Why Wendi McLendon-Covey’s Comedically Brilliant Mom From ‘The Goldbergs’ Finally Deserves Emmy Recognition

TV Academy please dont let Beverly Goldberg leave this world without an Emmy nomination.

If one asked Wendi McLendon-Covey how she created the lovable and zany mom from The Goldbergs, Id imagine shed use one of the overbearing matriarchs famous lines delivered to a random stranger regarding the origins of her three children: I made these people. Me. I made them with my body.

With an undeniable schmoop factor and countless huggies, McLendon-Covey made the unapologetic smotherer with her body, heart and soul. Her phenomenal work in the ABC comedy series will surely be one of the finest in sitcom history, and were all the better for it.

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On Wednesday night, ABC aired the sitcoms final episode after 10 seasons, where viewers bid farewell to the 1980s Philadelphia family that centers on its youngest child Adam F. Goldberg (played by Sean Giambrone and narrated as the older version by Patton Oswalt). Along for the ride is his hilarious family, made up of short-tempered brother Barry (Troy Gentile), rebellious sister Erica (Haley Orrantia) and fiercely loving matriarch Beverly (McLendon-Covey). Previous seasons they have included the laid-back grandfather Albert (better known as Pops and played by the late George Segal, who passed during Season 8) and the sour father Murray (Jeff Garlin, who was fired from the show following an HR investigation by the network in 2022).

Nonetheless, Beverly Goldberg endured the pitfalls, showing the complexities of trying to hold onto your childrens youth for as long as humanely possible. With the fearless, no-bullshit attitude of Cookie Lyon from Empire blended with the wholesome wisdom of June Cleaver from Leave It to Beaver, Beverly guided her children through school, relationships, breakups and lifes most painful curveballs like the death of a parent and grandparent.

GOLDBERGS Island Time ABC Bevy may be an unashamed smotherer but nowadays, with an ongoing sense of dread due to a toxic political climate, growing income equality and mass shootings daily, who couldnt use a warm hug from televisions most underappreciated mom of the modern era? Unfortunately, The Goldbergs gem-filled comedic moments have been shut out entirely by the TV Academy, notably McLendon-Covey, who has always been worthy of recognition for lead comedy actress. She picked up her first career nom in 2022 as a producer for the television movie Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon.

The list of underrated TV moms is vast and long America Ferreras Amy Sosa from Superstore and Mutsuko Erskine from Pen15 are among those that arent mentioned enough. Whats more, McLendon-Coveys choices would often hearken back to the familiar matriarchs from classic TV sitcoms when Bev would have an excellent reason to reprimand one of her kids, I would think back to Phylicia Rashads Clair Huxtable yelling at Vanessa in The Cosby Show when she sneaks off to a Maryland concert.

And then there were the countless tender moments, with McLendon-Covey channeling the spirit of Florence Hendersons Carol Brady, who would take on the role of the keeper of the house, but not without respect and appreciation.

Now that its over, was The Goldbergs groundbreaking TV? No.

But did Wendi McLendon-Covey shepherd one of the finest wives and mothers to grace the TV screen since Estelle Gettys Sophia Petrillo in The Golden Girls? I mean, how can you not love a mom who famously said, Ill put cheese on anything.