'Mom' Ending After 8 Seasons in Wake of Anna Faris' Exit

CBS's long-running sitcom Mom will end with its eighth season. Its season finale is set to air on May 6, and it will now function as a series finale. Starring Allison Janney and Anna Faris, Mom showed a single mother (Faris) struggling with addiction and getting back on her feet with the help of her own mother (Janney). Faris left the show after the seventh season.

Producer Chuck Lorre released a statement on the show's ending, thanking fans for their dedication to the show and all of the people who worked hard to make it possible. "For the past eight years, we've had the great honor to bring these wonderful characters to life, sharing their struggles and triumphs with millions of viewers every week," wrote executive producers Lorre, Gemma Baker and Nick Bakay. "From the beginning, we set out to tell stories about recovery from alcoholism and addiction that are rarely portrayed in a network comedy series. Whether it was the emotional reactions of the live audience on tape night inside Stage 20, or discussions at the White House regarding the opioid crisis, or the personal stories we continue to receive on social media, we take great pride in knowing Mom has positively impacted so many lives. We are forever grateful to our brilliant cast and guest stars, wonderful writers, and amazing crew for going on this journey with us."

The show never quite recovered from Faris' exit, despite great performances from the rest of the cast. "It was very odd, and she's very missed. Anna is missed, and her character on the show is missed," Janney explained on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday, February 16. "We're just happy that she's doing what she wants to do now, and we're happy even more so that we're able to tell these stories about these great women in recovery. And I think there have been some really wonderful characters that have been established, and people love the show, so we're going to keep telling the stories as long as we can."

Faris announced that she was leaving after the seventh season. "The past seven years on Mom have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career," her statement read. "I'm so thankful to Chuck [Lorre], the writers, and my amazing castmates for creating a truly wonderful work experience. While my journey as Christy has come to an end, allowing me to pursue new opportunities, I'll be watching next season and rooting for my TV family." Disclosure: PopCulture is owned by CBS Interactive, a division of ViacomCBS.