I read on a website somewhere that there were like 5 lost episodes of Mama's Family. I know the Gert episode is not run on TBS but does anyone know of any other lost episodes?????????

Hmm, this really makes you think, though. :)

Originally posted by sarumanthewhite
I read on a website somewhere that there were like 5 lost episodes of Mama's Family. I know the Gert episode is not run on TBS but does anyone know of any other lost episodes?????????

Could be but I can't think of any! Sorry!

There were 35 MF episodes made for NBC. Thirteen their first season (Jan 83 - Apr 83) and 22 their second season (Sept 83 - Apr 84). Only 34 NBC episodes are shown on TBS. They used to show the Gert one a long time ago, but removed it for some reason.

They produced 95 syndicated episodes that are shown on TBS, and yes, 5 more episodes that were never aired. It's a rule that when you have a syndicated TV show, you have to make 100 episodes - something about having enough episodes to put it into reruns. Why they never showed the 5 episodes is beyond me.

Originally posted by PZelda
There were 35 MF episodes made for NBC. Thirteen their first season (Jan 83 - Apr 83) and 22 their second season (Sept 83 - Apr 84). Only 34 NBC episodes are shown on TBS. They used to show the Gert one a long time ago, but removed it for some reason.

They produced 95 syndicated episodes that are shown on TBS, and yes, 5 more episodes that were never aired. It's a rule that when you have a syndicated TV show, you have to make 100 episodes - something about having enough episodes to put it into reruns. Why they never showed the 5 episodes is beyond me. Let me get this clear. have we ever seen those five episodes?

Originally posted by Dr. Phillips
Let me get this clear. have we ever seen those five episodes?

Nope. :(

I have no idea when those 5 episodes were filmed, either. I am guessing they did one every season, maybe?

I saw a MF poster on eBay once that confirmed the 5 lost episodes. Plus, there are some threads on this board from 2001/02 asking about the lost episodes too.

Originally posted by PZelda
Nope. :(

I have no idea when those 5 episodes were filmed, either. I am guessing they did one every season, maybe?

I saw a MF poster on eBay once that confirmed the 5 lost episodes. Plus, there are some threads on this board from 2001/02 asking about the lost episodes too. Okay. then we need to make sure these are included in a DVD release. I'm going to do some detective work and see if I can find some info.

There are no lost episodes...

Were these supposed LOST episodes unaired originally or just not on TBS.
If they were only unaired on TBS, there still would be an original airdate.
If they never aired during the show's run, it would say UNAIRED...

Who said you needed 100 episodes? That's the dumbest thing I've ever read...

http://www.tvtome.com/MamasFamily/eplist.html

Read the episode guide. Really, it isn't that hard...

The episode guide wouldn't have these since they were unaired and no one really know about them.

http://www.webspawner.com/users/mamasfamilyhistory/

towards the bottom of the page the lost episode are talked about

Originally posted by Dr. Phillips
The episode guide wouldn't have these since they were unaired and no one really know about them.

yeah, but tvtome and other episode guides usually acknowledge unaired episodes...

I feel if they were advertised on that poster then they were aired originally, just never on TBS or any other channel...

I really don't know. TV TOME isn't very reliable anyway. I mean it gets the job done, but its not going to do a lot of research for one show. Especially one like Mama's Family...

So maybe there are. And if there are, I want to see them!

When that poster was on eBay, I saved the picture of that poster. I'm not home right now though...but once I go home, I will post it here...

I'm just saying (about the 100-ep thing). I am not positive, but I *THINK* Vicki talked about it in her book. I would have to check on that, also. I could have asked Vicki about it when I met her, but I didn't. Oh well.

IIRC (if I recall), that same poster said there were indeed 5 lost episodes.

They had pics of both the top and bottom of the poster. I only saved the top one:

I have looked around on the internet for info on these episodes, but I can't find much. Anyone else have more luck than me?:mad: :( :confused:

I'm going to email TBS to find out if they know about the lost episodes.

It really doesn't make much sense.

"Bye Bye Baby" is supposed to be the last episode. It's production code is 620.

To suggest that there were episodes between that episode and the one before it wouldn't make much sense, since the Dames episode and Bye Bye Baby are basically a two parter...

Unless there were episodes involving baby tiffany after she was born, then I don't think this makes much sense.

The production codes might not be right though, but I'm sure they are... They seem accurate...

TYPO on that poster, perhaps?

Wow... (http://forehead511.tripod.com/lkhkjh.html)

found this after searching dozens and dozens of times on different search engines...

Originally posted by Dennis3264
Wow... (http://forehead511.tripod.com/lkhkjh.html)

found this after searching dozens and dozens of times on different search engines...

I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! *dances*

Originally posted by sarumanthewhite
I know the Gert episode is not run on TBS

It may seem like a trivial reason but I have a guess on this one.. I bet it is something as simple as the tape for that episode broke and knowing TBS they likely didn't have backup copies. A show like this they would've gotten one set of pre-edited tapes from the syndicator and would just play those. Since they screw up the order so much on those early episodes anyway I guess they figured nobody would care/notice

Originally posted by cp2k
It may seem like a trivial reason but I have a guess on this one.. I bet it is something as simple as the tape for that episode broke and knowing TBS they likely didn't have backup copies. A show like this they would've gotten one set of pre-edited tapes from the syndicator and would just play those. Since they screw up the order so much on those early episodes anyway I guess they figured nobody would care/notice

I'm honestly tired of saying this but here it goes...
TBS does not air the episodes in order of airdate. It airs them in order of production. So they don't screw up the order of the early episodes. Those episodes were just aired with production codes all over the place. For example, the first episode produced for season 2, is actually the last episode of season 2, airdate wise. TBS airs it first. A Grave Mistake is episode 201.

The syndicated episodes were aired in order by production code, so TBS airs them like that.

The unaired episode titles according to that possibly incorrect episode guide:

Play Ball!
Snow Job
Raytown Without Pity
Wedding Presence
Bubba's Photo Class

Mama's Family seems to have a pattern of playing on words for episode titles, for example the episode "Fangs Alot, Mama" is obviously a take off of Vint's famous "Thanks alot, Mama" comment, and the episode "My Phony Valentine" is obviously a take off of the song "My Funny Valentine." Now maybe it's my perverted mind, but am I the only one who thinks having an episode called "Snow Job", is an obviously off color take on, um, a certain....um....activity. :rolleyes: Seems a little too risqué for 80's television. Then again, if these episodes do exist, maybe that's one of the reasons it was never aired. But then again, they could have always changed the title. Would be interesting to see what THAT episode is about.

Originally posted by Dr. Phillips
I'm going to email TBS to find out if they know about the lost episodes.

I e-mailed them several months ago asking about why "Gert" isn't shown anymore. They haven't responded yet. Hopefully you will have more luck. :D

Originally posted by Eroticdita92
Mama's Family seems to have a pattern of playing on words for episode titles, for example the episode "Fangs Alot, Mama" is obviously a take off of Vint's famous "Thanks alot, Mama" comment, and the episode "My Phony Valentine" is obviously a take off of the song "My Funny Valentine." Now maybe it's my perverted mind, but am I the only one who thinks having an episode called "Snow Job", is an obviously off color take on, um, a certain....um....activity. :rolleyes: Seems a little too risqué for 80's television. Then again, if these episodes do exist, maybe that's one of the reasons it was never aired. But then again, they could have always changed the title. Would be interesting to see what THAT episode is about.

I doubt that "Snow Job" is what you are suggesting. Actually the term snow job means to fool or trick someone. I am wondering if there was an episode in which it actually snowed in Raytown! If these are really lost episodes I sure hope that someone finds them! I would love to see them!:happyface

Originally posted by Penny Lane
I doubt that "Snow Job" is what you are suggesting. Actually the term snow job means to fool or trick someone. I am wondering if there was an episode in which it actually snowed in Raytown! If these are really lost episodes I sure hope that someone finds them! I would love to see them!:happyface

And if Mama's Family ever comes to DVD, it would rock so much if they packaged the lost seasons with their respective seasons. :biglove:

Originally posted by PZelda
And if Mama's Family ever comes to DVD, it would rock so much if they packaged the lost seasons with their respective seasons. :biglove:


And yes, that is a BIG IF!!!

Originally posted by Dennis3264
Wow... (http://forehead511.tripod.com/lkhkjh.html)

found this after searching dozens and dozens of times on different search engines... Pzelda was right their scattered over different seasons. It's odd they've never been aired since most unaired episodes will turn up in syndication.

Originally posted by jterry
And yes, that is a BIG IF!!!

*shushes* It WILL come to DVD.











(I'm being optimstic :p)

Wow, I always assumed that the 5 unaired episodes thing was just a rumor (or maybe they were never filmed), but now I'm starting to believe that they really did exist- especially after seeing those episode titles on that website.

With the other evidence on the flyer, these unaired episodes seem like a reality now. Just when you thought you'd completed your MF collection, something like this happens, lol

(edited to remove the info about Vicki mentioning there were 135 episodes on a talk show-- not 100% sure if I remembered this correctly since whatever talk show it was aired a really long time ago)

Well...what the......?

Originally posted by ILoveLucy2002
Wow, I always assumed that the 5 unaired episodes thing was just a rumor (or maybe they were never filmed), but now I'm starting to believe that they really did exist- especially after seeing those episode titles on that website.

I remember seeing Vicki on a talk show a few years ago and I distinctly remember her saying that they completed 135 episodes. And with the other evidence on the flyer, these unaired episodes seem like a reality now. Just when you thought you'd completed your MF collection, something like this happens, lol

Javed

Heeey, it's Javed! :D

Yep...MF is so mysterious like that. I would LOVE to see the lost eps on DVD. That would be soooo awesome. :D

Originally posted by Eroticdita92
Well...what the......?
You said it!
Man, wouldn't that be great seeing those episodes?! It would be like watching new Mama's Family episodes as if it never went off the air! Cool!:cool:

Originally posted by Sterling Holobyte
You said it!
Man, wouldn't that be great seeing those episodes?! It would be like watching new Mama's Family episodes as if it never went off the air! Cool!:cool:

That would be cool. Some of those re-runs get old after a while. :D

Originally posted by Eroticdita92
Well...what the......?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Originally posted by Sterling Holobyte
You said it!
Man, wouldn't that be great seeing those episodes?! It would be like watching new Mama's Family episodes as if it never went off the air! Cool!:cool:

That would be very cool!
Hi Sterling! :wave:

Originally posted by Penny Lane
That would be very cool!
Hi Sterling! :wave:
Well Penny, we have simply got to stop meeting like this!;) :D

Hi all, I'm new to the forum but I hoped maybe I could shed some light on this.

I'm not so sure that the 5 episodes listed on epguides.com as being 'unaired' were actually NEVER aired.

Perhaps they mean that they aren't currently aired in syndication (TBS).

But, I remember destinctly some of those episode titles and descriptions of them.

The local affiliate that aired the show during the last years it originally aired and for years after that in reruns (in Memphis TN) aired these... I think!

Play Ball! -- this doesn't ring a bell totally
Snow Job -- same here...
Raytown Without Pity --

Is it me or is this the episode where the mayor decides to demolish several homes in Mama's neighborhood and pay them for their property...most of the neighborhood is cool with it but Mama doesn't want to sell her domain to the city?

Wedding Presence -- foggy on this one...

Bubba's Photo Class --

I remember this episode almost verbatim. Doesn't Bubba take a photo class and decides to do some trick photography...takes a photo of Mama and of a hot young thing and superimposes Mama's head on the girls body for some calander and there's a senior's get together involved, etc.

Call me crazy but this is all sounding correct?
sound&vision

Hi soundandvision - welcome to the boards! :wave:

Actually, you are thinking of episodes that have indeed aired.

The episode where the mayor tried to demolish several houses in Mama's neighborhood was "What a Dump", o.b. Dec. 23, 1988.

What a Dump

Original Airdate: December 23, 1988
Special Guests: Alan Oppenheimer as Mayor Tutwiller.

Mama plays host to the neighborhood block party, where Mayor Tutwiller is set to make a major announcement. Mama thinks he's going to award her the "Golden Troll" award for the best yard in Raytown. Instead, Tutwiller announces that the city council has voted to make Raylane the new city dump and they are going to buy all the houses on the block.

Mama refuses to move, even though everyone else is for it. Bubba plans to move into the dorm and Vint and Naomi find a newspaper ad for their dream house, which they will now be able to afford with the money they will be getting from the city for Mama’s house.

Meanwhile, Bubba is working on a history paper for class on the founder of Raytown, James A. Ray. It seems he can find plenty of facts about his life but nothing about his death, until he goes to City Hall for the records.

Mama is trying unsuccessfully to start a petition to save the house. As the day of demolition arrives, Bubba announces he found out that James A. Ray died at a house at 1 Old Decatur Road, the exact address of Mama's house before the street name was changed. Mayor Tutwiller is forced to name it an historical landmark in the end.

The one where Bubba superimposed Mama's head onto a supermodel's body was "Pinup Mama", o.b. Feb. 8, 1990.

Pinup Mama

Original Airdate: February 8, 1990
Special Guests: Art Kassul as Wes, Bob Larkin as Ernie, Julianna McCarthy as Lucille and Melanie Tomlin as Lisa.

Mama and Iola are trying to figure out ways to get more men to come to the senior singles mixer. Naomi mentions making a flyer to do a little advertising. Mama and Iola think that's a great idea and go about making the flyer.

Bubba is taking pictures for his creative photography class, and Mama suggests he set up a shoot to take pictures of all of them. Iola explains why she is camera shy. Bubba gets everyone's pictures taken, including Melanie (a model he invited in secret) in a skimpy bathing suit.

Mama finally strikes upon the idea of putting her picture on the flyer. Bubba has Mama's head super-imposed on Melanie's body and wants to have it blown up into a poster as a joke. They both send Vint to RayPrint to get them done and he gets them mixed up.

Mama and Iola discover Vint's screw-up after they arrive at the mixer and the women are upset about it.All the men want to dance with Mama after seeing the flyer of her. It is finally revealed when Mama takes her coat off and reveals not all of the picture is really of her.

Does that help? :)

I'm afraid it does.. damn!

I guess there really are episodes that didn't air..

s&v

Thanks Pzelda!
SoundandVision was scaring me there for a minute;), thinking that some of those unaired eps were actually aired and that I had seen them.
Thanks for keeping the dream alive. The dream of all of us Mama's Family fans, that there are some new old episodes floating around out there somewhere.:mango

It's OK :) Easily understandable, since the camera episodes were next to each other.

Either way, I am glad to see this thread has sparked much discussion! This board is usually dead, but it's been really active in the last few days, thanks to this thread. ;)

I think "Bubba's Photo Class" might have been an episode to lead into "Pin up Mama."

Is it possible these episodes were made, and then had their names changed? Hence them not being "aired". ex. "Bubba's Photo Class" didn't air, because it was re-named "Pinup Mama." Maybe I'm just having trouble coping with the fact there's episodes we haven't seen....lol.

Originally posted by Eroticdita92
Is it possible these episodes were made, and then had their names changed? Hence them not being "aired". ex. "Bubba's Photo Class" didn't air, because it was re-named "Pinup Mama." Maybe I'm just having trouble coping with the fact there's episodes we haven't seen....lol.

SCOTT! Get a grip.

There ARE five unaired episodes.

;)

I refuse to believe there's not 1, but 5!!! that we haven't seen. After trackinng down Gert, I thought my collection was complete. Now there's 5 more, that no matter how much we search Ebay, or the tape trader boards, we're out of luck. I refuse to accept it!!! lol. Perhaps a song will calm me down..."Raaaaytown, oh Raaaaytown"....that made it worse. :confused: Hold my hand Allison, tell me everything going to be okay...lol.

Originally posted by Eroticdita92
I refuse to believe there's not 1, but 5!!! that we haven't seen. After trackinng down Gert, I thought my collection was complete. Now there's 5 more, that no matter how much we search Ebay, or the tape trader boards, we're out of luck. I refuse to accept it!!! lol. Perhaps a song will calm me down..."Raaaaytown, oh Raaaaytown"....that made it worse. :confused: Hold my hand Allison, tell me everything going to be okay...lol.

:lol: :lol: Like I said..there's always hope for it when MF DOES get released to DVD...and it WILL happen! You just wait and see! ;)

*holds hand*

Okay, Allison, I closed my eyes and this is what I saw. One day, I swear one day it will not be a fake "It will come to DVD, it will come to DVD", let's all chant until it does.

AGAIN! It's just a fake everyone, I don't wanna get anyone's hopes up!!

The DVD doesn't say Mama's Family on it.

It would be included as a bonus disc in the EXTENSIVE remastared, Vicki Lawrence commentary complete Mama's Family boxed set...IT WILL HAPPEN DAMMIT!

that's funny

Originally posted by Eroticdita92
It would be included as a bonus disc in the EXTENSIVE remastared, Vicki Lawrence commentary complete Mama's Family boxed set...IT WILL HAPPEN DAMMIT!

:rofl: I love that!

You rule. ;)

Reopen.

This thread has been reopened. Is there any news about the lost episodes?

Has anyone written Vicki Lawrence and asked?

Has anyone written Vicki Lawrence and asked?
... Or any of the other cast for that matter?

I think it would be wonderful if there are never before seen episodes. They would be a nice addition to the DVD sets. Although I'm not going to get too excited because it may all be an unfortunate mistake. That poster could have been a misprint, naming titles of episodes that once were planned to be aired or were later rewritten into other episodes like Bubba's Photo Class to Pinup Mama.

Okay, Allison, I closed my eyes and this is what I saw. One day, I swear one day it will not be a fake "It will come to DVD, it will come to DVD", let's all chant until it does.

AGAIN! It's just a fake everyone, I don't wanna get anyone's hopes up!!

has anybody actually seen these lost episodes
Play Ball!
Snow Job
Raytown Without Pity
Wedding Presence
Bubbas Photo Class

has anybody actually seen these lost episodes
Play Ball!
Snow Job
Raytown Without Pity
Wedding Presence
Bubbas Photo Class
None of us have.

So a friend of mine actually has a tape of a bunch of Mama's Family episodes that he recorded when they first aired and I just popped it in one day at his house simply for something to do, and Bedtime for Bubba came on and I watched that. And then it took me a while to realize that I had never seen the next episode before. And then it hit me!

In this episode, it snows in Raytown and everyone goes crazy! All the businesses close for days and everyone is excited...everyone but Mama, who is stuck at home with her family...her worst nightmare. It was pretty funny!

I think these episodes' tapes just got lost.

So a friend of mine actually has a tape of a bunch of Mama's Family episodes that he recorded when they first aired and I just popped it in one day at his house simply for something to do, and Bedtime for Bubba came on and I watched that. And then it took me a while to realize that I had never seen the next episode before. And then it hit me!

In this episode, it snows in Raytown and everyone goes crazy! All the businesses close for days and everyone is excited...everyone but Mama, who is stuck at home with her family...her worst nightmare. It was pretty funny!

I think these episodes' tapes just got lost.

Wow! I would love to see that episode! They were really big on holiday episodes so I am wondering if there is a Halloween eppie out there some where?:confused:
Wouldn't that be cool?:cool: :wave:

I think these episodes' tapes just got lost.
Wait, so you seen it but now it's lost?

Wow! I would love to see that episode! They were really big on holiday episodes so I am wondering if there is a Halloween eppie out there some where?:confused:
Wouldn't that be cool?:cool: :wave:
Yeah, that's one thing that bothered me; no Halloween episode whatsoever! The closest thing we have to something chilling would be that episode where Mama has a dream of her boyfriend/teacher's late wife ... REBECCA! (Mwahahahaha)

So a friend of mine actually has a tape of a bunch of Mama's Family episodes that he recorded when they first aired and I just popped it in one day at his house simply for something to do, and Bedtime for Bubba came on and I watched that. And then it took me a while to realize that I had never seen the next episode before. And then it hit me!

In this episode, it snows in Raytown and everyone goes crazy! All the businesses close for days and everyone is excited...everyone but Mama, who is stuck at home with her family...her worst nightmare. It was pretty funny!

I think these episodes' tapes just got lost.

Just goin' over the boards, and wow! This is something intruiging, something that adds some excitement to our 24 year old show. :) And the fact that you saw one! Your friend has got to be one of very, very few. That's just amazing. Does he/she still have the tape?

the only lost episode I know of is gert riders again

Do we know anything more about these lost episodes?

Yes, that it's all a hoax:

=================================

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/topic/320752-mamas-family-30th-anniversary/page-8

Posted September 06 2013 - 09:32 PM


It's just an old internet rumor. There are no five missing episodes of Mama's Family. The rumor was so out of control that at one time, the five supposed "lost" episodes were even listed on epguides.com as "UNAIRED." They were never produced.


The rumor (a stupid prank, really) began when someone noticed that season six only had 20 episodes, instead of 25 as in the previous syndicated seasons. They smelled a conspiracy, and delivered, by making up five "lost" episodes to round out that season. Nice of them. Those last five eps were never aired because they were never filmed. Notice that Mama's Family ends at episode #130 which is the magic number for a successful syndicated program. You get to #130, you get convenient 26-week (6 month) runs in syndication forever and ever. They never needed to film five more, and the plan all along was to try to get to 130. They did, and they ceased production. End of story.

====================================


Most of the 5 "UNAIRED" episode titles don't even match up to any of the descriptions of those rumored "lost" episodes, which gives the rumor even less credence.

Hopefully now these rumors can be put to rest. :)