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Allison Janney is opening up about Anna Faris leaving Mom.

Ahead of the season eight premiere later this week, the 60-year-old actress who plays Bonnie to Anna‘s Christy on the show, said that her co-star leaving the show was “a huge loss.”

“It’s a huge loss for the show to not have Anna because she was part of creating a character, Christy, that everyone fell in love with, who was so lovable and warm and gullible and funny and we will miss her so much,” Allison told Entertainment Tonight.

“I think I’ll miss the most, for me, the relationship between Bonnie and Christy, even though that will still continue,” Allison continued. “But she won’t be present. That’s what I’ll miss.”

Anna shocked fans back in September when she announced that she was leaving Mom after seven seasons.

“The past seven years on Mom have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career,” she said in a statement at the time.

Jaime Pressley, who plays Jill Kendall on the show, also talked about Anna‘s absence in the new season.

“I do want to say that it feels like she’s still here because we do talk about the character all the time,” Jaime said. “And [Janney's] character is always calling her or vice versa. We still hear the name, we still talk about her. She’s not gone as far as we’re concerned, and we all spent so much time together over the years and love each other and support each other and we all want each other to be happy, so we’re happy for her and we miss her no matter what.”

Season eight of Mom premieres on Thursday night on CBS.

Mom staffers are still reacting to the news of Anna Faris‘ departure from the show.

The 43-year-old actress revealed she was leaving the hit sitcom after seven seasons, and it was a shock to her co-workers, People reported Thursday (September 10).

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Anna Faris

“It was a surprise to hear that Anna was leaving. None of us are happy about that,” a source close to the show told the outlet.

Anna announced she was leaving the show just days before the comedy was planning to resume production on Season 8 amid the pandemic, which was pushed back and set to begin on September 14.

“It was sudden and unwelcome, and it left the entire network scrambling. This is not a good thing at all,” the source added, saying “no one” wanted her to leave.

“Mom has been one of CBS is more profitable scripted shows, in a very challenging economic time. And now one of the leads is gone. It’s actually a nightmare. No one wanted this.”

Here’s what Anna Faris said about leaving the show…

Anna Faris has announced that she will not be returning to the CBS comedy series Mom for the upcoming eighth season.

The 43-year-old actress reportedly decided to “pursue other opportunities” and her departure has nothing to do with COVID-19 concerns, according to THR.

“The past seven years on Mom have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career,” Anna said in a statement. “I’m so thankful to Chuck [Lorre], the writers, and my amazing castmates for creating a truly wonderful work experience. While my journey as Christy has come to an end, allowing me to pursue new opportunities, I’ll be watching next season and rooting for my TV family.”

The role of Christy will not be recast and her absence will be addressed in the upcoming season, which begins production on September 14.

“From the inception of Mom, Anna was the first and only choice for the role of Christy,” said Warner Bros TV and Chuck Lorre Productions in a statement. “We are so proud of the stories we have been able to tell during Anna‘s seven years with us. We wish Anna all the best, and we thank her for her beautiful portrayal.”

In other news, see how Anna congratulated her ex-husband Chris Pratt on the arrival of his new baby.

Great news for fans of the CBS sitcom Mom – it has been renewed for two more seasons!

The Emmy-winning series is currently in the middle of its sixth season and the network confirms that Anna Faris and Allison Janney will return for the seventh and eighth seasons.

“We’re exceptionally proud to have Mom on our air; a high-quality, signature comedy with characters viewers love, that also brings strength and stability to our lineup,” said Kelly Kahl, President, CBS Entertainment. “Under Chuck Lorre’s extraordinary leadership and with his outstanding writing and production team, we look forward to having Mom on CBS for many years to come.”

Mom is the #3 most-watched comedy on broadcast television with an average of 10 million viewers per episode.

Anna Faris and Allison Janney‘s hit CBS show Mom will be returning for a sixth season!

“Mom has been a lynchpin comedy for us over the last several years,” Kelly Kahl, president of CBS Entertainment, said in a statement (via Variety). “It’s a fearless series that tackles provocative social issues with laughter and grace, and a large, loyal audience has followed. With gifted talents like Anna and Allison leading a great ensemble cast, and a production team headed by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky, Nick Bakay and Gemma Baker, this series just keeps getting better.”

ARE YOU EXCITED for more Mom?

Kristin Chenoweth is set to guest star in an upcoming episode of the CBS comedy series Mom!

The Emmy and Tony-winning actress will play “a spiritual advisor to Jaime Pressly‘s Jill. It’s not a healthy relationship; it’s a bit of a con. But she plays something of a guru.”

The characters meet at a weight loss retreat and end up returning home and frustrate Christy (Anna Faris), Bonnie (Allison Janney) and Marjorie (Mimi Kennedy), according to TV Insider.

This will mark a reunion for Kristin and Allison, who worked together on seasons six and seven of The West Wing.

Instead of spending money on an Emmy Awards campaign for the comedy Mom this year, CBS has announced plans to donate the budget to Planned Parenthood.

Allison Janney has joined forces with Mom co-creator and executive producer Chuck Lorre to help raise awareness for the organization amid the American Health Care Act’s threat to PP’s funding.

“In Los Angeles County alone, we answer approximately 2,000 calls each day from people asking us for help,” said Sue Dunlap, president-CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. “Across the country, millions of women and men are relying on Planned Parenthood health centers for their basic care – like birth control, life-saving cancer-screenings, and STD testing and treatment. We are committed to being here for them, no matter what. Generous support from our community fuels this work, and we are honored that the team behind Mom is launching this campaign at this critical time.”

Allison won Emmys for her work on Mom in 2014 and 2015.