The CBS Special, "Eunice" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

dynoguy88 · 02-19-2004, 07:18 PM

I've never seen this movie. Juding from this picutre....

http://www.kenberry.com/ken_berry_eunice.htm

....it must have starred Mama, Eunice, Ed and Vint.

Anyone that HAS seen the movie, could you give a brief summary of the storyline? What happened? Was it funny?

I Love Carol Burnett! · 02-19-2004, 08:18 PM

I'm getting a copy. It started Mama's Family its about Eunice Mama, Harvey and Vint

PZelda · 02-19-2004, 08:33 PM

I know they made it in the spring of 1981, and it aired on TV in the spring of 1982, and like Jon said, it was the pilot for "Mama's Family".

jterry · 02-19-2004, 08:56 PM

I have a copy and I love it! I really like the storyline because it shows four different periods of time- Eunice as a teenager, Eunice married to Ed, Eunice when she is a little older, and then the Eunice that we all currently know and love. Ken Berry stars as Mama's son Phillip. One really interesting thing happens near the end- MAMA DIES!

Here is a website I found: http://www.tvparty.com/vaburnett2.html

It talks about Eunice and has video clips from it. It is located in the yellow sidebar on the side

dynoguy88 · 02-20-2004, 01:06 PM

Hmm, well, if Mama dies at the end, than that makes it doubtful that this movie served as the pilot for the sitcom.

PZelda · 02-20-2004, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dynoguy88
Hmm, well, if Mama dies at the end, than that makes it doubtful that this movie served as the pilot for the sitcom.

It was a weird one at that, but from what I have heard, "Eunice" had a successful airing when they first aired it, that they decided to make a TV show based on it. They started producing episodes of MF in the fall of 1982 (which is why you see a lot of early episodes with the copyright date of 1982 at the end), then they started airing the episodes in January of 1983.

TV Guy · 03-15-2004, 09:17 PM

"Eunice" is what is called in the TV-business a "back-door" pilot; essentially, it was meant to be a stand-alone special, but the producers hoped that it would draw strong enough ratings that the network would consider a series based on it. In contrast, most regular pilots are produced to be the first episode of a series, and are not broadcast in advance of the series selling to the network.

CBS ultimately wasn't interested in a regular series because Carol Burnett was not willing to be the lead (she would only consent to occasional appearances). So the producers took the idea to NBC, which bought it.

BTW, Philip, the character Ken played in the Eunice special, was the same successful writer character played occasionally by Roddy McDowell on "The Carol Burnett Show".

MichaelLutton · 03-16-2004, 08:34 PM

How did Mama die n that episode Anyway.i like to know Like how did it happen.

jterry · 03-16-2004, 09:37 PM

It never really says on the copy I have.

MichaelLutton · 03-16-2004, 11:43 PM

thats confusing.kind of odd they say something how she died. or show,

I Love Carol Burnett! · 03-17-2004, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MichaelLutton
How did Mama die n that episode Anyway.i like to know Like how did it happen.

Eunice says,"That nurse just called me up from the hospital and told me"

Thats all it really said about how she dies

GrandGame1440 · 11-23-2005, 01:37 AM

Sorry to bump an old post, but is there some way I could obtain a copy? I don't have anything to trade but some "Price is Right" episodes.

Please let me know.

benwilliams · 12-26-2005, 05:48 PM

I have a copy of the episode that I'm able to put on to DVD. If anyone is interested, PM me....Sorry to bump an old post, by the way.....not a very active board

~MF ON DVD in 2006!~

wayman · 12-26-2005, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Love Carol Burnett!

Eunice says,"That nurse just called me up from the hospital and told me"

Thats all it really said about how she dies

After she said that, did she say the nurse told her that as though she were announcing the time of day? I saw the special when it first aired and for some reason, that line sticks out in my mind.

bw0000 · 01-07-2006, 09:20 AM

Thats exactly what she says. Good memory. I also have this on dvd, if anyone is interested.

02-19-2004, 07:18 PM	#1
dynoguy88 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,674	The CBS Special, "Eunice" I've never seen this movie. Juding from this picutre.... http://www.kenberry.com/ken_berry_eunice.htm ....it must have starred Mama, Eunice, Ed and Vint. Anyone that HAS seen the movie, could you give a brief summary of the storyline? What happened? Was it funny?

02-19-2004, 08:18 PM	#2
I Love Carol Burnett! My Queen Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Wishing I was in CA with Carol Burnett Posts: 5,441	I'm getting a copy. It started Mama's Family its about Eunice Mama, Harvey and Vint
	__________________ I Love Carol Burnett! I'm so glad we had this time together, just to have a laugh or sing a song, seems we just get started and before you know it comes the time we have to say..so long. Good Night Everyone!

02-19-2004, 08:33 PM	#3
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	I know they made it in the spring of 1981, and it aired on TV in the spring of 1982, and like Jon said, it was the pilot for "Mama's Family".
	__________________ Cheers behind the couch!

02-19-2004, 08:56 PM	#4
jterry Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 16, 2003 Location: Raytown, The Jewel of the Tri-State Area Posts: 453	I have a copy and I love it! I really like the storyline because it shows four different periods of time- Eunice as a teenager, Eunice married to Ed, Eunice when she is a little older, and then the Eunice that we all currently know and love. Ken Berry stars as Mama's son Phillip. One really interesting thing happens near the end- MAMA DIES! Here is a website I found: http://www.tvparty.com/vaburnett2.html It talks about Eunice and has video clips from it. It is located in the yellow sidebar on the side
	__________________ "Life is much too serious to be taken seriously" -Vicki Lawrence "What's Up? My name is Thelma and I'm here to say, that if ya like big booty it's your lucky day. You men stop wonderin', no need to speculate, I measure 44-36-48." -Mama's Rap Song

02-20-2004, 01:06 PM	#5
dynoguy88 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,674	reply Hmm, well, if Mama dies at the end, than that makes it doubtful that this movie served as the pilot for the sitcom.

03-15-2004, 09:17 PM	#7
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	"Eunice" is what is called in the TV-business a "back-door" pilot; essentially, it was meant to be a stand-alone special, but the producers hoped that it would draw strong enough ratings that the network would consider a series based on it. In contrast, most regular pilots are produced to be the first episode of a series, and are not broadcast in advance of the series selling to the network. CBS ultimately wasn't interested in a regular series because Carol Burnett was not willing to be the lead (she would only consent to occasional appearances). So the producers took the idea to NBC, which bought it. BTW, Philip, the character Ken played in the Eunice special, was the same successful writer character played occasionally by Roddy McDowell on "The Carol Burnett Show".

03-16-2004, 08:34 PM	#8
MichaelLutton Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 23, 2003 Location: usa Posts: 281	How did Mama die n that episode Anyway.i like to know Like how did it happen.
	__________________ Michael Lutton

03-16-2004, 09:37 PM	#9
jterry Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 16, 2003 Location: Raytown, The Jewel of the Tri-State Area Posts: 453	It never really says on the copy I have.

03-16-2004, 11:43 PM	#10
MichaelLutton Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 23, 2003 Location: usa Posts: 281	thats confusing.kind of odd they say something how she died. or show,

11-23-2005, 01:37 AM	#12
GrandGame1440 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 24, 2003 Posts: 557	Sorry to bump an old post, but is there some way I could obtain a copy? I don't have anything to trade but some "Price is Right" episodes. Please let me know.

12-26-2005, 05:48 PM	#13
benwilliams Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 07, 2003 Posts: 22	I have a copy of the episode that I'm able to put on to DVD. If anyone is interested, PM me....Sorry to bump an old post, by the way.....not a very active board ~MF ON DVD in 2006!~

01-07-2006, 09:20 AM	#15
bw0000 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 10, 2002 Posts: 12	Thats exactly what she says. Good memory. I also have this on dvd, if anyone is interested.