The series was created by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky and Gemma Baker.
It follows Christy Plunkett (Anna Faris), a single mother who, upon reaching a turning point in her battle with alcoholism and drug addiction, decides to restart her life in Napa, California's wine country, working as a waitress at the restaurant Rustic Fig and attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Her mother Bonnie Plunkett (Allison Janney) is also a recovering drug and alcohol addict who attempts to have a healthy romantic relationship with her fiancé, Adam (William Fichtner), a paraplegic ex-stuntman; and her 17-year-old daughter Violet (Sadie Calvano) — born when Christy was just 16 – was herself pregnant by way of her boyfriend Luke (Spencer Daniels) in season 1.
Christy also has a younger son Roscoe (Blake Garrett Rosenthal) by her ex-husband Baxter (Matt L. Jones), a deadbeat marijuana addict in the first season.
Through it all, Christy and Bonnie rely on their support system from AA, including the wise Marjorie (Mimi Kennedy), the wealthy and sometimes misguided Jill (Jaime Pressly), the overly emotional Wendy (Beth Hall), and the loudmouth but sweet Tammy (Kristen Johnston).