Buzz and Sonja - Why did they leave the show?

[Movie12]

Buzz and Sonja - Why did they leave Mama's Family? I never heard of no explanation. They were great on the show.

[TheLittleFaerie]

Originally Posted by Movie12

Buzz and Sonja - Why did they leave Mama's Family? I never heard of no explanation. They were great on the show.

It was never really said, ppl assume they went to live with their mother or went off to college

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by Movie12

Buzz and Sonja - Why did they leave Mama's Family? I never heard of no explanation. They were great on the show.

The show was revamped for the syndication years. Mama was no longer mean but a sarcastic smartest one in the room. Naomi got a wig and became a little dumber and Vint became an idiot. They introduced a new character, Iola as the neighbor. 2 grandkids were axed and they brought in one teenage heartthrob as the only grandkid.

[schmave]

I remember reading that NBC forced the characters into the show, and once syndication allowed for a revamp, the show could get rid of them.
I do wish they'd have been mentioned more in the syndicated years, if for no other reason than continuity, and even been brought back for an episode here or there. Not even necessarily together, but there would have been room for a visit.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by schmave

I remember reading that NBC forced the characters into the show, and once syndication allowed for a revamp, the show could get rid of them.
I do wish they'd have been mentioned more in the syndicated years, if for no other reason than continuity, and even been brought back for an episode here or there. Not even necessarily together, but there would have been room for a visit.

Vicki has always said that Mamas Family has the worst continuity of any show ever on TV. They got away with so much. Mama actually dies in a program and then she is back. The amount of kids or grandkids always changes too.
What ever happened to Larry who was the son of Mama and Eunice's brother. He turned into Vint? Bubba also had a brother at one point.
As mentioned in another thread, when Naomi is pregnant its alluded to that Vint will be a dad for the first time.
I prefer the NBC years because of the dynamic between Mama and Naomi. It was brutal. Naomi was smart and never took her crap. In syndication Naomi is more silly about it.

[TheLittleFaerie]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

Vicki has always said that Mamas Family has the worst continuity of any show ever on TV. They got away with so much. Mama actually dies in a program and then she is back. The amount of kids or grandkids always changes too.
What ever happened to Larry who was the son of Mama and Eunice's brother. He turned into Vint? Bubba also had a brother at one point.
As mentioned in another thread, when Naomi is pregnant its alluded to that Vint will be a dad for the first time.
I prefer the NBC years because of the dynamic between Mama and Naomi. It was brutal. Naomi was smart and never took her crap. In syndication Naomi is more silly about it.

I always look at it as 3 different timelines. The Family Sketch timeline, the Eunice movie timeline, and Mama's Family timeline. I think they all 3 take place in seperate universes. And really Mama's Family is sorta divided into 2 timelines, NBC years and syndicated years, BUT I guess we can say they are connected, they're just SO different.

For me, Mama's son Jack, who was played by Tommy Smothers is who Vint was based more off of. Phillip and Larry were more high class with big careers, whereas Jack was more of a simple man, married and had a couple of kids in Raytown, and he seemed a bit slow witted at times, unlike Larry and Phillip

I remember Vickie joking and saying the number of kids Mama has will forever be a mystery and she could have children we don't even know about lol

I remember in a Family Sketch Eunice mentioned Mary Ellen, is she the same Ellen we know? Or is this another daughter? She's likely the Ellen we know, but I found it odd that was the ONLY time she was referred to as "Mary Ellen"

[schmave]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

Vicki has always said that Mamas Family has the worst continuity of any show ever on TV. They got away with so much. Mama actually dies in a program and then she is back. The amount of kids or grandkids always changes too.
What ever happened to Larry who was the son of Mama and Eunice's brother. He turned into Vint? Bubba also had a brother at one point.
As mentioned in another thread, when Naomi is pregnant its alluded to that Vint will be a dad for the first time.
I prefer the NBC years because of the dynamic between Mama and Naomi. It was brutal. Naomi was smart and never took her crap. In syndication Naomi is more silly about it.

Right there with you on the network years. It was a smarter and more realistic show than the syndicated version, and outside of Buzz and Sonya a superior cast (IMO). In the syndicated years, the writers often went for the cheaper laughs and thinner plots.
The set was a lot brighter in the syndicated years. That darker set might be my least favorite thing about the NBC years.
As far as continuity or lack thereof, it's not good in the Mama's Family universe but Golden Girls has that crown by miles!

[stevea]

No real reason to keep them--no major stories revolved around them--emphasize major, but Bubba had major involvement in quite a few scripts.

There was no excuse to have no explanation of their departure other than Thelma saying once or twice, "No Buzz and Sonja."

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by stevea

No real reason to keep them--no major stories revolved around them--emphasize major, but Bubba had major involvement in quite a few scripts.

There was no excuse to have no explanation of their departure other than Thelma saying once or twice, "No Buzz and Sonja."

True. However the Episode "Double Standard" has Buzz and Sonya as the stars and main focus of the episode. It was a very realistic episode too. Mama is not the foil and actually a supportive role. IMHO the episode worked really well. Its not one of my all time favorites but it was nice to see the kids shine. They also shine in the Flaming 40s episode and its also really good.
But your major point is correct, they were background characters for only a few lines per episode. I preferred the Sonya in Double Standard and Flaming 40s compared to the space cadet idiot they made her in the other episodes.

[MikeLutton]

what Sonja did you like better 1st season or the 2nd season i did love her hair in her final year

[schmave]

Second season here. She was smarter and at least somewhat capable of helping carry a plot, like Buzz. First season Sonya was basically dead weight.
Steve's earlier point re their departure is spot on. The writers later said they never really wanted to cast Buzz and Sonya in the first place, and the hasty mention of their departure seems to back that up. It was as if they said "yeah, we have to say something, but make it quick and we can forget about them." But I've never gone as far as thinking they were retconned out of existance either.

[schmave]

Second season here. She was smarter and at least somewhat capable of helping carry a plot, like Buzz. First season Sonya was basically dead weight.
Steve's earlier point re their departure is spot on. The writers later said they never really wanted to cast Buzz and Sonya in the first place, and the hasty mention of their departure seems to back that up. It was as if they said "yeah, we have to say something, but make it quick and we can forget about them." But I've never gone as far as thinking they were retconned out of existence either.

[BestTVever]

Yes. Season 2 Sonya comes out of her shell and adds to the show. The first season they thought having an airhead teenage girl would be funny but it never really worked IMHO. She shines in season 2.

Not only are Buzz and Sonya forgotten in the syndication years, they almost cease to exist. When Naomi gets pregnant its almost inferred many times that Vint is going to be a dad for the first time.

[MikeLutton]

i love Sonja's Hair in the 2nd season as well especially when it was real short she looked so cute there

[warp9p65]

I listened to an interview with Eric Brown the other day. He recalled that there were rumors circulating that Mama's Family was going to come back in syndication. His agent called him about it and basically said be prepared to come back. Then later he got a call saying good news and bad news......the show is coming back but you're not in it. That was the end of that.