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Why American Housewife's Katy Mixon Is TV's Realest Sitcom Mom

Exclusive: Katy Mixon and Diedrich Bader sound off on why you need to watch their new show on ABC

By Lauren Piester Oct 11, 2016 4:00 PMTags
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All at once, American Housewife fits in perfectly with ABC's other sitcoms, and doesn't fit in at all. 

"This is about a family who is really quite authentic, living in an inauthentic world," star Katy Mixon tells E! News of the new show debuting tonight at 8:30 p.m. "The trials and tribulations that go with that are endless." 

Mixon plays Katie Otto, mom to three kids and wife to Greg, played by Diedrich Bader. Katie considers herself the "second fattest housewife in Westport," which used to be the show's title. She's an average-sized woman living in a world full of women who drink green juice, wear yoga pants, and, for some inexplicable reason, occasionally wear two Fitbits. 

While she wants to be happy with herself exactly how she is, Katie also struggles with what she perceives as judgement from the other moms, and the idea of being one of the biggest women in town. Many women will be familiar with this struggle, even if Mixon herself tries not to be. 

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"I don't let the media dictate my identity. I never have," Mixon says of the difference between herself and Katie. "So that's why it's been interesting to play Katie Otto, who is driven by her insecurities, yet constantly is going to march to the beat of her own drum and is trying to be fearless." 

While the show's former title and pilot may make you think this is entirely about Katie and her issues with her own body, that's not entirely true. It's a part of Katie's character, for sure, but next week's episode barely mentions weight, aside from a joke or two about double chins. 

Really, you should come to American Housewife for Katy Mixon, and stay for Katy Mixon, who is hysterical and deserves to be a star. But you might as well also stay for the sweet relationship between Katie and her husband Greg.

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As you can see both above, in the exclusive sneak peek of the premiere, and below as Mixon and Bader play a sort of Newlywed Game, they're great both in and out of character, and they're what's going to make the show work past the pilot and jokes about body types and food. 

 

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It also helps that Mixon and Bader have three adorable/ridiculous children and a whole cast of amazing side characters (including Fresh Off the Boat writer and comedian Alli Wong, and The Office star Kate Flannery) backing them up along the way. 

Just know that if the pilot isn't your jam, stick around another week to see if this is a family you could see yourself hanging out with every Tuesday, because it's kind of hard not to fall in love with them. 

American Housewife airs tonight at 8:30 p.m. on ABC.