Summer Trend - Long-Lost Moms Return

TV often has its trends, and one that is readily budding this summer is the return of long-lost mothers ...

Okay, this return happened a bit before summer ... the season 2 finale to be exact.  Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin) believed his mother killed in a car explosion when he was 16.  Later he found out she had in fact been murdered on orders from his nemesis Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos).  Lately he has been on a personal mission to find "Shelburne," code name for someone who knows a lot more about the murder. In the last moments of the finale, Steve travels to Japan to confront the elusive witness, only to receive the shock of his life:  Shelburne is actually Mama McGarrett! (yet to be cast)

Brilliant, adopted Boston medical examiner Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander) learned in the show's first season that she is the daughter of Irish mob boss Patrick "Paddy" Doyle (John Doman, The Wire), but the identity of her biological mother remained elusive ... until now.  On the July 3 episode, Maura will meet mama Hope (Sharon Lawrence, NYPD Blue), but will not reveal her own identity to her just yet.  But similarities between mother and daughter will be readily apparent, especially their penchant for constantly rattling off esoteric facts and info.  Best friend Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon) - who often can't believe and just barely tolerates the things Maura spews out randomly -  is gonna love that ...

Jane Quimby (Erica Dasher) was raised by big brother Ben (David Clayton Rogers) when their free-spirited, flighty, bohemian mother Kate left them years before to travel the world (I believe Daddy Quimby is deceased).  But mama has come down to earth in the form of Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives) for a four-episode visit (her third airs next Tuesday, July 3) to try and make it up to her kids.  Wary to accept her back into their lives, they reservedly do, Jane more than Ben, but will how will Kate leave things when she leaves once again?

Rookie cop Andy (Missy Peregrym) has done pretty good, making a name for herself in her precinct  despite being the daughter of an alcoholic ex-cop and an absentee mother - she left them both 15 years ago.  But on next week's episode (Thursday, July 5), Mama McNally returns, now a social worker and coincidentally - and awkwardly? - assigned to work a domestic violence case with her daughter.  Hope she knows the kid is now armed ...


Catch Hawaii Five-0 Mondays at 10 p.m. on CBS.
Rizzoli & Isles airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on TNT.
Jane By Design is on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC Family.
And Rookie Blue airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC.