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Comedy legend Jane Lynch has officially made her Happy’s Place debut as Val, the mysterious mother of the tavern’s beloved bartender Gabby (Melissa Peterman). And, as it turns out, the inspiration behind her hilarious character was actually pulled from reality.
Gabby’s mother has long lived in infamy on Happy’s Place. From telling Bobbie (Reba McEntire) anecdotes about being abandoned at school to mentions of her mother being a frisky woman of the world, Gabby has given us a lot to chew on and you better believe Lynch brought her signature comedic caliber to the character.
“We’ve seen her do so much in so many wonderful shows, but she does something so specific as this character that is so hilarious and grounded and ridiculous,” Happy’s Place director and executive producer Pamela Fryman told NBC Insider of Lynch. “Every bit of it is hilarious. Every minute of it is great. She’s something.”
When it came time to create this already infamous character, Happy’s Place showrunner Kevin Abbott revealed that he was inspired by someone in his own family — his late mother-in-law.
“This character is my mother-in-law. My wife was there and was all over it when I was rewriting it to make it certain that this was [her],” Abbott told NBC Insider, referring to his Happy’s Place co-creator and wife Julie Abbott.
“My mother-in-law’s name is Valerie. So [my wife] went up to Jane at the table and said, ‘This is based on my mother,'” Abbott recalled. “And [Jane] said, ‘Oh, what was she like?'”
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Speaking to NBC Insider, Abbott revealed that Lynch channelled his late mother-in-law perfectly after gathering some firsthand notes. “They talked a bit, and Jane just kind of incorporated it,” he shared. “My sister-in-law also came to the taping, and she’s like, ‘Oh my god. I can hear our mother speaking.'”
Lynch clearly brought the MIL-inspired character to vivid life. “Other than my mother-in-law being 5’5″ and brunette, everything else was perfect,” Abbott said, revealing that fans of Lynch’s Happy’s Place character are in luck, because Val will return to the NBC sitcom.
“Luckily, we’ve had her on several times this season. The role, she just — Oh, my God, she’s so good,” Abbott gushed. “People love playing with her … I’m over there behind the camera, laughing my a– off.”
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“A New Chapter” kicked off with Gabby telling a ridiculous story about her mother tossing her childhood doll into a rainstorm. After hearing the haunting tale, Isabella (Belissa Escobedo) asked Steve (Pablo Castelblanco) if they could believe all of Gabby’s storied tales about her mother, arguing that they only trusted her because Gabby was their friend. And just as Steve and Isabella continued exploring the mystery of Gabby’s mother, Lynch strolled up to the bar as Val.
“Excuse me, I couldn’t help but notice your accent,” Val told Steve, slipping on her own version. “Is that Colombian?”
Steve was delightfully taken aback by the warm welcome, and Isabella was also charmed after Val marveled over her “flawless” skin and complexion. “You’re so very beautiful,” Isabella stumbled out.
“You’re so very sweet, and I have to confess, I still have my share of hot young men hitting on me,” Val purred toward Steve just as Gabby exited Bobbie’s office.
“Mom?!” Gabby exclaimed, stopping dead in her tracks. Bobbie was equally mystified by the arrival of Gabby’s mother, who quickly played down her daughter’s surprise. Val pulled Gabby in for a big hug, silencing the typically chatty bartender.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Hanson,” Bobbie began before Val quickly cut her off.
“No, please, it’s Valerie. Val to my friends,” Gabby’s mom said, gesturing to Isabella and Steve at the bar before adding, “which is everyone that meets me.”
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As soon as the door was slammed behind them, Gabby began panicking.
“There she is, Bobbie! The root of all evil!” Gabby said, eventually learning that Bobbie had inadvertently invited Val to visit Knoxville and began questioning why her estranged mother was actually there. While thinking of ways to confront Val over the matter, Gabby became paralyzed with fear toward her mom as the entire bar staff continued to fall in love with the magnetic Val.
After Val began poking around some baby stuff Gabby planned to donate, she perked up once learning that the belongings were from when Gabby was trying to get pregnant. “What!? Gabby’s trying to get pregnant?” Val exclaimed, her hysteria only increasing as Gabby exited the office upon conjuring the courage to confront her mother.
From the moment Val heard the word “pregnant,” she was electrified with excitement, not letting her daughter get a single clarifying sentence out. “I’m so delighted for us!” Val screamed.
All of the wind was blown out of Gabby’s sails as Val revealed that she’d long dreamed that Gabby would become a mother. It was a blindsiding reaction, especially as Gabby recently learned she’s unable to get pregnant. Despite Val’s narcissistic approach to the pregnancy plans, Gabby remained stupefied by her mother’s love, which she’s long claimed rarely existed.
Val mused, “People would say to that baby, ‘You are so beautiful. You look just like your grandmother.’”
Bobbie tried to tether Gabby back to reality, but like everyone else at Happy’s Place, Gabby was under Val’s spell. Rather than tell her mother the truth, Gabby clung to Val, going along with the lie for the sake of renewed interest from her mother.
“Honey, oh, I’m going to spend a lot of time with you because there is a lot to learn about being a good mom,” Val said while hugging Gabby and giving Bobbie a pointed look. “And you never were the fastest learner!”
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Peterman told NBC Insider that Val’s arrival gives us a glimpse at “why Gabby is who she is,” adding that while Gabby has a tense relationship with her estranged mother, she still craves that connection. “All she really wants is to be connected with her mom, and I think that’s very relatable.”
Upon hearing she was going to be a grandmother, Val began spending more time with Gabby, even telling Bobbie that she was moving in with Gabby so that she could support her daughter as she focused on getting pregnant.
Aware of the mounting issues, Bobbie pulled Gabby into her office to confront her on the ruse. Gabby confessed that she’d let the lie go too far, but Val’s doting love had healed something broken inside her. Gabby knew that the longer she lied to her mother, the worse the reaction would become, so she decided to come clean to Val.
After dragging her feet on the admission, Gabby was shocked when Val wasn’t too phased by her confession. Gabby fretted over her mother’s willingness to drop everything in her life for the baby, but Val shrugged, telling her daughter, “Stuff happens.” The red flags then began flying for Gabby.
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Val finally revealed the true reason for her visit to Knoxville: she and Gabby’s father had divorced some time ago. All of the whirlwind travels she gloated about were likely born from couch-surfing. Aside from the blindsiding news of her parents’ separation, Gabby remained furious over Val’s secrecy.
“All you need to know is that I can be with you for as long as you need,” Val shrugged, juggling comforting her daughter with her own self-interests. But the matriarchal mystery was solved: Val had reconnected with Gabby because she had nowhere else to go. As Val continued to shrug off her daughter’s concerns, Gabby took some time outside for herself, soon getting a visit from Bobbie.
Gabby admitted there was a part of her that liked that her mom needed her, but understood that it was a risk to her peace of mind. Gabby didn’t know if Val would ever change her ways, but she knew she’d undergone her own growth. Wanting a baby made Gabby realize she was searching for a connection, which she could forge with her mother.
“I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna tell her that she can stay with me, I wanna try,” Gabby told Bobbie with confidence. “She’s the only mom I’ve got.”
Choosing to be the bigger person and start a new chapter, Gabby told Val that she could continue living with her. Not one to drop her pride, Val shrugged the gesture away as a given, but Gabby remained hopeful about their future.
With that happy conclusion, Val was happy to wrap up the mother-daughter confrontation, comforting Gabby in sincerity about not being able to get pregnant. Val pulled Gabby in for a sweet hug before hilariously adding, “Children can ruin your life.”
While reflecting on the emotional episode, Peterman told NBC Insider, “Sometimes your parents are not always perfect, but you always want them in your life. And I think that the writers did such a great job of keeping the funniness, but also with a lot of layered family stuff and some heart there.”
Reporting by Stephanie Gomulka and Tara Bennett
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