As part of our Los Angeles adventures last month, we got a chance to go behind the scenes of ABC’s newest comedy American Housewife which premiered last Tuesday in the 8:30 p.m. spot just after The Middle! Did you catch the show? You have to watch as Katy Mixon (Mike & Molly) stars as Katie Otto, a confident, unapologetic wife and mother of three raises her flawed family in the wealthy town of Westport, Connecticut, filled with “perfect” mommies and their “perfect” offspring. In the premiere titled “Pilot,” Katie and husband Greg (Diedrich Bader, “The Drew Carey Show”) have moved to Westport because the school district there is the best option for their youngest, Anna-Kat. Katie finds herself caught up in helping Anna-Kat fit in more while her older kids, Taylor and Oliver fit in a little less. On top of this, Katie has her own insecurities about her place in their new town but her friends, Angela (Carly Hughes) and Doris (Ali Wong) have her back. We saw the screener ahead of time and have since watched a few more episodes and the laughs keep coming. Moms everywhere will relate in one way or another and the cast holds it’s own to Katy Mixon for sure!
Our set visit was unique, the show was actually filming on location at a church so we got up close and personal of what it’s like to take a show out of the studio lot and into the public! I’m sure locals are used to trucks and trailers shutting down streets for film crews, it’s a southern California given. We arrived to the secret location, unable to geotag our social media shares of course for embargo purposes and so crowds don’t get too curious. We witnessed similar wardrobe collections for the stars, food stations, and break areas but only they were outside on the church lawn and in the rectory. While we awaited our small group tours, we sat in the pews of the church. Only in LA!
Merry Christmas! Filming was set a few months into the future and the holiday decor was pretty stunning. We got to literally sit behind producers, directors, and the film crew as the actors came in and out of the room and the shots. I observed cast stand-ins they have for different situations, at first I stared intently at a few people that looked like Katy and Ali but realized they weren’t them at all. Minutes later Katy took her place in the scene and we had to be super quiet on the set. 
Tapes rolled and seconds of film was shot and stopped, and started and stopped again. The process is time consuming, I can imagine. It’s surprising how many people it takes to make a television show work.
Once the actors had a break, they came to meet us in the church for some photos. Ali Wong and Carly Hughes were first to come out and greet us. They are so fun and just hammed it up for photos with everyone! How about Ali’s abs, I heard she just had a baby too (not fair)! 
Then a while later, out came Katy Mixon. Please forgive my hair in this photo, I tried to crop most of it out. It was so humid that day and I was hot and sticky mess. Katy on the other hand was gorgeous, her hair was perfection and she talked to each one of us on a personal level, she was so sweet! 
Tuesday nights are better than ever now with their new show line up, catch each one:
The Middle 8/7c
American Housewife at 8:30/7:30c
Fresh Off the Boat at 9/8c
The Real O’Neals at 9:30/8:30c
Tune in tonight (Tuesday, October 18), this episode had me rolling on the floor. Mom’s will know exactly what I mean, here’s the synopsis and then watch the hilarious clip:
The Nap
All Katie wants is a good, long nap after the kids keep her up all night. But when Greg gets the flu, she doesn’t get a minute to herself. Her exhaustion reaches critical mass with a confrontation with the school’s officious crossing guard (guest star Kate Flannery, “The Office”).
For more on the show, follow the social channels below.
