Mama's Family on ME-TV

[pjpiazza]

Are the episodes aired out of order? Vint isn't married in Alien Marriage but a few days ago they aired The Wedding episode.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by pjpiazza

Are the episodes aired out of order? Vint isn't married in Alien Marriage but a few days ago they aired The Wedding episode.

This is a disadvantage (for this show) of running in original broadcast order (meaning this happened when NBC originally broadcast the show). As I recall TBS ran them in production number order--I think there were even problems with this!

[jehobden]

Originally Posted by quincywagstaff

Me-TV posted a reply to this question on Facebook. They said Warner is to blame for the messed up video quality because they converted the series to high definition. Why they can't just use the same videotapes that TNT and Ion ran for years is a mystery to me but that's the reason they gave. The episodes have not been sped up. They are edited for time just like the episodes on TNT.

I don't like how they look in this phony digitized film format, but I guess if it was messed up on video it had to be done. I much prefer the videotape look, which Carol Burnett and Friends still has and Mama's Family originally had.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by jehobden

I don't like how they look in this phony digitized film format, but I guess if it was messed up on video it had to be done. I much prefer the videotape look, which Carol Burnett and Friends still has and Mama's Family originally had.

The only part that is really noticeable to me is when the credits run. It's a little jumpy.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by pjpiazza

Are the episodes aired out of order? Vint isn't married in Alien Marriage but a few days ago they aired The Wedding episode.

I was wondering about that too? I was thinking I missed something and it was supposed to be a flashback ep. maybe?

[quincywagstaff]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I was wondering about that too? I was thinking I missed something and it was supposed to be a flashback ep. maybe?

That's exactly right. The Alien Marriage and Mama's Silver episodes were actually flashback episodes but because the show has been edited to allow for more commercials, that explanation is missing. Originally, all of the season 1 episodes opened with an introduction by Alistair Quince (Harvey Korman), but these were all cut in syndication to allow more commerical time. In the intros to these two episodes, he explains that these are flashbacks to a time before Vint had married Naomi. The DVDs are unedited and have all of the missing scenes, including the Harvey Korman openings.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by quincywagstaff

That's exactly right. The Alien Marriage and Mama's Silver episodes were actually flashback episodes but because the show has been edited to allow for more commercials, that explanation is missing. Originally, all of the season 1 episodes opened with an introduction by Alistair Quince (Harvey Korman), but these were all cut in syndication to allow more commerical time. In the intros to these two episodes, he explains that these are flashbacks to a time before Vint had married Naomi. The DVDs are unedited and have all of the missing scenes, including the Harvey Korman openings.

Thank you! That is what I thought!!! Oh yeah!! OMG I DO remember Harvey (Alistair) doing the introduction!! That was cool! A shame it still can't be like that! Darn commercials!

[JR1]

Did we see the promo spot Vicki L. recorded for MF on ME-TV? "Vote For Mama."

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by quincywagstaff

That's exactly right. The Alien Marriage and Mama's Silver episodes were actually flashback episodes but because the show has been edited to allow for more commercials, that explanation is missing. Originally, all of the season 1 episodes opened with an introduction by Alistair Quince (Harvey Korman), but these were all cut in syndication to allow more commerical time. In the intros to these two episodes, he explains that these are flashbacks to a time before Vint had married Naomi. The DVDs are unedited and have all of the missing scenes, including the Harvey Korman openings.

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

Thank you! That is what I thought!!! Oh yeah!! OMG I DO remember Harvey (Alistair) doing the introduction!! That was cool! A shame it still can't be like that! Darn commercials!

That is all true, but the reasons for this stems back even farther..."Alien Marriage" and "Mama's Silver" were actually the first two episodes taped for the series. But, after doing these two shows, Vicki began to panic. She felt there was something "not right" with the show; Mama was too strident, was too angry, yelling too much. She halted production on the show and asked to bring in Harvey as a co-director.

This is when Harvey told Vicki that Mama needed to lighten up, because people don't wanna come home after a hard day's work, pop open a beer, and listen to this old woman screaming for half an hour. Vicki said she didn't know how to make Mama lighthearted because "she never even smiled" (which is untrue; there are a few "Family" sketches on The Carol Burnett Show where Mama does smile, and even laugh, but at that point apparently Vicki had forgotten that). So Harvey told her Mama can laugh and be lighthearted, because "You ARE Mama!" (which Vicki said was frightening, lol).

So, after these two shows, Harvey was brought on as co-director and worked with Vicki as Mama (and the other actors), she became a more "likeable", sitcom-friendly Mama. (although I still enjoy those first two episodes very much!)

[Bonniegirl]

And I like Vint and Naomi married!!! They are two of my favorite characters. I think they are a big part of the show!!

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by quincywagstaff

Not sure if this has been posted on this board previously, but just in case it wasn't, Vicki Lawrence announced recently on her FB page that ME-TV will be airing "Mama's Family" starting in January. Surprised that it took this long for one of the ever-growing number of retro TV digital networks to pick the show up.

And the promotion has been heavy.

Vickie Lawrence is going all out, it seems, for promo spots on MEtv, lots of new material being filmed and broadcast.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

That is all true, but the reasons for this stems back even farther..."Alien Marriage" and "Mama's Silver" were actually the first two episodes taped for the series. But, after doing these two shows, Vicki began to panic. She felt there was something "not right" with the show; Mama was too strident, was too angry, yelling too much. She halted production on the show and asked to bring in Harvey as a co-director.

This is when Harvey told Vicki that Mama needed to lighten up, because people don't wanna come home after a hard day's work, pop open a beer, and listen to this old woman screaming for half an hour. Vicki said she didn't know how to make Mama lighthearted because "she never even smiled" (which is untrue; there are a few "Family" sketches on The Carol Burnett Show where Mama does smile, and even laugh, but at that point apparently Vicki had forgotten that). So Harvey told her Mama can laugh and be lighthearted, because "You ARE Mama!" (which Vicki said was frightening, lol).

So, after these two shows, Harvey was brought on as co-director and worked with Vicki as Mama (and the other actors), she became a more "likeable", sitcom-friendly Mama. (although I still enjoy those first two episodes very much!)

Interesting evolution of this show.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by stevea

I think they processed it thru something like "Filmlook". The only plus is that the color is better than it was on TBS--the syndication copies they used had washed-out color.

One other thing I noticed is that, like so many other old programs on digital (like "Diff'rent Strokes" and "Good Times"), the end credits have "jitter"--they don't play smoothly as they roll. I think this is an artifact of digital TV.

This "Filmlook" processing, I wonder if that is what was done to a Brady Bunch episode I saw recently, the colors were eye-poppingly bright, like cartoonish, really.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by jehobden

I don't like how they look in this phony digitized film format, but I guess if it was messed up on video it had to be done. I much prefer the videotape look, which Carol Burnett and Friends still has and Mama's Family originally had.

Okay, first I've read of this new practice, I reckon a lot of old television will be looking different soon.

[tlc38tlc38]

I watched MF on MeTV today for the first time. Not the first time I've seen MF, just on MeTV and it looks absolutely horrible. I'm not sure what was done to the transfers but they look very jumpy and it actually gives me a headache to watch. Glad I own the DVDs.