https://www.metv.com/stories/originally-carol-burnett-was-supposed-to-play-thelma-harper-instead-of-vicki-lawrence

Burnett chose the role of Eunice instead.

https://www.metv.com/stories/originally-carol-burnett-was-supposed-to-play-thelma-harper-instead-of-vicki-lawrence

Burnett chose the role of Eunice instead.


That's true and I'd love to see at least one sketch of Carol as Mama and Vickie as Eunice, just to see what it would look like

If Carol had played Mama, I doubt we would have gotten Mama's Family though, as Carol likely would not wanna tie herself down to a weekly sitcom after her show ended. But who knows, maybe Eunice would have been the spin-off if Vickie was Eunice

Both took each character into orbit. Carol said she identified with Eunice more. There is a story with each of them with the script in the bathroom and between the stalls they supposedly switched characters and Vicki started to do Mama and they were laughing so hard.