom fans were forced to say an early goodbye to Jodi (played by Emily Osment), who died from a drug overdose.

Jodi's AA sponsor Christy Plunkett (played by lead actress Anna Faris) learned that the 19-year-old recovering addict had passed when she received a phone call from the police after a wedding ceremony.

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Tragic turn: Jodi (played by Emily Osment) died of a drug overdose on Thursday night's episode of the TV comedy Mom 

Tragic turn: Jodi (played by Emily Osment) died of a drug overdose on Thursday night's episode of the TV comedy Mom 

The moment: Christy Plunkett (played by Anna Faris) received a phone call from police about the death following a marriage ceremony

The moment: Christy Plunkett (played by Anna Faris) received a phone call from police about the death following a marriage ceremony

Jodi was a recovering addict who once lived with Christy and her mother Bonnie, but she eventually moved out to live with her sister.

She had even obtained a job as a barista.

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The sudden death was intended to 'keep the show with at least one foot in the real world', Mom executive producer Chuck Lorre explained to The Hollywood Reporter.

'It was made more difficult when the time came because we all fell in love with Emily, but the idea was all along to keep the show with at least one foot in the real world, where these things happen,' he said.

Helping hand: Bonnie (right, played by Allison Janney) comforted Jodi in an episode of Mom

Helping hand: Bonnie (right, played by Allison Janney) comforted Jodi in an episode of Mom

The producer also addressed a public service announcement that Anna and her co-star Allison Janney filmed alongside U. S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, in which they discussed addiction.

'It's basically just a very simple, direct-to-camera acknowledgement of the reality of alcoholism and drug addiction and gives a phone number to call for help and information. 

'It's only 30 seconds or something, but you never know. If it helps one person, it's worth it.'

Through thick and thin: Christy (Faris) and Bonnie (Janney) helped Jodi out and allowed her to move in with them

Through thick and thin: Christy (Faris) and Bonnie (Janney) helped Jodi out and allowed her to move in with them

Thursday night's episode was titled Diabetic Lesbians and a Blushing Bride.

Mom, which first premiere in 2013, is about a mother and a daughter who have both confronted addiction in their past.

Emily joined the cast in 2015, and the Young & Hungry actress previously explained that she watched documentaries as she prepped for her character.

Moving forward: Mom, which first premiere in 2013, is about a mother and a daughter who have both confronted addiction in their past 

Moving forward: Mom, which first premiere in 2013, is about a mother and a daughter who have both confronted addiction in their past 

'When I first auditioned for the role, the only information I really got was that [Jodi] was a recovering meth addict,' she told CBS. 

'I did watch quite a few documentaries for the body language and the characteristics of someone that's either on meth currently - which I am on [meth in] the first scene of the first episode - and then when they're recovering and coming down.

'You just learn a lot about what that stuff can do to your body, especially when you’re trying to get off it. And all of that was played out in the episode. Everything that was written was very true.'  

This is not the first time the show has addressed the topic of death, as Kevin Pollack's character Alvin passed away after suffering a heart attack in 2015.  

'If it helps one person, it's worth it': Chuck Lorre addressed the PSA that Janney, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, and Anna starred in during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter 

'If it helps one person, it's worth it': Chuck Lorre addressed the PSA that Janney, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, and Anna starred in during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter 

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