Who Should Play Danny's Mom on 'Mindy Project'?

Danny Castellano isn't going to have one woman in his life next season on The Mindy Project. Turns out everyone's favorite iteration of Chris Messina, Danny Castellano will find his mother as another major force to be reckoned with — and we are very excited at the prospect. In fact we've gone so far as to do a bit of dream casting for the role ourselves!

During this year's Television Critics Association summer press tour, Kaling announced that they're "very close to making an announcement about a very cool guest star who's going to recur on the show to play Danny's mom." She's "someone who's a source of conflict for my character."

Which is to say that we can guess that Danny's mom is someone who's incredibly self-sufficient, strong, brusque, and a bit more liberal than our dear Mindy Lahiri. Someone who will set the duo's adorable relationship aflame with conflict, conversation, and considerations. But funny, natch. It's a very, very exciting prospect indeed!

But it's also no easy feat. With a bevy of seriously impressive guest stars already under the show's metaphorical belt — including James Franco, Anna Gunn, the Duplass brothers, Glenn Howerton, Jenna Elfman, and Seth Rogen just to name a very, very select few — and an already pitch-perfect casting of his father, Clueless' Dan Hedaya, The Mindy Project has its work cut out for themselves.

That's where my own brilliant mind comes in, with 9 amazing suggestions that we're fairly sure Mindy Kaling would love. So! Without further ado...

Andrea Martin

Hands-down our first choice. Martin is a goddamn delight and would be the perfect mom for Danny Castellano. VOULA!

Lily Tomlin

Essentially if she could reprise her role of Tina Fey's mom in Admission, just with a Staten Island accent, it would make us very happy.

Ellen Barkin

Ellen Barkin takes NO shit and gives NONE of the fucks with a seriously wild glee. We would l-o-v-e to see her go up against Dr. Lahiri.

Kathy Bates

Admit it — there might be no better choice for the mother of Danny Castellano than the Unsinkable Molly Brown.

Sally Field

Just imagine it: Danny Castellano's mom played by Norma Rae herself.

Susan Lucci

Exactly what Dr. Lahiri needs: to be out-dramatized by the queen of soaps.

Sigourney Weaver

You know who would be able to put Danny Castellano in his place and equally terrify and intimidate Mindy Lahiri? Sigourney Weaver. OBVIOUSLY.

Kathleen Turner

Chandler's dad would make a really, really perfect force of a mother for Danny Castellano.

Stockard Channing

Good Lord First Lady Barlet/Rizzo for Mother of the Year (of Our Hearts). Yes please.

Image: FOX (1)