Which era of Mama’s Family do you prefer? I say Seasons 1-3.

Not even close. This show I like in the order of the seasons starting with season #1, followed by Season#2, then 3, etc

I think season 3 is probably considered the favorite among most fans. In the later seasons Mama basically just became Vickie Lawrence in a gray wig

Season 3 was packed with really funny episodes. The love letters, Mama working at the fast food place with Bubba.

It's hard to pick between 1-3 vs. 4-6. There are really funny episodes in all the seasons.

Seasons 1-2 were all great episodes although not crazy about the Mama for mayor episodes.
Season 3 was hit or miss for me. I love The best policy, where there's smoke, Fangs Alot Mama, Cat's Meow. But it also had misses like the Miss Grandma USA, the arm wrestling episode, Fly Naomi and other duds. I hated Farewell Franni and the Will episode. Its hit or miss. As the seasons go on they are also hit or miss which is why I love the NBC years.

I liked the show best when Bubba and Iola came on the scene. I didn't mind seeing Buzz and Sonia go but I did like the Carol Burnett episodes. I didn't care too much for "Ellen" or "Fran."

I liked the show best when Bubba and Iola came on the scene. I didn't mind seeing Buzz and Sonia go but I did like the Carol Burnett episodes. I didn't care too much for "Ellen" or "Fran."

I agree--the ultimate setup would have been if Carol continued as Eunice in the syndicated seasons.

I don't think Ellen and Fran were good roles for Betty and Rue--Rue was publicly unhappy with her character. Buzz and Sonia were kinda just there, but Bubba actually had scripts written for him, and even had those scruffy friends, T-Boy and Duane--they added to the comedy the few times they were on.

I like the NBC years because I like a meaner Mama than some of you. I found it comedic gold and truer to the original Burnett skits.
But the episodes that I do like in Season 3 have incredible writing. I still laugh at loud in The Best Policy when Thema yells "If we die in an explosion, she's gonna get another $50,000!!!!"

I like the NBC years because I like a meaner Mama than some of you. I found it comedic gold and truer to the original Burnett skits.
But the episodes that I do like in Season 3 have incredible writing. I still laugh at loud in The Best Policy when Thema yells "If we die in an explosion, she's gonna get another $50,000!!!!"

Mama being more concerned about Naomi getting MORE MONEY than she was about her actually dying in an explosion lol

I agree--the ultimate setup would have been if Carol continued as Eunice in the syndicated seasons.

I don't think Ellen and Fran were good roles for Betty and Rue--Rue was publicly unhappy with her character. Buzz and Sonia were kinda just there, but Bubba actually had scripts written for him, and even had those scruffy friends, T-Boy and Duane--they added to the comedy the few times they were on.


I'd loved it if Carol had made a few appearances in the syndicated years.... would love to actually see Eunice and Bubba on screen together at least once.

But I don't think she could have appeared TOO often even if things had been well between Carol and Vickie, unless her character was significantly toned down. Otherwise the show would have become Eunice's Family lol I think her character in Rashomama would have been good, she was still Eunice, but she didn't dominate the whole episodes, she kinda worked well as a background character while still retaining her essence that makes her EUNICE. The first 4 episodes she was in were practically all about her.

Rashomama was the only thing Eunice was in where the entire plot was not centered around Eunice, counting both the C.B. Family sketches and Mama's Family

Extremely easy call for me.
So much about the first 2 1/2-3 seasons was superior to the later episodes. Iola and Bubba are popular characters to be sure, but the syndicated cast cannot compare to the regulars and guest stars of the first two seasons. The writing was a lot smarter and sophisticated, which helped immensely.
Too often in the later seasons, the writers just went for the cheap joke.
The earliest syndicated episodes were excellent, especially those during the transitional period in the wake of Fran's death. I also like the much brighter set in those years. Many episodes from the entire syndicated era are funny, but I just think they suffer in comparison to the NBC years.

Extremely easy call for me.
So much about the first 2 1/2-3 seasons was superior to the later episodes. Iola and Bubba are popular characters to be sure, but the syndicated cast cannot compare to the regulars and guest stars of the first two seasons. The writing was a lot smarter and sophisticated, which helped immensely.
Too often in the later seasons, the writers just went for the cheap joke.
The earliest syndicated episodes were excellent, especially those during the transitional period in the wake of Fran's death. I also like the much brighter set in those years. Many episodes from the entire syndicated era are funny, but I just think they suffer in comparison to the NBC years.
I agree

Now here is something funny. When the syndication years started in the late 80s, I fell in love with the show for its corniness especially with Iola. When the syndication years were over, TBS would air the NBC years and syndication years in sequence. I did not like the NBC years as much as the light hearted corny syndication years. But sure enough the more I saw of the NBC years the more I liked it and now are my favorite seasons.

When I was a kid 13 and 14 when the NBC years were on, I was a huge Mamas family fan from the Burnett years. However I remember watching a few shows and not being impressed. There is just more drama in the NBC years. Syndication seasons is more light hearted. Mama is the smartest person in the room and has quick wit. While funny, I will take the mean mama who tries to keep her family in line.

In both versions Mama gets a job. She works at the travel agency in season 1 and Food Circus in Season 2. She works at the burger place with Bubba in season 3 or 4. While the Burger job was funny. Mama was super friendly just slow. She had some great lines when she was being told to hurry up. However her lines in seasons 1 and 2 are fall out the chair funny when Mama is under pressure in the NBC years.

I vote for the earlier years. Although I loved Iola and Bubba, I preferred Mean Mama to Happy-go-lucky Mama. In the earlier years, she was kind of clueless when it came to current pop culture, yet she was right up to date on it during the later episodes. Early Mama would never have danced into the kitchen with her groceries shaking her booty singing Proud Mary either. Like someone else said, the character devolved into just Vicki Lawrence in a wig by the end. I still loved the show, but my choice was easy. Also, early Naomi was not an airhead and was a better foil for Mama, so there's that.

I vote for the earlier years. Although I loved Iola and Bubba, I preferred Mean Mama to Happy-go-lucky Mama. In the earlier years, she was kind of clueless when it came to current pop culture, yet she was right up to date on it during the later episodes. Early Mama would never have danced into the kitchen with her groceries shaking her booty singing Proud Mary either. Like someone else said, the character devolved into just Vicki Lawrence in a wig by the end. I still loved the show, but my choice was easy. Also, early Naomi was not an airhead and was a better foil for Mama, so there's that.
Good point. Although Aunt Fran was cast to be the original foil, Naomi was perfect in seasons 1-2. She was an airhead after season 2 which was corny and funny most times but I much preferred the dynamic of their hate/hate relationship :)

One thing I like about the NBC era is all the surprises and variety... You never knew who might drop in... Eunice, Ellen, etc..... With the syndicated episodes, everything was so formulaic, you always knew the same characters you'd be getting in every episode. Same place at the dinner table, etc lol .... In the NBC episodes, I notice they switch up where they sit at the table even, Naomi didn't wear yellow every single time, etc.....

I always wondered whether that came from a simple lack of effort or research of what the audience wanted, or something else
The NBC years were much more realistic to be sure. The formulaic approach to the syndicated years might be my least favorite thing about them. I get that there is some comfort in predictability and the corny humor you don't have to think about, but the show leaned too much into both of those things after the earliest episodes of the third season.

I always wondered whether that came from a simple lack of effort or research of what the audience wanted, or something else
The NBC years were much more realistic to be sure. The formulaic approach to the syndicated years might be my least favorite thing about them. I get that there is some comfort in predictability and the corny humor you don't have to think about, but the show leaned too much into both of those things after the earliest episodes of the third season.


A lot of ppl say the NBC episodes were a lot more similar to the Family sketches from the Carol Burnett Show.... but what's funny is, I thought the Family sketches were a lot more similar to the syndicated episodes of Mama's Family in the sense that they were also VERY formulaic. In practically EVERY SINGLE FAMILY SKETCH you knew exactly what was gonna happen, exact same formula in nearly every one. 1. Eunice starts out trying to be pleasant, 2. Mama keeps badgering her non-stop, 3.Eunice tries and tries to hold it together, 4. Eunice, SOMEWHAT loses her cool and she and Mama start petty bickering over miscellaneous stuff as some subject is sorta hinted at in the background which will later become the main plot-point of their conflict, 5. Finally the BIG hinted-at subject comes crashing down in full force, Eunice totally loses it, throws a fit and she and Mama have their knock-down-drag-out.

A few exceptions to this formula that I can think of are, the sketch when Midge Gibson visited, A visit from Dan, Mama moves to a retirement home and Ellen's anniversary.... Those didn't happen exactly like that but most of the rest do

I love the Family Sketches, but you usually always know exactly what you're in for

I always wondered whether that came from a simple lack of effort or research of what the audience wanted, or something else
The NBC years were much more realistic to be sure. The formulaic approach to the syndicated years might be my least favorite thing about them. I get that there is some comfort in predictability and the corny humor you don't have to think about, but the show leaned too much into both of those things after the earliest episodes of the third season.


A lot of ppl say the NBC episodes were a lot more similar to the Family sketches from the Carol Burnett Show.... but what's funny is, I thought the Family sketches were a lot more similar to the syndicated episodes of Mama's Family in the sense that they were also VERY formulaic. In practically EVERY SINGLE FAMILY SKETCH you knew exactly what was gonna happen, exact same formula in nearly every one. 1. Eunice starts out trying to be pleasant, 2. Mama keeps badgering here non-stop, 3.Eunice tries and tries to hold it together, 4. Eunice, SOMEWHAT loses her cool and she and Mama start petty bickering over miscellaneous stuff as some subject is sorta hinted at in the background that's gonna come into play MAJORLY later, 5. Finally the BIG hinted-at subject comes crashing down in full force, Eunice totally loses it, throws a fit and she and Mama have their knock-down-drag-out.

A few exceptions to this formula that I can think of are, the sketch when Midge Gibson visited, A visit from Dan, Mama moves to a retirement home and Ellen's anniversary.... Those didn't happen exactly like that but most of the rest do

I love the Family Sketches, but you usually always know what you're in for

One thing I never understood is why they didn’t use Bubba’s brother Billy Joe for the syndicated years. Things just seemed a bit off with only Mama, Vinton, Naomi, Iola, and Bubba doing wacky things episode after episode…at least compared to the NBC episodes, that is. In those, there were 6 main characters. I also don’t understand why they didn’t ask Betty White to come back for more episodes as Ellen. One episode, and Ellen was never seen and barely mentioned again. Eunice and Ed also could have came back to Raytown for 2 to 3 episodes. It doesn’t matter that much if they had to recast Eunice. The right actress could have pulled it off.

The earlier seasons.

One thing I never understood is why they didn’t use Bubba’s brother Billy Joe for the syndicated years. Things just seemed a bit off with only Mama, Vinton, Naomi, Iola, and Bubba doing wacky things episode after episode…at least compared to the NBC episodes, that is. In those, there were 6 main characters. I also don’t understand why they didn’t ask Betty White to come back for more episodes as Ellen. One episode, and Ellen was never seen and barely mentioned again. Eunice and Ed also could have came back to Raytown for 2 to 3 episodes. It doesn’t matter that much if they had to recast Eunice. The right actress could have pulled it off.


I always thought Betty White not coming back was probably a mutual thing, as Betty was busy doing Golden Girls at that time. And I dunno if Billy Joel existed in the syndicated era.... I know in the movie Eunice he ran away, so I sorta assume maybe that's what happened here, he just ran off and was never heard from again. And I dunno if the audience would have ever accepted anyone other than Carol Burnett portraying Eunice lol I always thought MAYBE it would have been nice to have had a stand-in portray Eunice at Bubba's graduation and maybe just showed the back of her head in the audience.

I kinda thought Beverly Archer could have portrayed a decent Eunice

But I would have loved to have seen how a fight between Eunice and syndicated Mama would have gone.... because originally Eunice held MOST of the power and could always out argue Mama, and Mama would always end up backing down when Eunice would go off on a tirade, even on the few episodes of Mama's Family, Eunice had more power than Mama.... BUT syndicated Mama backs down to NO ONE and always has the last YELL, insult, comeback, etc.... So how would a fight between them be?

I always thought Betty White not coming back was probably a mutual thing, as Betty was busy doing Golden Girls at that time. And I dunno if Billy Joel existed in the syndicated era.... I know in the movie Eunice he ran away, so I sorta assume maybe that's what happened here, he just ran off and was never heard from again. And I dunno if the audience would have ever accepted anyone other than Carol Burnett portraying Eunice lol I always thought MAYBE it would have been nice to have had a stand-in portray Eunice at Bubba's graduation and maybe just showed the back of her head in the audience.

I kinda thought Beverly Archer could have portrayed a decent Eunice

But I would have loved to have seen how a fight between Eunice and syndicated Mama would have gone.... because originally Eunice held MOST of the power and could always out argue Mama, and Mama would always end up backing down when Eunice would go off on a tirade, even on the few episodes of Mama's Family, Eunice had more power than Mama.... BUT syndicated Mama backs down to NO ONE and always has the last YELL, insult, comeback, etc.... So how would a fight between them be?
Betty mentioned somewhere that she would have been open to returning after the “Best Medicine” episode but they never asked her back.

Now that I think about it, it probably would have been a bit better if it were Mama, Vinton, Naomi, Iola, Bubba, and Billy Joe. Things probably would have been less stale those last two seasons if they had gone that route and added an extra person to the main cast.

Well, syndicated Mama didn’t back down to anyone, but I feel like she would have sat down and shut up if she and Eunice got into a fight and Miss Higgins couldn’t stop flapping her gums. :lol:

Betty mentioned somewhere that she would have been open to returning after the “Best Medicine” episode but they never asked her back.

Now that I think about it, it probably would have been a bit better if it were Mama, Vinton, Naomi, Iola, Bubba, and Billy Joe. Things probably would have been less stale those last two seasons if they had gone that route and added an extra person to the main cast.

Well, syndicated Mama didn’t back down to anyone, but I feel like she would have sat down and shut up if she and Eunice got into a fight and Miss Higgins couldn’t stop flapping her gums. :lol:


It's hard to say, but I've always been curious what Eunice would have been like on a syndicated episode. All of the characters went through a personality change, it seems they all became a bit dumber and more "submissive" to even further make Mama seem like the only intelligent one who dominated EVERYONE... In the syndicated era, I think God HIMSELF would back down to Mama lol so it just makes me wonder how she and Eunice would have interacted. I can't help but think that Eunice would have been toned down just a bit and made a little goofier. It seems like she was way more toned down in Rashomama, her season 2 episode. She was still HERSELF, but she didn't dominate the entire episode like her 4 previous appearances. It was her only appearance where the entire plot was not centered on Eunice.

I guess the closest we get to see to syndicated Mama and Eunice interacting is the flashback from Sins of a Mother, to me, young Thelma was essentially the same as syndicated Mama in that episode... and the brief phone call in Pomp and Circumstance. The way Eunice just RAN OFF when Mama was threatening to put Bubba on the phone, tells me she may have been toned down a bit.... I think original Eunice would have been FINE with Mama putting Bubba on the phone, because she'd wanna tell him the hell Mama has put her through her whole life lol

Everyone brought up some good points. Being that Mama changed so much during the syndication years, the dynamic between her and Eunice would not be the same. In the syndication years, Mama was always the smartest one in the room. In the early days she was more of a foil for Eunice.
Realistically Carol and Vicki were not talking during the syndication years so it was never going to happen. Vicki hired Carol's former husband and Carol assumed she was taking sides in their divorce. Vicki just was trying to keep continuity on the show. They made up years later but they had no communication during these years. In the few times Eunice's voice was on the phone in the syndication years, it was an impersonator.

I think it would have been fun for Buzz and Sonya to drop by in one episode and get in trouble with Bubba once. I also think before the episode ended, it would have been fun to meet Iola's mother.

Everyone brought up some good points. Being that Mama changed so much during the syndication years, the dynamic between her and Eunice would not be the same. In the syndication years, Mama was always the smartest one in the room. In the early days she was more of a foil for Eunice.
Realistically Carol and Vicki were not talking during the syndication years so it was never going to happen. Vicki hired Carol's former husband and Carol assumed she was taking sides in their divorce. Vicki just was trying to keep continuity on the show. They made up years later but they had no communication during these years. In the few times Eunice's voice was on the phone in the syndication years, it was an impersonator.

I think it would have been fun for Buzz and Sonya to drop by in one episode and get in trouble with Bubba once. I also think before the episode ended, it would have been fun to meet Iola's mother.
I like to think Iola’s mother was the woman shown taking out garbage when Mama was driving through her neighborhood in the NBC episode “Mama Learns To Drive”. Mama referred to the lady as “Miss Boylen” anyway, so it could have been likely. Maybe that’s what Iola’s mother looked like before she started packing on the pounds and became ill. :lol:

Everyone brought up some good points. Being that Mama changed so much during the syndication years, the dynamic between her and Eunice would not be the same. In the syndication years, Mama was always the smartest one in the room. In the early days she was more of a foil for Eunice.
Realistically Carol and Vicki were not talking during the syndication years so it was never going to happen. Vicki hired Carol's former husband and Carol assumed she was taking sides in their divorce. Vicki just was trying to keep continuity on the show. They made up years later but they had no communication during these years. In the few times Eunice's voice was on the phone in the syndication years, it was an impersonator.

I think it would have been fun for Buzz and Sonya to drop by in one episode and get in trouble with Bubba once. I also think before the episode ended, it would have been fun to meet Iola's mother.


It's too bad Carol didn't resurrect Eunice to do beside Mama in Vicky's 2 woman show.... I think OFFCIALLY, the Mama's Family episode "Rashomama" marks Carol Burnett's last portrayal EVER of Eunice Higgins.... Though I have reason to think Vicky, Carol and Harvey did portray Mama, Eunice and Ed sometime later in the 90s, based on a couple of clips and pictures I've seen floating around, they look older and are in a strange looking house that SORTA resembles Eunice's and Eunice is wearing glasses. So perhaps they did a Family Sketch on Carol's show in from 1990-1992 Carol and Company... I know a LONG time ago, my older cousin told me she saw a sketch where Mama visits Ed and Eunice in Florida, so I dunno if she was mistaken, pulling my leg or MAYBE she did see something like that, since Carol and Co. aired AFTER Mama's Family and if it followed the continuity of Ed and Eunice in Florida

(Replying to TVLegend)
Yes. What a great detail to remember.
What ever happened to Tommy Boylen though. Remember he was Buzz's friend. He was mentioned in one episode but we never see him.

It's too bad Carol didn't resurrect Eunice to do beside Mama in Vicky's 2 woman show.... I think OFFCIALLY, the Mama's Family episode "Rashomama" marks Carol Burnett's last portrayal EVER of Eunice Higgins.... Though I have reason to think Vicky, Carol and Harvey did portray Mama, Eunice and Ed sometime later in the 90s, based on a couple of clips and pictures I've seen floating around, they look older and are in a strange looking house that SORTA resembles Eunice's and Eunice is wearing glasses. So perhaps they did a Family Sketch on Carol's show in from 1990-1992 Carol and Company... I know a LONG time ago, my older cousin told me she saw a sketch where Mama visits Ed and Eunice in Florida, so I dunno if she was mistaken, pulling my leg or MAYBE she did see something like that, since Carol and Co. aired AFTER Mama's Family and if it followed the continuity of Ed and Eunice in Florida
I believe that would have been on YouTube or something if it had actually happened…someone would have uploaded it for sure.

(Replying to TVLegend)
Yes. What a great detail to remember.
What ever happened to Tommy Boylen though. Remember he was Buzz's friend. He was mentioned in one episode but we never see him.
Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe Tommy was Vern’s (Iola’s brother) son who was staying with Iola and her parents for a while. That’s a possibility.

Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe Tommy was Vern’s (Iola’s brother) son who was staying with Iola and her parents for a while. That’s a possibility.

Yeah, Vernette's brother.

I think Tommy was only mentioned that one time.

I believe that would have been on YouTube or something if it had actually happened…someone would have uploaded it for sure.

Someone has uploaded quite a few of Carol and Co. episodes, so I'm trying to see them all to see if ANYTHING like that is there.... but I know for a fact there is ONE Family Sketch that has not been uploaded, that is the one from the original Carol Burnett Show...Overnight Guest... where Mama drops in on a newly divorced Eunice and catches Dan living there.... this would have been between a Visit from Dan and the Password sketch..... So I guess it's possible that there could be some stuff that has just been lost