I've Been watching the last season and find that i don't like it.

This season seems to be like a lets get this thing over with type of deal. So far the episodes haven't been funny and have been putting me to sleep. I've never seen the NBC ones, well along time ago, but am looking forward to them. I hope they are better than season six of this show.

Every show has its ups and downs, i'm glad to say mama's family has very few within the cast, scripting, and plot.

I like the early seasons the best.

I disagree. There may not be as many funny one-liners as in the earlier syndicated eps, but it's not like they're low quality sleepers, in my opinion anyway. I think there's quite a few memorable eps in the last season, the only real difference I seem to notice is that Mama is a little nicer to everyone and seems to smile a LOT more...the way I recall it is that the NBC eps are the bores...:o

I do like the syndicated episodes but I like the NBC ones a little more because Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Betty White, and Rue Mcclanahan were on them. They were funny.

Originally posted by bb25
I disagree. There may not be as many funny one-liners as in the earlier syndicated eps, but it's not like they're low quality sleepers, in my opinion anyway. I think there's quite a few memorable eps in the last season, the only real difference I seem to notice is that Mama is a little nicer to everyone and seems to smile a LOT more...the way I recall it is that the NBC eps are the bores...:o

Yep, I noticed Mama smiles a lot more. She does that especially in the episode, "Bubba's House Band" - around the middle of that episode, Bubba comes in and asks where the girls are, and when Mama's talking to him, she really starts to smile. There's that Vicki Lawrence grin! :D

IMO, though, I like both seasons. But Vicki looked like she slapped together some cheap stuff she got at Walmart - her wig doesn't look right (it's all matted down), she's not fat enough as Mama and she holds herself way too stiffly, plus her glasses aren't right. And didn't she ever get tired of pursing her lips like that? :eek: In the syndicated eps, though, she looks a lot more together -- she's not holding herself up so stiffly anymore, she looks like a real grandma with the padding, her wig looks real, her glasses are better and she doesn't purse her lips so much anymore. :)

I did like Eric Brown and Karin Argoud... I wonder whatever happened to them? Especially Karin. She was really pretty. :)

WTF?

I just looked at TVGuide.com's listing for upcoming eps of "Mama's Family" and they've cut out a whole bunch of eps from later in 1990! VERY luckily, I taped just about all of the MF eps TBS cut out before it made the rollover to NBC eps back in May. :mad:

Excuse me, where's the email address where I can write TBS a scathing letter AND ASK THEM THE HELL WHY THEY CUT OUT LIKE SIX EPS TOTAL THIS TIME AROUND!!!!!!! :mad:

Ugh, I DON'T like the NBC ones NEAR as much as the later seasons. I mean, I like McClanahan and White as much as the next person, but I just don't think Ellen and Fran were very funny, I'm sorry. Rose Nylund and Blanche Deveruaux are MUCH better. I DID like Korman as Ed and Burnett as Eunice, though. But Vint was too smart, and Naomi acted less like a ditz especially in the first couple or few episodes, and I don't like that. Mama seems to have much more of a personality after the first season, too, IMO. And Buzz and Sonja were not funny at all except for maybe once or twice.

And I will admit that the last season isn't as good as the few before, but they're still much better than the NBC ones.

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
Ugh, I DON'T like the NBC ones NEAR as much as the later seasons. I mean, I like McClanahan and White as much as the next person, but I just don't think Ellen and Fran were very funny, I'm sorry. Rose Nylund and Blanche Deveruaux are MUCH better. I DID like Korman as Ed and Burnett as Eunice, though. But Vint was too smart, and Naomi acted less like a ditz especially in the first couple or few episodes, and I don't like that. Mama seems to have much more of a personality after the first season, too, IMO. And Buzz and Sonja were not funny at all except for maybe once or twice.





And I will admit that the last season isn't as good as the few before, but they're still much better than the NBC ones.


I agree!:D

Originally posted by PZelda: VICKI!!
Yep, I noticed Mama smiles a lot more. She does that especially in the episode, "Bubba's House Band" - around the middle of that episode, Bubba comes in and asks where the girls are, and when Mama's talking to him, she really starts to smile. There's that Vicki Lawrence grin! :D

IMO, though, I like both seasons. But Vicki looked like she slapped together some cheap stuff she got at Walmart - her wig doesn't look right (it's all matted down), she's not fat enough as Mama and she holds herself way too stiffly, plus her glasses aren't right. And didn't she ever get tired of pursing her lips like that? :eek: In the syndicated eps, though, she looks a lot more together -- she's not holding herself up so stiffly anymore, she looks like a real grandma with the padding, her wig looks real, her glasses are better and she doesn't purse her lips so much anymore. :)

I did like Eric Brown and Karin Argoud... I wonder whatever happened to them? Especially Karin. She was really pretty. :)





According to TV Tome Karin has appeared as recently as 1999 in a couple of TV movies.Eric has not been anywhere since 1984(on Remenigton Steele) as far as I can see!

Blech! The characters of Buzz & Sonya did nothing for me. I didn't like them, and the rest of cast did very little either, especially Rue & Betty, they just looked out of place, I agree ConservativeBaller...I also have to disagree that Mama looked better in the last few seasons, and the characters of Bubba & Iola just added a whole new, better dimension to this show that I just think was missing in the earlier years...it's down to the "NBC or Syndicated?" argument again, but everyone will have their opinions...

Actually, contradictory to what you were saying before PZelda, it seems that they're running a few more 1990 eps in the coming days before turning the series over, and you were saying that it would start over tomorrow, but the cable info doesn't say that...:confused: we'll just have to wait and see...

Neverminderoonie.

Okay, my last thread went on and on, and nobody wants that. LOL. So I am fixing it.

Basically, 70% of my posts on this board have consisted of my declaration that the NBC years are the best. Well, I think they are the best. The Syndication years are great , and I am entertained by them too. I agree that the last season is the worst, but then I hesitate to even use the word "worst." The last season isn't as noticably bad as some other series that lose it at the end. But MF does seem tired out by then. Let's put it thise way: I can't wait for the NBC years to return to TBS! They better show the Gert one this time!

thanks all for the info on what your thoughts are.

I still do believe the last season isn't as good as the rest (syndicated), but I just saw one of my favorite episodes today, (well one i added to my list). The episode was There's nothing like the dames (i believe), the episode where vint and naomi buy a trailer and can't get it off of thelma's lawn. The part where she was holding the dinner, and the trailer (with Naomi and Vint inside) started rocking back and forth like they were having sex, I loved it, that was one of the funniest parts of the series so far I've seen, It was great. I don't think it would have been that funny but just before Naomi and vint say's they were bored in the trailer. Oh -- that part chokes me up.

Of all the episodes I have seen recently (as of July 2003) My favorites are

Mama Mania
April Fools
There is nothing Like the Dames.

Originally posted by folbartman
thanks all for the info on what your thoughts are.

I still do believe the last season isn't as good as the rest (syndicated), but I just saw one of my favorite episodes today, (well one i added to my list). The episode was There's nothing like the dames (i believe), the episode where vint and naomi buy a trailer and can't get it off of thelma's lawn. The part where she was holding the dinner, and the trailer (with Naomi and Vint inside) started rocking back and forth like they were having sex, I loved it, that was one of the funniest parts of the series so far I've seen, It was great. I don't think it would have been that funny but just before Naomi and vint say's they were bored in the trailer. Oh -- that part chokes me up.

Of all the episodes I have seen recently (as of July 2003) My favorites are

Mama Mania
April Fools
There is nothing Like the Dames.

They had "The Big Nap" too but they seem to have forgotten about it this time around, because I've seen it before in reruns. It was funny as hell, too. :D

Well, the series is being "turned over" tomorrow. In my area, they will run the final episode from March 1990, "Bye Bye Baby" at 6 AM and then "Mama's Silver" at 6:30 AM. I am getting pretty excited, because this time I am really going to give the NBC episodes a chance, and, who knows? Maybe I will like them better than the syndicated...either way, this show was always great!

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
...but I just don't think Ellen and Fran were very funny, I'm sorry. Rose Nylund and Blanche Deveruaux are MUCH better. I DID like Korman as Ed and Burnett as Eunice, though. But Vint was too smart, and Naomi acted less like a ditz especially in the first couple or few episodes, and I don't like that. Mama seems to have much more of a personality after the first season, too, IMO. And Buzz and Sonja were not funny at all except for maybe once or twice.

I agree and disagree.

I find Fran and Ellen hilarious (I don't like Ellen cause she's a b*tch, but she does have lotsa great lines!), I liked Vint better then cause he had a backbone, I don't think Naomi was a ditz, I thought she was feistier, which made for better dramatic/funny fights with Mama, I felt they dumbed Vint too much and made Naomi too soft in syndication...

but I pretty much agree with ya on Ed & Eunice, and Buzz & Sonja. Lol I think Sonja had a handful of funny moments, Buzz, maybe 1 or 2.

Well, I'm starting to watch the early NBC years now...:rolleyes: , uh yeah...to give you an idea, during the syndicated eps, I was constantly rewinding to hear funny lines over and over and laughing at them every time. It took me almost an hour and a half to get through 2 eps without commercials, but with the NBC eps, I'm barely finding anything even mildly amusing, and just running them through without stopping. It just has such a weird feel after the superior syndicated years. I've always known I've liked the syndicated years better, and this has pretty much sealed the deal...:rolleyes:

Originally posted by bb25
Well, I'm starting to watch the early NBC years now...:rolleyes: , uh yeah...to give you an idea, during the syndicated eps, I was constantly rewinding to hear funny lines over and over and laughing at them every time. It took me almost an hour and a half to get through 2 eps without commercials, but with the NBC eps, I'm barely finding anything even mildly amusing, and just running them through without stopping. It just has such a weird feel after the superior syndicated years. I've always known I've liked the syndicated years better, and this has pretty much sealed the deal...:rolleyes:

Hey, more power to you. :D

I do want to clear one thing up, though... Just so you know, Vicki had just VERY recently finished making the TV movie "Eunice" in the spring of 1981, and they aired that in the spring of 1982. They started production on MF in the fall of 1982 (which is why a lot of the eps from the early 1983 season have a copyright date of 1982 at the closing credits), so they were still stuck in the "Eunice" mindset (Just my take on the last part there). The NBC version of Mama still looked a lot like the Mama on The Carol Burnett Show (if you've seen any video clips). That might explain why.

Personally, myself, if it has Vicki Lawrence in it, then I like it. :D

Well bb25, give the NBC shows a chance. One critic whose review I read really appreciated those shows, and even said that the Eunice episodes back then were the funniest episodes in TV sitcom history! :D

Used to be "TV Party" or whatever it was called...

Well, yeah, I will, but I just keep waiting for Iola's "Knock Knock" when I watch the old eps...it just seems like 2 different shows really...

I have to admit, some of the NBC episodes lately have been ok...Eunice singing at the wedding was one particular favorite scene. I watched it over and over and roared!

Mama: Either sing or get off the pot!

Eunice: What IS a promise??

Aunt Effie: Is this the line for the food?

LOL! :lol:

But I still think the NBC & Syndicated years were like 2 different shows...I mean, you still had Lawrence, Lyman & Berry from the original show, but everyone else was gone and the situations changed quite a bit, not to mention the whole look and sound of the show...they must have started using different cameras and tape or something...

One of the reason why the last season of Mama wasn't the greatest may have been due to the fact that Joe Hamilton was dying of cancer.

Rather than "take it easy" and rest in his last days, Hamilton kept on working, his production company doing Mama's Family. Reading Vicki Lawrence's bio, she admits it was difficult seeing him in his condition ( he had part of his forehead taken off due to the cancer and tried to "hide it" using a paper towel or something since Hamilton either refused or simply did get plastic surgery to correct the disfigured area ).

I can imagine that was a difficult sight to see for all the cast members, not just for Vicki Lawrence. Even harder when you know someone is sick and they want you to believe everything is ok when you know it isn't, and to do a comedy at the same time?

Hamilton I believe was dead within a year of the last episode of Mama's Family.

Originally posted by bb
One of the reason why the last season of Mama wasn't the greatest may have been due to the fact that Joe Hamilton was dying of cancer.

Rather than "take it easy" and rest in his last days, Hamilton kept on working, his production company doing Mama's Family. Reading Vicki Lawrence's bio, she admits it was difficult seeing him in his condition ( he had part of his forehead taken off due to the cancer and tried to "hide it" using a paper towel or something since Hamilton either refused or simply did get plastic surgery to correct the disfigured area ).

I can imagine that was a difficult sight to see for all the cast members, not just for Vicki Lawrence. Even harder when you know someone is sick and they want you to believe everything is ok when you know it isn't, and to do a comedy at the same time?

Hamilton I believe was dead within a year of the last episode of Mama's Family.

That's correct.

He'd been a heavy smoker and continue to smoke even after his forehead was removed. After he had his forehead removed, he would do the paper towel thing like you mentioned, and he would light up a smoke and it just looked all weird. Vicki said it was like the towel was on fire or something. He passed away on June 9, 1991. Mama's Family ended on March 12, 1990.

That's too bad...but, I don't understand why he would have had to have his forehead removed...?? :confused:

Weren't both Hamilton and Carol Burnett both into the religion of Christian Science? I believe thats the religion that doesn't believe in the use of doctors and hospitals.

If thats the case that could explain why Joe Hamilton didn't get plastic surgery done on his face even after the cancer made his face disfigured. Didn't this same situation happen to Bert Convy the game show host? I seem to remember he had cancer but simply refuse to get treatment for it, til it was too late. I also heard in Convy's case he didn't even know he had cancer, come to think of it, didn;t he get married shortly beofre his death?

Wonder if Carol Burnett still practices it? I don't think her daughter Carrie did since she died in a hospital from cancer, but I could be wrong.

As far as why did they remove his forehead, my guess is that he had skin cancer but then again cancer is a strange thing. Who was that actress from the 70s who did many game shows, she had cancer in both of her legs? Once the cancer spread to the point the doctors had to remove both her leads, she made the situation a part of her act. The act didn't last as the cancer spread quite quickly to her lungs ( ? ) and she soon died.

sorry for the many of questions !!!

I do believe there may have been a connection between Hamilton's death and the end of Mama's Family. Here in Colorado the show aired in Denver and was number one in its timeslot during the days of its first run episodes. Even Vicki herself said back then the program beat out Johnny Carson in a few cities.

Originally posted by sally mander
Weren't both Hamilton and Carol Burnett both into the religion of Christian Science? I believe thats the religion that doesn't believe in the use of doctors and hospitals.

If thats the case that could explain why Joe Hamilton didn't get plastic surgery done on his face even after the cancer made his face disfigured. Didn't this same situation happen to Bert Convy the game show host? I seem to remember he had cancer but simply refuse to get treatment for it, til it was too late. I also heard in Convy's case he didn't even know he had cancer, come to think of it, didn;t he get married shortly beofre his death?

Wonder if Carol Burnett still practices it? I don't think her daughter Carrie did since she died in a hospital from cancer, but I could be wrong.

As far as why did they remove his forehead, my guess is that he had skin cancer but then again cancer is a strange thing. Who was that actress from the 70s who did many game shows, she had cancer in both of her legs? Once the cancer spread to the point the doctors had to remove both her leads, she made the situation a part of her act. The act didn't last as the cancer spread quite quickly to her lungs ( ? ) and she soon died.

sorry for the many of questions !!!

I do believe there may have been a connection between Hamilton's death and the end of Mama's Family. Here in Colorado the show aired in Denver and was number one in its timeslot during the days of its first run episodes. Even Vicki herself said back then the program beat out Johnny Carson in a few cities.

Yep, they were both Christian Scientists... it says so in Carol's 1986 autobiography....Um, I can't remember the name...but it was made in 1986 when she was 53 at the time.

I could be entirely wrong, but I don't think Carol practices Christian Science anymore. This is just a guess, because I have heard nothing about her practiicing that religion since MF was on in the 80's.

Yep, MF was in the #1 place during the entire syndicated run, and indeed beat out both Johnny Carson AND Letterman (I believe Letterman got started in 1982, and when Johnny Carson was retiring in 1992, David and Jay Leno were both up for Johnny's spot and Jay ended up winning). Even today, in reruns now, MF continues to come in at #1 or closer in syndication. Vicki mentions something about the ratings in her 1995 autobiography. :)

It beat out Letterman and Carson? What time was this run then at 11:30 at night?? :confused:

Originally posted by bb25
It beat out Letterman and Carson? What time was this run then at 11:30 at night?? :confused:

You know, I really am not sure! LOL! :lol: You know it was syndicated so it was on a different time slot and a different channel in each location. But I know that's what Vicki said in her book that MF was #1 in its syndicated years and beat out the night talk shows. :crazy:

I just remembered an NBC I REALLY like:

The one where Mama gets hit with the pot and they each tell a story as to how the day progressed. Haha, it's good.

Originally posted by ConservativeBaller
I just remembered an NBC I REALLY like:

The one where Mama gets hit with the pot and they each tell a story as to how the day progressed. Haha, it's good.

"Rashomama" and it's going to air this Wednesday. :D I LOVE LOVE that episode, too! :lol: