Melissa Peterman spent six seasons playing Ben Wheeler’s mom on “Baby Daddy” before she ever joined Reba McEntire on “Happy’s Place.” And now that she’s back on TV, the ABC Family sitcom is getting its due.
The show followed Ben Wheeler, a young bachelor who found a baby left on his doorstep by an ex-girlfriend. His brother, friends, and mother stepped in to help him raise the child. Peterman played Ben’s mother, Bonnie, for all six seasons, from 2012 to 2017.
Bonnie Wheeler’s Role
Bonnie became part of Ben’s support system as he learned to be a parent. She wasn’t just a mother and grandmother, though. The show gave Bonnie her own storylines, including her own romances. Bonnie was never just there to be a supporting player; she got her own arcs and her own development alongside everything else happening on the show.
Peterman appreciated the chance to play Bonnie, particularly her confidence. “What I love about her is she’s a 40-something grandmother, mother of two, divorced, [and] a little bit loud,” she told Bustle in 2014. “She has a little bit of baggage, but she is the most confident woman in the world,” she added.
“She had no business walking into every room with the utmost confidence.”
A Reboot Is On The Table
Peterman would happily return to the role if a “Baby Daddy” reboot ever happens. “We all would love a reboot or a revival — or even a short limited series,” she told Us Weekly in September 2026. “I want to be Bonnie Wheeler again.”
She reflected on Bonnie’s character: “She had no business walking into every room with the utmost confidence, and I love that [creator] Dan Berendsen gave this woman up, who was over 40, who walked into every room expecting that everyone would be delighted to talk to her, and I love that.”
How The Show Ended
“Baby Daddy” ended after six seasons in 2017. Some fans tried to keep the series alive. They launched petitions, hashtags, and other online campaigns, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The show simply came to an end, and no amount of petitioning or campaigning managed to change that outcome.
Why Bonnie Matters
Bonnie wasn’t a perfect parent. She was a real one, with baggage and flaws and a full life of her own. Peterman’s description of her — loud, confident — is the reason the character worked. Bonnie was never portrayed as a stereotypical grandmother figure; she was given her own personality, her own desires, and her own storylines.
The show gave Bonnie her own stories, not just scenes about the baby. That made her more than a supporting player. Her presence in the show was far more than just being around whenever someone needed advice about parenting.
What The Reboot Would Mean
A limited series or revival would bring Bonnie back. Peterman has made that clear. The question is whether anyone else agrees.
It could also let Peterman revisit a character she clearly loved playing. In her interview with Us Weekly, she expressed her desire to return to the role, and she has spoken about how much she enjoyed playing Bonnie.
The Petition Movement
Fans wanted the show to continue. They wanted to see Bonnie and Ben and the others stay together. They launched petitions, hashtags, and other online campaigns, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The show ended, and no amount of online organizing changed that.
That effort ultimately failed, but it showed how devoted the audience was to the show. Even though the campaigns didn’t succeed, they demonstrated the strength of the show’s fanbase.
A Cheerful Reminder
“Baby Daddy” was a show about a man raising a baby. It was also a show about a loud, confident grandmother who refused to be treated like a side character. Peterman brought that confidence to life.
The reboot talk is a happy reminder of a sitcom that quietly ran for years. It was funny, and it had a loyal following.
Peterman wants Bonnie back. The fans wanted the show to live on. Now the question is whether anyone else shares that feeling.
If a reboot happens, it will be a win for everyone involved. Peterman gets to play Bonnie again. Fans get to see the characters they loved. And “Baby Daddy” gets a second chance to be remembered for what it was: a solid, funny sitcom about a bachelor, a baby, and a grandmother who wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Source material: “Before Happy's Place, Melissa Peterman Starred In A Long-Running ABC Family Sitcom,” TVLine.
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