I wish they had done at least ONE special sketch true to the original concept, with Carol as Mama and Vickie as Eunice. Would just love to see what that would have been like.

It also makes me wonder IF they had gone ahead with the original idea would we have ever gotten Mama's Family? I'm doubting Carol would want to tie herself down to an on-going sitcom, but I wonder if Eunice would have become the spin-off show?

Interesting question. I think the closest we get to a "Carol Mama" is in the "Old Folks" sketches with she and Harvey.

As talented as Carol is, I just can't imagine her as Mama.

My wish would have been to have all the stars line up in 1986, and have Carol in guest shots in the syndicated version.

As talented as Carol is, I just can't imagine her as Mama.

Same here.


My wish would have been to have all the stars line up in 1986, and have Carol in guest shots in the syndicated version.

I know where you're coming from (which is a Eunice quote, ha). I used to wish that myself, but not so much anymore. After listening to the interviews for the DVDs, I see why they had Eunice be in just limited appearances when the show was on NBC; Eunice was so much the center of those "Family" sketches on Carol's show, that she just had to give Mama and the others room for them to make it their own show, and not be all about Eunice.

I dunno. I mean, I kinda would still love if Eunice had appeared in the syndicated years, sure, but the show found its own footing so well without her. I do like the fact that we see Eunice and Mama finally understanding each other at the end of "Cellmates" and even bonding (however briefly, lol).

Same here.




I know where you're coming from (which is a Eunice quote, ha). I used to wish that myself, but not so much anymore. After listening to the interviews for the DVDs, I see why they had Eunice be in just limited appearances when the show was on NBC; Eunice was so much the center of those "Family" sketches on Carol's show, that she just had to give Mama and the others room for them to make it their own show, and not be all about Eunice.

I dunno. I mean, I kinda would still love if Eunice had appeared in the syndicated years, sure, but the show found its own footing so well without her. I do like the fact that we see Eunice and Mama finally understanding each other at the end of "Cellmates" and even bonding (however briefly, lol).



I could see it happening, b/c Carol has played a couple of Mama type roles and Vickie has done several high-strung Eunice type roles, of course IF it happened that way, that's ALL we would know.


I too wish Eunice had made a couple of appearances in the syndicated episodes, I've always been curious to see how Eunice would have interacted with the brighter cheerier Mama, and to see what Eunice would have been like. I think the only problem would have been Eunice and syndicated Mama would be competing TOO MUCH for the spotlight.... with earlier Mama, Eunice always wins the spotlight... But syndicated Mama is sooo feisty, if Eunice was being THAT dramatic with her, WHO would win?! Eunice always got the last word... BUT syndicated Mama always gets the last word too.

I don't think it would have hurt at all if Eunice had appeared just a few times.