Why is this show so underappreciated? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Meade · 03-25-2005, 02:15 PM

I love Mama's Family. I think its one of the funniest sit coms ever.
And I love it because its character driven. Yet its still not out on DVD,
and I dont meet a whole lot of folks who share my sentiments.
This show is not as mainstream it seems. Maybe its too off-beat for
some. But I love it. I cant believe its not on TVLAND or Nick@Nite either.

I'm sure there must be other Mama Fans like me who are wondering why in the world this show is not given the respect it deserves.

Penny Lane · 03-26-2005, 09:18 PM

I love it too. I think that maybe because it was mostly syndicated that it didn't catch much of the mainstream audience as a regular network show does.
*shrugs*

bubba2000 · 04-26-2005, 09:32 PM

I think it has a sort of bad, hokey reputation. In a perfect world people would see how wonderful it is for a sitcom to create such a fun, silly little world, so completly. It never prentended to be anything it wasn't, it didn't need to be "cool" or hip. It was what it was, from begining to end. This is not easy to do.
You can veiw it as creative and well done, or as high camp, this show deservers far more respect then it will ever get.

Meade · 04-26-2005, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubba2000

I think it has a sort of bad, hokey reputation. In a perfect world people would see how wonderful it is for a sitcom to create such a fun, silly little world, so completly. It never prentended to be anything it wasn't, it didn't need to be "cool" or hip. It was what it was, from begining to end. This is not easy to do.
You can veiw it as creative and well done, or as high camp, this show deservers far more respect then it will ever get.

You hit the nail on the head, about the campyness part. Mama is very campy and I think it actually goes over a lot of people's heads. I would even consider Mama Fans almost kind of "Alternative". I know a lot of people who are Hipsters and in the know who watch it.

bubba2000 · 04-26-2005, 10:35 PM

In response to "Meade":
Yes! it is very camp. I don't say that in a bad way, i think it knew what it was doing.
Let me ask you this: I was interested that you said "People in the know" enjoy this show for its camp. I didn't know that. I am young for a "Mama's Family" fan and other than my parents I don't know anyone who watches it. Can you tell me how you first got into it? When I was very little my parents loved this show, they had like the skits from the 1970's, and that is how i came to be a fan, I am just wondering how others got into it.

Meade · 04-26-2005, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubba2000

In response to "Meade":
Yes! it is very camp. I don't say that in a bad way, i think it knew what it was doing.
Let me ask you this: I was interested that you said "People in the know" enjoy this show for its camp. I didn't know that. I am young for a "Mama's Family" fan and other than my parents I don't know anyone who watches it. Can you tell me how you first got into it? When I was very little my parents loved this show, they had like the skits from the 1970's, and that is how i came to be a fan, I am just wondering how others got into it.

Well I was about 3 when the show came on NBC, and my whole family watched it. But yes, it tends to be popular among the Hipsters. They like things for its campyness and irony. I'm not sure if I'm a Hipster or not, although I am a musician and pretty much independent.

Anyways, here's a little about them:

Hipsters

bubba2000 · 04-27-2005, 09:26 PM

nice link about "hipsters". I enjoyed your insight into the show and information on others who like.

sj · 05-03-2005, 10:17 PM

I've never posted at the "Mama's Family" board before, (shame on me!) but just wanted to say that I use to watch Mama's Family (or "Mama" as I use to call it) all the time and loved it. (Still do)

Penny Lane · 05-05-2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meade

Well I was about 3 when the show came on NBC, and my whole family watched it. But yes, it tends to be popular among the Hipsters. They like things for its campyness and irony. I'm not sure if I'm a Hipster or not, although I am a musician and pretty much independent.

Anyways, here's a little about them:

Hipsters

Oh my gosh! I feel so old! I was 33 when Mama debuted. A year younger than Vicki.

hughpuppies · 05-09-2005, 05:32 AM

I think why alot of people don't like it is because it is not a show about rich families living in a big city or about the currents things that are happening.

I know there are shows that aren't about rich people. Like Archie Bunker, Roseanne, Mary Tyler Moore, etc, etc, ect.

One reason why I like it was because they did things that most people can relate to, they didn't do off the wall things in alot of comedies that were so outragous you just know it couldn't happen.

Also alot of the story lines were not copied off other sitcoms. Like for example alot of sitcoms have a story about one of the kids afraid to go to school for the first time, or someone steals something, or someone cheats.

Also alot of sitcoms they love to walk around hugging each other.

Most sitcoms have their problem soleved in a half hour.

Also alot of sitcoms when one episode is over they seem to forget what happened to in the episode when they next episode comes. Only a few sitcoms are good at remembering what happened to them in prior episodes and carries over, a good sitcom that done this well was Wings, they seemed to have it like it seemed each episode rolled over to the next one.

Only other sitcoms I can think of that remember alot from other passed episodes was Cheers, Facts of Life, Diff'rent Strokes, Gimme a Break, Wings, Wonder Years, Boy Meets World.

So, basically alot of people seem to like the shows where characters do outragous things that seemed almost impossible, and where the family is rich and problems solved in a half hour.

03-25-2005, 02:15 PM	#1
Meade Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2002 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 279	Why is this show so underappreciated? I love Mama's Family. I think its one of the funniest sit coms ever. And I love it because its character driven. Yet its still not out on DVD, and I dont meet a whole lot of folks who share my sentiments. This show is not as mainstream it seems. Maybe its too off-beat for some. But I love it. I cant believe its not on TVLAND or Nick@Nite either. I'm sure there must be other Mama Fans like me who are wondering why in the world this show is not given the respect it deserves.

03-26-2005, 09:18 PM	#2
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,247	I love it too. I think that maybe because it was mostly syndicated that it didn't catch much of the mainstream audience as a regular network show does. shrugs
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

05-09-2005, 05:32 AM	#10
hughpuppies Melanie Bernhardt Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 13, 2004 Location: wished I was with the lady in the above picture Posts: 705	I think why alot of people don't like it is because it is not a show about rich families living in a big city or about the currents things that are happening. I know there are shows that aren't about rich people. Like Archie Bunker, Roseanne, Mary Tyler Moore, etc, etc, ect. One reason why I like it was because they did things that most people can relate to, they didn't do off the wall things in alot of comedies that were so outragous you just know it couldn't happen. Also alot of the story lines were not copied off other sitcoms. Like for example alot of sitcoms have a story about one of the kids afraid to go to school for the first time, or someone steals something, or someone cheats. Also alot of sitcoms they love to walk around hugging each other. Most sitcoms have their problem soleved in a half hour. Also alot of sitcoms when one episode is over they seem to forget what happened to in the episode when they next episode comes. Only a few sitcoms are good at remembering what happened to them in prior episodes and carries over, a good sitcom that done this well was Wings, they seemed to have it like it seemed each episode rolled over to the next one. Only other sitcoms I can think of that remember alot from other passed episodes was Cheers, Facts of Life, Diff'rent Strokes, Gimme a Break, Wings, Wonder Years, Boy Meets World. So, basically alot of people seem to like the shows where characters do outragous things that seemed almost impossible, and where the family is rich and problems solved in a half hour.
	__________________ I hope to one day meet Melanie Bernhardt who played Kathy Gordon in 4 Different Strokes episodes.(girl in the wheel chair)

04-26-2005, 09:32 PM	#3
bubba2000 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 11, 2004 Location: ma. Posts: 45	I think it has a sort of bad, hokey reputation. In a perfect world people would see how wonderful it is for a sitcom to create such a fun, silly little world, so completly. It never prentended to be anything it wasn't, it didn't need to be "cool" or hip. It was what it was, from begining to end. This is not easy to do. You can veiw it as creative and well done, or as high camp, this show deservers far more respect then it will ever get.

04-26-2005, 10:35 PM	#5
bubba2000 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 11, 2004 Location: ma. Posts: 45	In response to "Meade": Yes! it is very camp. I don't say that in a bad way, i think it knew what it was doing. Let me ask you this: I was interested that you said "People in the know" enjoy this show for its camp. I didn't know that. I am young for a "Mama's Family" fan and other than my parents I don't know anyone who watches it. Can you tell me how you first got into it? When I was very little my parents loved this show, they had like the skits from the 1970's, and that is how i came to be a fan, I am just wondering how others got into it.

04-27-2005, 09:26 PM	#7
bubba2000 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 11, 2004 Location: ma. Posts: 45	nice link about "hipsters". I enjoyed your insight into the show and information on others who like.

05-03-2005, 10:17 PM	#8
sj Stamos Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2003 Location: USA Posts: 192	I've never posted at the "Mama's Family" board before, (shame on me!) but just wanted to say that I use to watch Mama's Family (or "Mama" as I use to call it) all the time and loved it. (Still do)