Suzanne Pleshette should be Jake's aunt

[Janice]

I think casting Suzanne Pleshette's character as Jake's grandmother was a mistake. Suzanne is only 65 in real life, and Jake is 29 on the show, which means she could pass for his mother (having him at age 36)....or if they fudge the numbers, she could have had him at 30 or so.
I can understand why they didn't want his mother in the cast. Maybe they didn't want him to appear as a momma's boy, but instead he hangs around with his grandmother.
I understand the need for the character to be Jake's relative....the dynamics of love, a family member to confide in, all that good stuff.
I think she should have been cast as his aunt. Lots of us have a kooky aunt that we can say anything to.

[Sitcomwriter]

Well Linda Lavin played his mom on the short-lived "Conrad Bloom" so if you ask me I think if they get anyone to play his mom in at least 1 episode it should be Lavin of course I'm pretty sure that she is older than Pleshette so she would be older tha her TV mom!

Anyway to answer your question that's true.Claire should be his mother unless of course she had his mom/dad (Did they ever say what side she's his Grandmother on?) at around 13 or 14 which I can she Claire doing.

[BonnieHuntFan]

Actually Suzanne was born inJanuary of 1937 and Linda was born in October of 1937 so sameyear but Suzanne is alittle older.