https://jacksonupperco.com/2016/04/12/the-ten-best-mamas-family-episodes-of-season-two/

My top 10 of season 2:
1. "Supermarket"
2. "No Room at the Inn"
3. "Rashomama"
4. "Obscene Call"
5. "The Mama Who Came to Dinner"
6. "Ask Aunt Fran"
7. "Mama's Birthday"
8. "Country Club"
9. "Mama Learns to Drive"
10. "Flaming Forties"

My least favorites of season 2:
"Naomi and the Stork", "Ellen's Boyfriend", & "Mama Cries Uncle"

Honorable mention: "The Return of Leonard Oates"
Most valuable episode: "Rashomama"

I am surprised "The Flaming Forties" was not included. I absolutely adore that episode and IMO it's way better than the forgettable "Grave Mistake" or "Gert Rides Again" (I've never cared for Imogene Coca's overplaying in anything she's done).

I agree that "Rashomama" is the MVE and my other picks this season would be "Supermarket", "Black Belt Mama", "The Mama Who Came to Dinner", "Mama Learns to Drive", "No Room at the Inn" and "Country Club".

My top 10 of season 2:
1. "Supermarket"

my other picks this season would be "Supermarket",

That is not one of my picks. "Supermarket" is one of the few episodes where Mama crosses a line in her actions to the point that she simply becomes unlikable. Other than that unfortunate factor, I do appreciate the episode.


My least favorites of season 2:
"Naomi and the Stork", "Ellen's Boyfriend", & "Mama Cries Uncle"

I always wished they could have filmed "Ellen's Boyfriend" when Betty White's voice wasn't compromised. The dinner scene at the Chez Ray is great family ensemble comedy.


Honorable mention: "The Return of Leonard Oates"

I always really enjoy this episode.


I am surprised "The Flaming Forties" was not included.

I'm not, because upperco utterly dislikes Buzz and Sonja, and this episode features them quite a bit.

I'm not, because upperco utterly dislikes Buzz and Sonja, and this episode features them quite a bit.

My dissatisfaction regarding the thin renderings of Buzz and Sonja wouldn't preclude me from enjoying an installment in which they were funny and/or well-used.

Actually, "Flaming Forties" has never been a standout to me for structural reasons, as I think the script is one good-but-not-great excuse to arrive at the "block comedy" musical sequence, which itself doesn't justify the episode's existence (unlike, for instance, "Black Belt Mama," a troubled offering about which I feel similarly -- although with a more favorable verdict when all's said and done). Also, I think Mama's characterization is -- for Season Two -- off within this particular episode; she's much nicer and more amiable than in most of the others here, and it's too soon in the series for that not to be noticeable.

However, I do grant she's also fairly nice in "Aunt Gert Rides Again," an episode that, make no mistake, thrives specifically because of Imogene Coca, whose praises I'll never tire of singing. She elevates good-but-not-great material to the levels of great. As for Mama, in many ways, "Flaming Forties" and "Aunt Gert Rides Again" are built upon the same idea: Mama's vitality when tapping into her youth -- hence the brighter attitude. Frankly, neither story is stellar (they're both rather thin and uncomedic), but, obviously, my preference is for "Aunt Gert Rides Again," which I consider more valuable because of the players and what they do to enhance the material.

Enjoy discussing the series with others who love it. Stay tuned next week for my thoughts on the best from Season Three!

My dissatisfaction regarding the thin renderings of Buzz and Sonja wouldn't preclude me from enjoying an installment in which they were funny and/or well-used.

I can understand that, like how you appreciated the efforts of "Ask Aunt Fran" regarding Fran. It's a shame those kids were forcefully shoe-horned into the series when that was an element out of line with the vision of the series. Poor Eric and Karin, shoved somewhere they were never wanted in the first place...