My Opinions on Season Three - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Adamantium · 11-18-2014, 06:00 PM

When I posted my thoughts on season one, I wasn’t intending to do the whole series. Heck, I wasn’t planning on watching the whole series. I was just waiting for my “Wonder Years” DVDs to arrive and figured I’d watch the first episode of “Mama’s Family,” which I realized I hadn’t seen before. That turned into me watching all of season one. After giving my thoughts on it, I decided to go for season two as well. Now I’ve just finished season three and here’s what I have to say.

This is the “Mama’s Family” I remember! Of the first three seasons, this is my favorite. Returning from the NBC years to the syndication episodes are Thelma “Mama” Harper, her son Vinton and his wife Naomi. No more Buzz. No more Sonja and no more Aunt Fran. Her departure is the premise for the first episode. Even though I like the syndicated cast better than the NBC cast, I really missed Aunt Fran, at least in the early episodes without her. I wondered if they’d explain Buzz and Sonja and they didn’t. I mean they mentioned them, which was good. They just didn’t say where they went. With Eunice and Ed living in Florida, their son Bubba straight out of juvenile hall moves in with the Harpers. Their next door neighbor is Iola Boylen. She has a crush on Vinton, which tends to upset Naomi. It’s a fun dynamic. Mama’s daughter Ellen (Betty White) makes one final appearance in the third episode of the season. So it’s a strange feeling to no longer have the recurring characters (Eunice & Ellen) visiting through out the season.

When it comes to the departing characters, I’ve missed both Aunt Fran and Sonja. I couldn’t care less about Buzz being gone. He was such a dull character. Bubba is so much better and funnier. He is what this show needs. In fact, a couple of my favorite episodes heavily featured him. My top favorite of season three is “Cat’s Meow.” It was such an odd and funny episode to see that freeze-dried cat and the family’s reactions to it. I laughed my butt off. Another is “Have It Mama’s Way.” That’s the one where both Mama and Bubba get a job at a fast food restaurant. Finally, I really liked “The Best Policy” where Mama and Iola think Naomi is trying to kill Vinton over his insurance. If I didn’t know better, I’d be right there with the two. It looked pretty suspicious to me, lol. As for least favorites, I can’t really think of one. Maybe “Soup to Nuts” but even that was bad.

All in all this was a great season for the show. The switch to syndication was the best thing for this wacky little show. I’ll soon begin watching season four and give my opinions on that season as well.

tlc38tlc38 · 11-18-2014, 07:39 PM

I was waiting on this post to see what you had to say about season 3 and which episodes were your favorites.

Here's my top 10 of season 3:
1. An Ill Wind
2. Soup to Nuts
3. National Mama
4. Porn Again
5. Cat's Meow
6. Desperately Seeking Anyone
7. Farewell Frannie
8. The Love Letter
9. After the Fall
10. Where There's Smoke

To me, "Birthright" is the weakest episode of the season.

Ron Ron · 11-18-2014, 10:19 PM

Season 3 is when the show starts to shine. I think it would have been a test drive if they had kept Buzz for a couple of episodes on Season 3 to be an antagonist to Bubba…like who Mama loved better and them dating same girl episode. I was so glad Sonja left..ugh…

Wasn't there talk that the actor who played Buzz didn't have good things to say about his time on MF or he wanted nothing to do with the reunion on the dvd?

Kasey · 11-20-2014, 10:51 AM

This season has some great episodes such as "Where There's Smoke", "The Cat's Meow", "The Best Policy" and "The Love Letter".

It's interesting to see how some ideas such as Iola being mentally unstable (there are several references to her seeing a shrink) are quickly dropped. The ultra-icy way Iola addresses Naomi doesn't last either as the animosity eventually dissolves into mutual tolerance with only the occasional flare-up.

The biggest difference though is how Bubba is portrayed here vs. later seasons. The hick accent and ruffian behaviour befit the character we've heard about on The Carol Burnett Show better than the straight-laced way he will later be written and played, though it is assumed that Mama reined him in somewhat.

'80sSitcoms · 11-21-2014, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Ron

I think it would have been a test drive if they had kept Buzz for a couple of episodes. I was so glad Sonja left..ugh…

Buzz was just too goody-goody. Sonja was much more interesting (if you will notice, there are three distinct phases of the Sonja character in her evolution).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Ron

Wasn't there talk that the actor who played Buzz didn't have good things to say about his time on MF or he wanted nothing to do with the reunion on the dvd?

I don't know about the first part, but Eric Brown and Karin Argoud were not invited to take part in the cast reunion. Only the syndicated cast members were assembled.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasey

The ultra-icy way Iola addresses Naomi doesn't last either as the animosity eventually dissolves into mutual tolerance with only the occasional flare-up.

The biggest difference though is how Bubba is portrayed here vs. later seasons. The hick accent and ruffian behaviour befit the character we've heard about on The Carol Burnett Show better than the straight-laced way he will later be written and played, though it is assumed that Mama reined him in somewhat.

Yes, it's only natural for Iola to soften into tolerance for Naomi and for Bubba to evolve into a better young man, over time. Also you will note Naomi softened in her own rebellion against Mama over time. After having to live with Mama so long, and with Mama being such a stubborn domineering personality (not to mention the owner of the house), it's only natural too for that character adjustment to happen.

schmave · 12-11-2014, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Ron

Season 3 is when the show starts to shine. I think it would have been a test drive if they had kept Buzz for a couple of episodes on Season 3 to be an antagonist to Bubba…like who Mama loved better and them dating same girl episode. I was so glad Sonja left..ugh…

Wasn't there talk that the actor who played Buzz didn't have good things to say about his time on MF or he wanted nothing to do with the reunion on the dvd?

I wouldn't have minded if Buzz and Sonja had popped up occasionally in syndication. They were never so much as mentioned after the first episode of the third season. They weren't retconned out of existence, but they might as well have been.

tlc38tlc38 · 01-14-2015, 11:19 PM

Adamantium, are you going to review the remaining seasons? I'm curious to see what you think about seasons 4, 5, & 6.

Adamantium · 01-16-2015, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

Adamantium, are you going to review the remaining seasons? I'm curious to see what you think about seasons 4, 5, & 6.

I don't know. In December, I quit because I was only watching Christmas episodes of my shows and I haven't gotten back into Mama's Family yet.

tlc38tlc38 · 01-16-2015, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adamantium

I don't know. In December, I quit because I was only watching Christmas episodes of my shows and I haven't gotten back into Mama's Family yet.

You bad bad boy. LOL

comedyfreak · 01-17-2015, 10:03 AM

The first two seasons are my favorite, season 3 was okay but I missed Ellen and Eunice.

tlc38tlc38 · 02-08-2015, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Buzz was just too goody-goody.

...but he was so cute.

11-18-2014, 06:00 PM	#1
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,836	My Opinions on Season Three When I posted my thoughts on season one, I wasn’t intending to do the whole series. Heck, I wasn’t planning on watching the whole series. I was just waiting for my “Wonder Years” DVDs to arrive and figured I’d watch the first episode of “Mama’s Family,” which I realized I hadn’t seen before. That turned into me watching all of season one. After giving my thoughts on it, I decided to go for season two as well. Now I’ve just finished season three and here’s what I have to say. This is the “Mama’s Family” I remember! Of the first three seasons, this is my favorite. Returning from the NBC years to the syndication episodes are Thelma “Mama” Harper, her son Vinton and his wife Naomi. No more Buzz. No more Sonja and no more Aunt Fran. Her departure is the premise for the first episode. Even though I like the syndicated cast better than the NBC cast, I really missed Aunt Fran, at least in the early episodes without her. I wondered if they’d explain Buzz and Sonja and they didn’t. I mean they mentioned them, which was good. They just didn’t say where they went. With Eunice and Ed living in Florida, their son Bubba straight out of juvenile hall moves in with the Harpers. Their next door neighbor is Iola Boylen. She has a crush on Vinton, which tends to upset Naomi. It’s a fun dynamic. Mama’s daughter Ellen (Betty White) makes one final appearance in the third episode of the season. So it’s a strange feeling to no longer have the recurring characters (Eunice & Ellen) visiting through out the season. When it comes to the departing characters, I’ve missed both Aunt Fran and Sonja. I couldn’t care less about Buzz being gone. He was such a dull character. Bubba is so much better and funnier. He is what this show needs. In fact, a couple of my favorite episodes heavily featured him. My top favorite of season three is “Cat’s Meow.” It was such an odd and funny episode to see that freeze-dried cat and the family’s reactions to it. I laughed my butt off. Another is “Have It Mama’s Way.” That’s the one where both Mama and Bubba get a job at a fast food restaurant. Finally, I really liked “The Best Policy” where Mama and Iola think Naomi is trying to kill Vinton over his insurance. If I didn’t know better, I’d be right there with the two. It looked pretty suspicious to me, lol. As for least favorites, I can’t really think of one. Maybe “Soup to Nuts” but even that was bad. All in all this was a great season for the show. The switch to syndication was the best thing for this wacky little show. I’ll soon begin watching season four and give my opinions on that season as well.

11-18-2014, 07:39 PM	#2
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,259	I was waiting on this post to see what you had to say about season 3 and which episodes were your favorites. Here's my top 10 of season 3: 1. An Ill Wind 2. Soup to Nuts 3. National Mama 4. Porn Again 5. Cat's Meow 6. Desperately Seeking Anyone 7. Farewell Frannie 8. The Love Letter 9. After the Fall 10. Where There's Smoke To me, "Birthright" is the weakest episode of the season.
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

01-17-2015, 10:03 AM	#10
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	The first two seasons are my favorite, season 3 was okay but I missed Ellen and Eunice.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

11-18-2014, 10:19 PM	#3
Ron Ron Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 30, 2005 Posts: 2,138	Season 3 is when the show starts to shine. I think it would have been a test drive if they had kept Buzz for a couple of episodes on Season 3 to be an antagonist to Bubba…like who Mama loved better and them dating same girl episode. I was so glad Sonja left..ugh… Wasn't there talk that the actor who played Buzz didn't have good things to say about his time on MF or he wanted nothing to do with the reunion on the dvd?

11-20-2014, 10:51 AM	#4
Kasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,143	This season has some great episodes such as "Where There's Smoke", "The Cat's Meow", "The Best Policy" and "The Love Letter". It's interesting to see how some ideas such as Iola being mentally unstable (there are several references to her seeing a shrink) are quickly dropped. The ultra-icy way Iola addresses Naomi doesn't last either as the animosity eventually dissolves into mutual tolerance with only the occasional flare-up. The biggest difference though is how Bubba is portrayed here vs. later seasons. The hick accent and ruffian behaviour befit the character we've heard about on The Carol Burnett Show better than the straight-laced way he will later be written and played, though it is assumed that Mama reined him in somewhat.

01-14-2015, 11:19 PM	#7
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,259	Adamantium, are you going to review the remaining seasons? I'm curious to see what you think about seasons 4, 5, & 6.