The Mom Who Came to Dinner

Season 1, Episode 9November 29, 200560 minThanksgiving

Polly Bergen guest stars as Mac's mother, who arrives for Thanksgiving. But first, Mac must deal with a commission's decision to close a Navy base in her hometown, and a friend from law school who wants her to commute his mentally challenged client's death sentence. Meanwhile, Rod hires a slick political operative, who urges Mac to run for reelection. "If you don't start running now," he warns, "you'll be a lame duck for the next two years."