I always wondered this. So many people talk about The Golden Girls (which i personally find overrated, anyway), and all these other shows from the 80s. But mention Mama's Family and people are like "Eh, you like that show?

Well , yes I do! When Im down in the dumps, its the ONLY SHOW, ( and I like a lot of tv sit coms), that can make me feel better. The ONLY one. It makes me laugh all the time. Doesn't matter if its the NBC version or the later years. Mama's Family is one of my favorite shows. I also like the original skits on CB too.

Just the whole thing

But so many people don't seem to like it. It doesnt have mainstream acceptance. Ill never understand that.

I LOVE MAMA'S FAMILY. I hope a channel picks it up soon.

I Love Mama's Family sure do miss the show and I wish a station would pick up the show.

Having watched the "Mama" character in "The Family" skits on The Carol Burnett Show in the seventies, it always felt like two characters were missing on Mama's Family. The characters being Ed (Harvey Korman) and Eunice (Carol Burnett).

I thought the character was good in those skits, but I didn't care for the show and the characters they created for it. Mama was essentially a supporting character who got promoted to the lead character but the writers failed to come up with good characters to surround her.

Just my opinion.

Also, didn't they change some actors after the first season was cancelled on NBC?

^ Yeah, they did. Vinton's kids were phased out, Mama's grandson (by Ed and Eunice) was added, and Rue McClanahan and Betty White had moved on to Golden Girls.

When I was little I used to catch this show on tv. If I'm not mistaking it aired before the cartoon Bobby's World. This was during the 1990s.

All I remember was this old woman with an annoying voice and glasses so I shut if off and never watched it since.

^ Yeah, they did. Vinton's kids were phased out, Mama's grandson (by Ed and Eunice) was added, and Rue McClanahan and Betty White had moved on to Golden Girls.
They also added neighbor and Vinton fan Iola Boylen.

They also added neighbor and Vinton fan Iola Boylen.
Ahhh yes, the wonderful character actress Beverly Archer. Her godawful crafts were always good for a few laughs. :eek: :lol:

Ahhh yes, the wonderful character actress Beverly Archer. Her godawful crafts were always good for a few laughs. :eek: :lol:
She was a one woman craft fair!! LOL!!!:lol:

I really liked Mama's Family when it was a skit on the Carol Burnett show I didn't much care for it as a series.

But Vicky Lawrence did a fantastic job as Mama, she could give Madea a run for her money IMHO.


Charles

I have always liked this show. It is always funny to watch. My sister doesn't like it because she says it is so cheesy and low budget looking compared to other shows. I myself think the basic house set is more down to earth and part of the show's charm.

I think people who remember the original sketches on the Carol Burnett Show don't enjoy Mama's Family as much as they could because they miss the presence of Ed and Eunice.

I have always liked this show. It is always funny to watch. My sister doesn't like it because she says it is so cheesy and low budget looking compared to other shows. I myself think the basic house set is more down to earth and part of the show's charm.
So do I! :D

I think people who remember the original sketches on the Carol Burnett Show don't enjoy Mama's Family as much as they could because they miss the presence of Ed and Eunice.

Precisely. Perhaps if I'd seen Mama's Family first, I'd feel differently.

I'm a fan of Mama's Family and I believe I've seen more than about 90% of the episodes (it used to be on at least 5 times per week in my area).

While I found the Burnett Show sketches to be superior and often hysterically funny, I still enjoyed Mama's Family very much, and I liked Vicki and the supporting cast.

I have always liked this show. It is always funny to watch. My sister doesn't like it because she says it is so cheesy and low budget looking compared to other shows. I myself think the basic house set is more down to earth and part of the show's charm.

To me- thats part of its charm! But I dont think its low budget. Just more homespun and campy. But that gives it such flavor and makes it stand apart from other shows.

Shows I think are cheesy from that Era are shows such as Growing Pains, Full House, Family Ties etc. Those shows are soooo dated!
Mama is CLASSIC!

I like Mama's Family as well. It's not one of my favorites, but it's a good show. I think it did pretty well for a sitcom, considering that it was essentially a spin-off of a skit from the Carol Burnett Show.

Some trivia... Dorothy Lyman, who played Naomi, was on All My Children back in 1984 (probably earlier, but that's when I started watching it). She played Opal Gardner, who was the TV daughter to Jenny Gardner, played by Kim Delaney of NYPD Blue fame.

I also found an IMDB site about the show. Interesting that it was canceled so suddenly and then revived and continued for a few years after that.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mama%27s_Family

Andrea

well, I don't get why "a lot" of others don't care for the show because I think Vicki Lawrence is a HOOT as Mama. And there are some others on the show who are rather good too. To each is own, but I'll take another plate of M.F. pleez!

well, I don't get why "a lot" of others don't care for the show because I think Vicki Lawrence is a HOOT as Mama. And there are some others on the show who are rather good too. To each is own, but I'll take another plate of M.F. pleez!
You're so right. Vicki had some great lines, and delivered them well.

You're so right. Vicki had some great lines, and delivered them well.

Absolutely! She did a wicked Mama. God love her. She had that old gal down to a t.

Same here!! :D

I Love the series I just wish Mama's Family was on TV Again in Reruns

I heard that several people weren't a fan of this show. I don't know why. I loved Mama's Family. That was one of the great spin-off shows. I thought it was funny. But, I liked it better with Bubba than I did with Buzz and Sonja.

But Vicky Lawrence did a fantastic job as Mama, she could give Madea a run for her money IMHO.



Now THAT would be a great idea- Mama and Madea together! Someone write to Tyler Perry and tell him to do it!!

I heard that several people weren't a fan of this show. I don't know why. I loved Mama's Family. That was one of the great spin-off shows. I thought it was funny. But, I liked it better with Bubba than I did with Buzz and Sonja.

It could also be a regional thing. Most fans I meet are from the South or Midwest. I dont think other parts of the country seem to relate to the show as much. Same could be said for "Andy Griffith". Im from Virginia, so I always thought this show reminded me of some people I knew or know and I loved the fact that the show played up the provinciality of the town and characters. Everything was "Ray" this or that, lol.

Also, didn't they change some actors after the first season was cancelled on NBC?

It actually ran for two seasons on NBC. Season one had 13 episodes and season two had 22 episodes.

I always wondered this. So many people talk about The Golden Girls (which i personally find overrated, anyway), and all these other shows from the 80s. But mention Mama's Family and people are like "Eh, you like that show?

Well , yes I do! When Im down in the dumps, its the ONLY SHOW, ( and I like a lot of tv sit coms), that can make me feel better. The ONLY one. It makes me laugh all the time. Doesn't matter if its the NBC version or the later years. Mama's Family is one of my favorite shows. I also like the original skits on CB too.

Just the whole thing

But so many people don't seem to like it. It doesnt have mainstream acceptance. Ill never understand that.


I get the same reaction when I tell people that I like "Roseanne".I don't get it either! To me these two sitcoms are the funniest ever!:D

i want this show back on the air so bad i had enough of Golden girls

Now THAT would be a great idea- Mama and Madea together! Someone write to Tyler Perry and tell him to do it!!

God, no!!

Please, no!!

I really liked all the characters in this show. It had some really funny episodes.

The people dismissing it are those superior types who don't think it's "sophisticated" enough for their liking. They prefer the overrated but more acclaimed sitcoms like MTM, Taxi and Murphy Brown. While I also enjoy those shows, IMO they aren't as funny as Mama.

The people dismissing it are those superior types who don't think it's "sophisticated" enough for their liking. They prefer the overrated but more acclaimed sitcoms like MTM, Taxi and Murphy Brown. While I also enjoy those shows, IMO they aren't as funny as Mama.

I agree. Although Murphy Brown is one of my favorites(as is MTM) Mama is funnier. More "in your face" kind of humor.:D :wave:

Shows like Mama's Family don't get any respect because some people like to think that if a show isn't set in a large city, it's below them. I would buy a complete Mama's Family DVD set in a minute!

My dislike of Mama's Family has nothing to do with its lack of sophistication. Many of my favorite shows over the years were not considered highbrow entertainment.

I just feel that without Eunice and Ed, Mama doesn't work. It's like going to a birthday party, only to find out that the guest of honor won't be showing up.

I've always loved the show, and also loved the Carol Burnett Show, from which it spun off.

BUT I talk to a lot of ppl who tell me they like the NBC episodes b/c they are more true to the Family Sketches from Carol Burnett, but they tell me they find the newer syndicated episodes just too silly.

My dislike of Mama's Family has nothing to do with its lack of sophistication. Many of my favorite shows over the years were not considered highbrow entertainment.

I just feel that without Eunice and Ed, Mama doesn't work. It's like going to a birthday party, only to find out that the guest of honor won't be showing up.

Considering how Mama's Personality changed, I think she works just fine alone. IN FACT I'd like to see how the NEW Mama would interact with Eunice.

I always liked the show enough, but it seems to consistently make the upper levels of "Worst of All Time" lists. I don't even openly admit to watching it cause I don't think I know one person who wouldn't be rubbing that in my face for awhile. I always found the show to be a bit better than most others of it's era though.