| Genre: | Sitcom |
| Creator: | Dick Clair Jenna McMahon |
| Director: | Roger Beatty Harvey Korman Dick Martin Dave Powers |
| Starring: | Vicki Lawrence Ken Berry Dorothy Lyman Rue McClanahan Eric Brown Karin Argoud Betty White Beverly Archer Allan Kayser |
| Theme Music Composer: | Music: Peter Matz Lyrics: Vicki Lawrence |
| Opentheme: | "Bless My Happy Home" |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 6 |
| Num Episodes: | 130 |
| List Episodes: | List of Mama's Family episodes |
| Location: | CBS Television City Hollywood, California (1983–84) Metromedia Square Hollywood, California (1986–90) |
| Executive Producer: | Joe Hamilton |
| Producer: | Jim Evering Neil Lebowitz Dave Powers Fred Rubin Robert Wright |
| Camera: | Multi-camera |
| Runtime: | 24–25 minutes 21–22 minutes |
| Company: | Joe Hamilton Productions |
| Channel: | NBC (1983–1984) Syndicated (1986–1990) |
| Related: | Eunice |
Mama's Family is an American sitcom television series starring Vicki Lawrence as Mama (Thelma Harper). The series is a spin-off of a recurring series of comedy sketches called "The Family" featured on The Carol Burnett Show (1967–78) and Carol Burnett & Company (1979). The sketches led to the television film Eunice, and finally the television series.
Mama's Family aired on NBC, debuting on January 22, 1983. After several timeslot changes and a subsequent drop in ratings, the network cancelled the series; the final episode of this two-season NBC incarnation of the series aired on April 7, 1984.[1] NBC broadcast reruns until September 1985, which unexpectedly performed well in ratings.
Two years after its cancellation, original series producer Joe Hamilton Productions (JHP) revived Mama's Family for new episodes in first-run syndication on local stations across the United States. The reincarnation, distributed by Lorimar-Telepictures, premiered on September 27, 1986.[2] [3] The modified four-season series revival gained substantially higher ratings than its first incarnation, eventually becoming the highest-rated sitcom in first-run syndication, with its final episode airing on February 24, 1990.
The show's theme song is "Bless My Happy Home", created as an a cappella by Lawrence. The show's producers chose to use an instrumental of Lawrence's song composed by Peter Matz.[4] Disclosing the lyrics to the song as part of her Vicki and Mama: A Two Woman Show (untelevised stand-up comedy routine Lawrence has hosted as herself and Mama since 2001), Lawrence routinely performs the song in its original a cappella form.[5] The lyrics were also featured in an advertisement for the show on MeTV.[6] [7]
The show is set in the city of Raytown, which actress Vicki Lawrence later revealed to be Raytown, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City[8] (although the script writing suggests the setting was Raytown, Mississippi, given the rural southern nature of the series). The television series revolves around the wacky misadventures of the Harper family, extended non-Harper family members and their neighbor friend in later seasons. Always at the center of all the trouble, turmoil and misunderstandings is head of the clan and matriarch Thelma Harper (Mama)—a thickset, gray-haired, purse-lipped, mid-to-late 60s widow who is portrayed as explosively quick-tempered, abrasive, and brash.[9]
Mama's snappy retorts and wisecracks are featured in a running gag in which the final scene of each episode cuts to an exterior shot of her residence (1027 Montrose Avenue in South Pasadena, which was also the house of Lynda's character in the 1978 film Halloween. The home was only featured briefly in the film where Lynda walks toward the front door[10]) while Mama's voice is heard making a sharp or witty reply to whoever had previously spoken. This is then followed by audience laughter and applause. In spite of Thelma's derogatory attitude, regular zingers and sarcasm, she is nurturing and obliging at heart, allowing family members to live off her in her home who would otherwise have no place to live, while also regularly cooking for and cleaning up after them.[9]
In the ninth season of The Carol Burnett Show, producer Joe Hamilton wanted to spin off Mama into her own series, but Lawrence turned him down. She did not wish to wear a "fat suit portraying an old lady every week", and she had misgivings about playing the role without Harvey Korman (who played Mama's son-in-law, Ed Higgins) and Carol Burnett (who played Mama's daughter Eunice Higgins) regularly by her side as in "The Family" sketches. Burnett and Korman told Lawrence that they would only appear as guest stars on the new series, and that it was Lawrence's time to shine and take what she had learned from The Carol Burnett Show and make it on her own. Shortly after the highly-rated Eunice TV movie, with continued urging by Korman and Burnett, Lawrence finally changed her mind and accepted the offer for her character's own sitcom.
The writers had created Raytown to be its own "cartoon-like" world outside of reality. Although the series was sold to NBC without a pilot, the network had its own requirements, such as having "normal" teenagers as seen in other sitcoms of the time, which is how the Buzz and Sonja characters came about.[11] However, Lawrence had a great deal of creative input and made many important decisions, including bringing in Korman very early on to co-direct the series. Lawrence objected to the original script of the episode "Mama Cries Uncle", in which Thelma's brother-in-law visits and the two supposedly wound up sleeping together:
According to her autobiography, Lawrence had a problem with the decision to tape the series on Stage 33 at CBS Television City, where The Carol Burnett Show was produced.
For 1½ seasons from 1983 through 1984, Mama's Family ran on NBC. In the series' first episode, Thelma Harper lives with her uncomfortable, uptight spinster sister Fran (Rue McClanahan), a journalist for a local paper. Thelma's son Vinton (whose wife Mitzi had left him to become a cocktail waitress in Las Vegas) arrives to inform Thelma that he and his two children, Sonja and Buzz, have been evicted from their home and need a place to stay. Much to Fran's chagrin, Thelma allows the trio to move in.
During the first season, Vinton forged a relationship with the Harpers' flirtatious next-door neighbor Naomi Oates, whom Thelma disliked, and soon married her. After selling Naomi's house and losing the money in a bad business deal, Naomi and Vint are forced to move into Thelma's basement, where they remain for most of the show's run. Also seen on a recurring basis were Thelma's two daughters: the snobbish Ellen (Betty White) and the ornery Eunice (Carol Burnett). Harvey Korman, who directed many of the earlier episodes, made featured appearances as Eunice's husband, Ed Higgins. (During the eleventh and final season of The Carol Burnett Show, the Ed Higgins character left Eunice and was written out of "The Family" skits.)
Korman appeared at the beginning of each episode as the stuffed shirt Alistair Quince (a parody of Alistair Cooke), who would soberly introduce the program in the style of Masterpiece Theatre.[12] These monologs were cut out of the later syndicated reruns. Korman also performed the voice of Thelma's unseen late husband, Carl, in flashback episodes.
An extended version of the show's opening theme song, with repeated melodies, was used during the original NBC run, but was never used in reruns.
The house and neighborhood shown in the opening credits differed between the original NBC run and the syndicated run (1027 Montrose Avenue in South Pasadena, which was also the house of Lynda's character in the 1978 film Halloween. The home was only featured briefly in the film where Lynda walks toward the front door[10]), leading to discrepancies such as in the episode "Mama for Mayor", in which Mama is shown in front of a house similar to the one used in the original opening theme of the first two seasons, though there are noticeable differences as it's not the same house.
In 2013, StarVista Entertainment released the original NBC seasons with the Alistair Quince intros and original opening credits intact, except for two episodes in Season 1 ("Cellmates" and "Mama's Boyfriend"), as the master prints of those episodes are lost and were replaced by the syndicated version in the re-release.
While not a huge ratings success, the first season garnered solid enough numbers to justify being renewed for a second season.[13] For instance, the premiere episode ranked #25 for the week with an 18.6 rating and a 28 share. However, during the second season, the show dropped out of the top 50 shows, losing share to CBS' hit Magnum, P.I. As a result, NBC canceled the series in May 1984.
After Mama's Family was canceled by NBC in 1984, it was later relaunched in first-run syndication in 1986.[14] Lorimar Television had just merged with Telepictures and were looking for new projects for the then newly commenced first-run syndication market.[14] After observing high ratings for NBC's Mama's Family in summer reruns, production staff decided that the show deserved a second chance and ordered 100 episodes for syndication.[15] Bubba, the son of Ed and Eunice, comes to live with Thelma after his parents move away.[16]
According to Lawrence's autobiography, Vicki!: The True-Life Adventures of Miss Fireball, Burnett resented Lawrence for accepting the role of Mama for first-run syndication with producer Joe Hamilton (who owned the Mama's Family characters). It was during this time that Burnett was involved in an acrimonious divorce from Hamilton, who produced both The Carol Burnett Show and Mama's Family.[17] Burnett felt Lawrence had been disloyal to her and held a grudge against her until Hamilton's death in 1991. Sometime after Hamilton's death, Burnett and Lawrence reconciled. Lawrence's autobiography reads:
After Mama's Family was picked up in first-run syndication, ratings for the series improved, becoming the highest-rated first-run program in syndication.[18] According to Ken Berry, Lawrence had seemingly grown tired of playing the "Mama" role by 1990 and wanted to end the show.[19] According to Lawrence, who would reprise Mama on stage for many years thereafter, the series ended because it had reached the standard threshold of 100 episodes, and the syndicator no longer needed to produce anymore, even though she would have wanted the show to continue.
See main article: Thelma Harper.
Thelma Harper, better known as Mama, is the title character/main character of Mama's Family; and is the widowed matriarch of a rural Southern family.[20] She is an elderly country woman in her mid-to-late 60s, who speaks in a southern drawl.[9]
Mama's appearance is based on that of a stereotypical elderly woman. She is a thickset, purse-lipped widow with silvery gray curls. All of her daytime outfits were short-sleeved, floral-print dresses with lace collars. Costumer Ret Turner color-coded Mama in flowery colors, mainly mixtures of blues, greens and lavenders.[21] As much of Mama's time was spent cooking and cleaning, she often wore overlapping aprons over her dresses. Mama's lower legs were always enveloped by visible support hose (a feature that was nonexistent during "The Family" sketches, but made its first appearance when she donned them during a segment of the 1982 Eunice movie).[22] For footwear, Mama regularly wore white orthopedic, colonial shoes that took an Alfred J. Cammeyer evening oxford heels style.[23]
In contrast to her more stereotypically elderly, dependent, invariably spiteful and cantankerous character on "The Family" skits, Mama's hostilities were significantly toned down in the sitcom's first life.[14] Though still cantankerous, the character expanded with wisecracks and humor, pesky antics, unseemliness and naivete. Mama's unseemliness and naivete were exemplified by her inability to drive (episode "Mama Learns to Drive"); inability to act in socially acceptable ways in public and in the presence of guests (episodes "The Mama Who Came to Dinner", "Country Club" and "Ellen's Boyfriend"); inability to hold jobs outside the home (episodes "Mama Gets a Job", "Supermarket" and "Mama for Mayor"); etc. These characteristics often resulted in the humiliation or frustration of her loved ones.
By the show's second life, Mama was no longer naive (Vinton overwhelmingly assumed this role) and far more capable of high spirits than ever before. This version of Mama had the fewest stereotypically elderly traits. She was dutiful in caring for her home, garden and family; independent; and active in the community along with best friend Iola Boylen. For example, Mama returned to high school and graduated (episodes "Educating Mama," "Teacher's Pet," and "Pomp and Circumstance"); she was heavily involved in the Church Ladies League and at one point its president (episode "Where There's Smoke"); Mama participated in dirty dancing (episode "Very Dirty Dancing"); went on a trip (episode "Mama Goes Hawaiian"), etc. Highlighting her much more relaxed nature during the syndicated seasons, Mama's main character trait during this time was her many fretful wisecracks, typically made in a high-pitched, whiny voice. Despite that, this era of Mama was more derogatory than ever; rough, abrasive and brash in manner; volatile and explosive in temper; and smart-mouthed with a proneness for making snappy retorts.[9]
In February 2013, Lawrence stated that "The Family" sketch version of Mama was created by writers (Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon) who hated their mothers.[24] [25]
| Character | Actor | Years | Character rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinton Harper | 1983–1984 1986–1990 | Regular character | ||
| Naomi Oates Harper | 1983–1984 1986–1990 | Regular character | ||
| Vinton "Buzz" Harper, Jr. | Eric Brown | 1983–1984 | Regular character | |
| Sonja Harper | Karin Argoud | 1983–1984 | Regular character | |
| Ellen Harper-Jackson | 1983–1984 1986 | Recurring character | ||
| Eunice Harper Higgins | 1983–1984 | Recurring character | ||
| Ed Higgins | 1983–1984 | Recurring character | ||
| Bubba Higgins | 1986–1990 | Regular character | ||
| Frances Marie Crowley[26] | 1983–1984 | Regular character | ||
| Iola Boylan | 1986–1990 | Regular character |
See main article: List of Mama's Family episodes.
Altogether, Mama's Family had six seasons consisting of 130 episodes. The show's first life consisted of 35 episodes, making for two seasons. The show's second life consisted of 95 episodes, making for four seasons.
On September 30, 2013, Vicki Lawrence was asked what her favorite episodes of the series are:
On September 26, 2006, Warner Bros. Television released season 1 of Mama's Family on DVD. The DVD release features the syndicated versions of the episodes, which edits roughly three minutes from what originally aired. Warner Bros. claimed to only own the rights to the syndicated form.[27]
Due to issues relating to ownership rights between the show's production companies, Mama's Family for a long time had difficulties coming out on DVD, with only its first season available for many years.
However, in May 2013, it was announced that StarVista Entertainment would release all 6 seasons of the sitcom to DVD, as well as a complete series box set, which was available only through the StarVista website. Most of the original unedited versions, dubbed "The Joe Hamilton Cuts," were presented on DVD. Included with the package were extras of over 10 hours of bonus material, as well as a new cast reunion with Vicki Lawrence and the show's syndicated cast members. In addition, StarVista offered a "Signature" collection of the entire series, autographed by Vicki Lawrence, which was limited to 500 copies.[28]
In the fall of 2013, Star Vista began releasing individual season sets, Seasons 1 & 2 were released on September 10, 2013,[29] followed by season 3 on February 25, 2014.[30] Season 4 was released on June 24, 2014,[31] Season 5 on September 23, 2014[32] and the sixth and final season was released on February 10, 2015.[33] In conjunction with the complete seasons, Star Vista released a "best-of" single-disc unit for each season. Selected by Vicki Lawrence, each release has 6 (season 1 has 7) of her personal favorite episodes from each season.
| Release | Ep # | DVD release date | Bonus features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Complete 1st Season | 13 | September 26, 2006 (re-released September 10, 2013) | Featurette: Mama's Family Tree: The Branches (All About Eunice and Ellen) Family History: A Classic "Family" Sketch from The Carol Burnett Show, featuring Betty White | |
| The Complete 2nd Season | 22 | September 10, 2013 | The original TV movie Eunice Featurette: Mama's Family Tree: The Roots (all about Mama and Fran) Interviews: Vicki Lawrence interviews Mama; Vicki Lawrence and Carol Burnett; Betty White | |
| The Complete 3rd Season | 25 | February 25, 2014 | Family History: A Classic "Family" Sketch from The Carol Burnett Show, featuring Maggie Smith Featurette: Mama's Family Tree: The Sprouts (All about Bubba) Mama Knows Best: A Mama's Family Cast Reunion Interview: Allan Kayser (Bubba) | |
| The Complete 4th Season | 25 | June 24, 2014 | Featurette: Mama's Family Tree: The Neighbors (All about Iola) Interview: Beverly Archer (Iola Boylen) Under One Roof: A Mama's Family Cast Reunion | |
| The Complete 5th Season | 25 | September 23, 2014 | Interviews: Vicki Lawrence Dorothy Lyman Ken Berry Rick Hawkins | |
| The Complete 6th Season | 20 | February 10, 2015 | Interviews: Jim Evering Manny Basanese Vicki Lawrence and Rick Hawkins Bob Mackie and Ret Turner | |
| Mama's Family: Mama's Favorites (Season 1) | 7 | September 10, 2013 | "Vint and the Kids Move In", "The Wedding, pt. 1", "The Wedding, pt. 2"; "Cellmates", "Family Feud", "Positive Thinking", "Mama's Boyfriend" | |
| Mama's Family: Mama's Favorites (Season 2) | 6 | September 10, 2013 | "Country Club", "Rashomama", "Aunt Gert Rides Again", "Mama Learns to Drive", "Mama Buys a Car", "Dear Aunt Fran" | |
| Mama's Family: Mama's Favorites (Season 3) | 6 | September 9, 2014 | "Soup to Nuts", "Cat's Meow", "Steal One, Pearl Two", "Where There's Smoke", "Birthright", "It Takes Two to Watusi" | |
| Mama's Family: Mama's Favorites (Season 4) | 6 | January 27, 2015 | "Zirconia's are a Girl's Best Friend", "Educating Mama", "The Sins of the Mother", "Mama on Jeopardy!", "Mama Goes Hawaiian, pt. 1", "Mama Goes Hawaiian, pt. 2" | |
| Mama's Family: Mama's Favorites (Season 5) | 6 | April 28, 2015 | "Naomi's New Position"; "The Really Loud Family", "Found Money", "Mama's Layaway Plan", "Mama in One", "Dependence Day" | |
| Mama's Family: Mama's Favorites (Season 6) | 6 | July 28, 2015 | "Mama Fights Back", "Bubba's House Band", "The Big Nap", "Pinup Mama", "Look Who's Breathing", "Bye-Bye Baby!" | |
| The Complete Series | 130 | September 10, 2013 (online exclusive) September 23, 2014 (retail release) |
| Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Episodes(s) | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | |||||
| 1984 | |||||
| 1987 |
| Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Episodes(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series | N/A | ||
| Best Young Actor in a Comedy Series | Eric Brown | N/A | ||
| 1985 | Best Young Actress – Guest in a Television Series | Tanya Fenmore | ||
| Best Young Actor – Guest in a Television Series | ||||
| 1989 | Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Syndicated Comedy, Drama or Special | |||
| Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Drama or Comedy Series | N/A |
After the series finale in 1990, the entire series (including the NBC episodes) was placed in off-network syndication, airing in most cities every weekday. Mama's Family also ran on TBS from January 1997 until August 2006 premiering weekday mornings. In October 1998, TBS aired a full hour of Mama's Family weekday afternoons at 6:05 pm/et and then moved the show to 4:05pm/et in November 1998.[34] That same month, ION Television (formerly the PAX network) began airing reruns of the series. The show aired Monday through Friday at 8:00 to 9:00 pm from 2006 to 2008. ET.
In December 2006, CMT began re-airing the series.[35]
Mama's Family currently airs on CMT, Logo TV, and MeTV.
On November 1, 2023, the free streaming service Pluto TV added all of the seasons of Mama's Family on their On Demand service, however as of January 3, 2024, it only offers the last three seasons.[36] It also airs on the Pluto TV classic TV channel. The show also airs on Catchy Comedy.
An Italian version called La mamma è sempre la mamma (Mom is always mom) aired on Odeon TV in 1988.