After a lifetime of unbridled hedonism drinking and sleeping her way up and down Broadway Tony winning diva Madison Banks (Kirstie Alley) is confronted by something far more shocking than her usual opening night key parties: Arlo Barth, the son (Eric Petersen) she gave up for adoption 26 years ago. Maddie has played countless roles on stage, but one part shes not fit to play is anyones mother. Racked with guilt and completely out of her element, Maddie almost denies her son a second time how can an acclaimed actress and noted head case like Maddie possibly relate to a Jersey donut maker? But with the help of her long-suffering assistant and best friend Thelma Katz (Rhea Pearlman) and her eccentric chauffeur Frank Baxter (Michael Richards), Maddie realizes that Arlo is a diamond in the rough and invites him to move into her Park Avenue condo. As Thelma and Frank show Arlo the ropes of Maddies uninhibited, unapologetic and occasionally unhinged life and tries to build a new one of his own in Manhattan this new makeshift family learns that its newest member isnt the only gem that could use a little polish.