Would anyone have watched a 90s spinoff/continuation of Mama

[TVLegend]

Let’s say a spinoff/continuation of Mama’s Family aired on CBS in the early 90s (a year or two after Mama’s Family ended, so maybe around the 91-92 era) about Mama’s last living uncle dying at the age of 102 and leaving her and her family (Vint, Naomi, Bubba) his house to be turned into a senior citizen’s home. Would anyone watch based off of the idea? I would. Of course, Iola wouldn’t be on (minus a few episodes at the beginning of the series, maybe before the Harpers were to move away and settle in to the home for good). And she probably would have ended up visiting the Harpers one or two times throughout the series, but that’s it. But I still wouldn’t mind seeing Vint and Naomi raising baby Tiffany at the senior citizen’s home with the help of Mama. Plus, I think we would have gotten appearances from Ellen and maybe even some from Ed and Eunice later in the series depending on how long this said sitcom would’ve lasted if it was created. Aunt Effie as well. Would’ve loved to see Dick Van Dyke do one or two episodes as Ellen’s ex-husband, Bruce. Maybe Mama could have gotten Bruce to try and get back together with Ellen. The drama would ensue.

What does everyone think?

[DJM77]

Sounds good. I definitely would have watched it. I wouldn't miss Iola at all since she was my least favorite character in the syndicated years of the series. She couldn't have been around much anyway because Beverly Archer was busy doing Major Dad at the time.

[TheLittleFaerie]

Originally Posted by TVLegend

Let’s say a spinoff/continuation of Mama’s Family aired on CBS in the early 90s (a year or two after Mama’s Family ended, so maybe around the 91-92 era) about Mama’s last living uncle dying at the age of 102 and leaving her and her family (Vint, Naomi, Bubba) his house to be turned into a senior citizen’s home. Would anyone watch based off of the idea? I would. Of course, Iola wouldn’t be on (minus a few episodes at the beginning of the series, maybe before the Harpers were to move away and settle in to the home for good). And she probably would have ended up visiting the Harpers one or two times throughout the series, but that’s it. But I still wouldn’t mind seeing Vint and Naomi raising baby Tiffany at the senior citizen’s home with the help of Mama. Plus, I think we would have gotten appearances from Ellen and maybe even some from Ed and Eunice later in the series depending on how long this said sitcom would’ve lasted if it was created. Aunt Effie as well. Would’ve loved to see Dick Van Dyke do one or two episodes as Ellen’s ex-husband, Bruce. Maybe Mama could have gotten Bruce to try and get back together with Ellen. The drama would ensue.

What does everyone think?

I like the idea, but I would prefer it keep the GENERAL Mama's Family paradigm.

Generally when a sitcom crosses from one decade into another it tends to go down hill added when there's a HUGE paradigm shift it typically doesn't do as well.


If Mama's Family had continued into the 90s, I think it should have kept roughly the same premise, BUT with a few changes.... like Vint and Naomi finally getting out of Mama's basement and into their own home, Bubba moves out to go to college, Iola would be dealing with the loss of her parents, she's finally free from having to care for her mother constantly and having trouble adjusting plus she's having to seek employment. Iola would be an even BIGGER part of the show. Since Thelma's family has all moved out now and she's free from having to take care of them and Iola is grieving the loss of her parents, Thelma offers Iola to move in with her, and they both split household expenses. Meanwhile Thelma is feeling down and useless not having a family to care for as she has for years, so she decides to join Iola in search for employment. Eventually Thelma and Iola end up working together, and Thelma actually does well since her family not there to sabotage her like they did the other 2 times.

So yeah I basically see this continuation focusing on Thelma and Iola, adjusting to life after some major life changes.

Vint, Naomi and Bubba would make occasionally appearances, but not be regulars. Also I like the idea of Eunice, Ed and Ellen dropping in from time to time. I'd love to have seen Eunice and Bubba together at least once

[schmave]

I know this is a fairly old thread by now, or at least dormant, but I would have given the show a try anyway.
If they waited until 1992 or 1993, then Carol Burnett and Betty White would have been available. Golden Palace was done in the spring of '93, and the Carol-Vicki rift was healed by then. If Harvey Korman wanted to participate, all the better. I am not saying they'd be regulars, but I think it would have been a big swing and a miss to bring the show back and not have elements of both the NBC and syndicated years now that all of those stars (save Rue McClanahan, of course) would have been free of conflicts by then.