Seasons 1-3 vs. Seasons 4-6

[TVLegend]

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

[BestTVever]

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

[TheLittleFaerie]

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

[stevea]

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.

[BestTVever]

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.

[Wawwie]

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."

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

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.

[BestTVever]

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!!!!"

[TheLittleFaerie]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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

[TheLittleFaerie]

Originally Posted by stevea

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

[schmave]

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.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by schmave

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.

[Kasey]

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.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by Kasey

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

[TheLittleFaerie]

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.....