Titus/Mom's Not Nuts

Mom's Not Nuts
Season 1, Episode 7
Airdate	May 8, 2000
Production Number	1ADK-02
Written by	Jack Kenny Brian Hargrove
Directed by	Jeff Melman
← 1x06 Red Asphalt	1x08 → Intervention
Titus — Season One

Mom's Not Nuts is the seventh episode of the first season of Titus, and the seventh episode overall. Juanita Titus appears in Titus' home unexpectedly and Titus attempts to cope with the prospect of his mother being sane for a change.

Starring: Christopher Titus (Christopher Titus), Cynthia Watros (Erin Fitzpatrick), Zack Ward (Dave Titus), David Shatraw (Tommy Shafter)

And: Stacy Keach (Ken Titus)

Guest Starring: Christine Estabrook (Juanita)

Co-Starring: Phoenix Forsyth (10 Year Old Titus), Dylan Capannelli (5 Year Old Titus)

Plot Overview

Opening Monologue

My mom's a manic depressive schizophrenic. She's been in and out of mental institutions since I was a little kid. It's good to know that when I was in kindergarten gluing macaroni to paper plates, my mom was in therapy gluing macaroni to paper plates. Macaroni and glitter glue- the fun side of Mom's insanity. But you may be surprise to know that if they don't take their medication, there's a dark side to paranoid schizophrenia.

Mom was elected block captain of our neighborhood watch. No one ran against her.

The Show

Titus' mother shows up in Erin and Titus' home insisting that she's no longer mentally ill. Titus calls her doctor and confirms that she really was legitimately released from the hospital, but Titus still isn't sure. She invites the rest of the family over for dinner and manages to sway Dave and Tommy over to their side. Ken, however, sides with Titus briefly before Juanita sneaks up on him and he abandons Titus' "Mom is still crazy" hypothesis as well.

Slowly, Titus begins to believe that his mother really is better after she apologizes for all of the crazy things she did while she was mentally ill. While she and Ken get reacquainted, the others eat dinner and wind up falling asleep at the table. Titus eventually discovers that they weren't falling asleep because of the meal, they were falling asleep because Juanita drugged their food with her Myocet in order to attempt to kill Ken without interference.

In the end neutral zone scene, Titus explains that she was stopped by the police and put back in the mental hospital before she could hurt anyone.

Trivia

The Show

• Meta-Reference: In his ending monologue, Titus uses the phrase "Norman Rockwell is Bleeding." This is the name of the touring comedy show that the series is based off of. The show was later recorded and televised for Showtime.
• Disclaimer: In the original broadcast of this episode, before the ending credits, a black card with "If you would like to learn more about schizophrenia, go to FOX.com" was shown. In the DVD, this was replaced with information for the National Mental Health Services Knowledge Exchange Network.

Allusions and References

• Waco Siege: In 1993, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco raided a compound owned by David Koresh for his cult. Following the raid, the FBI occupied the grounds for 51 days until three fires consumed the building, killing over 70 Davidian cult members.

Titus: Is a Waco thing gonna happen?