Based on a series of sketches from The Carol Burnett Show, Mama's Family mined humor from a squabbling family in the Midwestern blue collar suburb of Raytown. The noisy clan was headed by Mama, a buxom, gray-haired widow with sharp opinions and a sharper tongue who shared her small house with her high-strung sister Fran. Mama's lazy, dimwitted son, Vinton, moved in at the start of the series with his troublesome teenage children, Buzz and Sonja, after his wife had run off to become a Las Vegas showgirl. Vint soon became romantically involved with Naomi, Mama's promiscuous next-door neighbor, and the two eventually were married. Further uproar was caused by the periodic visits from Mama's two married daughters, the foul mouthed Eunice and the snobbish Ellen.Though the series initially ran for only two seasons on NBC, producer Joe Hamilton revived the series for first-run syndication in 1986. The show's "second life" brought about several changes, including the absence of such characters as Aunt Fran (who had died by choking on a toothpick), Buzz and Sonja (who had gone off to college), and Eunice, who had moved with her husband Ed to Florida... without telling their son Bubba, just as he was being released from juvenile hall. As a result, Bubba moved into the household with Mama, Vint and Naomi as a new character. Also joining the cast was Iola, Mama's uptight spinster neighbor with an unrequited crush on Vint. This second run was considerably more successful than the first, ending in 1990.
Newly-divorced Vinton has been evicted from his house along with Buzz and Sonja, and Mama decides to take them all in -- but Fran is none too thrilled when she finds her writing studio has been turned into Sonja's room behind her back. Meanwhile, Vinton gets reacquainted with Mama's next-door neighbor Naomi.
Just as Naomi and Vint are getting closer, Naomi announces she's sold her house and is moving away. After she ends up spending the night with Vint (much to Mama's shock), he decides to marry her and move himself and the kids with her to Arizona.
The eve of Vint and Naomi's wedding is an eventful one -- Buzz accompanies Vint to a stag party, Ellen suspects her own husband is seeing another woman, and Eunice blows up after being told she can't sing at the ceremony.
The wedding day arrives, and a drunk Eunice almost ruins the ceremony after learning Mama gave her late husband Carl's prized sapphire ring to Vint behind her back. Meanwhile, Vint and Naomi go ahead with their plans to move to Arizona, but the plans may have changed.
Mama, Vint, Naomi, Ellen, and Buzz play against the Van Courtland family for a chance to win $10,000 on the game show Family Feud.
Eunice's birthday party down at the Bigger Jigger goes as well as one would expect, with her and Mama carted off to jail after indirectly assaulting two police officers trying to break up their argument.
Feeling as though she hasn't done anything with her life, Mama ends up landing a job as a receptionist at a travel agency. Her family is happy for her, but they soon discover they may be more dependent on her than they realize.
On the night of the high school homecoming dance, Vint orders Buzz and Sonja to be back home by midnight -- but tempers flare when Sonja finds out Vint has allowed Buzz to stay out later solely because he's a boy.
Mama's dancing on air after reuniting with an old flame of hers from 40 years prior, but the family thinks she may have made a misstep when the two of them decide to spend the weekend at a cabin.
While ironing the dress Fran is planning to wear to a special occasion, Mama accidentally burns a hole through it, and she and Ellen buy a new one to replace it without Fran's knowledge.
Taking place before Vint and Naomi were married, this episode sees Vint accepting an offer to marry an illegal immigrant in order to help her gain American citizenship -- and to help him gain some big money.
Buzz credits the power of positive thinking for his recent successes, leading Eunice to join in the positivity herself. Her newfound way of thinking lands her a part in a production at the Pepper Pot Playhouse.
Taking place before Vint and Naomi were married, this episode sees Vint pawning Mama's silver to help bail Claude, a rather shady friend of his, out of jail.
Vint and Naomi prepare to haul Mama's World War II-era things to a rummage sale at the high school, but Buzz and Sonja, who are in charge of the school dance, soon get the idea to give it a 1940's theme. Mama is excited about the idea... until the rest of the dance committee shoots it down in favor of a "punk rock" style.
Naomi's second husband Leonard Oates comes back to Raytown a newly wealthy man, and tries to charm her into leaving Vinton and the Harpers for him and a "life of luxury".
Mama is determined to give Fran the perfect funeral despite everyone's insistence on knowing the details of her mysterious death, and her nerves are tested even further with the arrival of her grandson from reform school.
The executor of Fran's will informs the family that Fran was worth $35,000. However, in order to receive the money, Fran's will stipulates that Mama must not lose her temper for a period of two weeks.
Mama refuses to resolve a quarrel with her daughter Ellen until she discovers that Ellen is in the hospital.
After revealing to her family that she never graduated high school because a teacher humiliated her, Thelma agrees to enroll in night school with Bubba to show him how easy it will be to earn their diploma. However, she eventually tries to back out after seeing what the reading list is in her English class.
When Thelma discovers how easy shopping at home becomes after becoming addicted to television infomercials, her loved ones come together to help her kick the habit once her credit card bill arrives.
Mama seeks a repeat term as Church Ladies League president, but finds herself running against the last person she thought would be her opponent.
When Vint and Naomi decide they want a baby, Mama tries to rattle them with a friend's cranky infant.
Naomi is expecting a job promotion, but she finds her boss expects more from her than she's willing to give.
After reading about how much it costs to raise a child, Vint and Naomi decide to start a business selling bottles of Mama's mother-in-law's "miracle tonic."
Mama suspects that Vint is having an affair with his new trainee Heather, so she and Iola go to his workplace to investigate.
Mama encourages Iola to find herself a man, but the man she finds turns out to be a domineering blowhard.
Complete episode guide for Mama's Family with detailed information about every season and episode including air dates, summaries, ratings, and streaming availability in United States.
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Ellen attends a ceremony at the Raytown Country Club celebrating her being named its Woman of the Year, but when Mama, Vint and Naomi crash the festivities, she becomes afraid that they'll embarrass her in front of the highest members of Raytown's society.
Naomi's recent bouts with morning sickness lead Mama to think she may be pregnant. When Naomi tells Vinton the news, the couple are initially excited, but soon face the prospect of having to raise their new baby in their basement quarters.
Mama's in the hospital after being hit in the head with a pot, and in the waiting room, Eunice, Ellen and Naomi all tell Vinton their own version of who delivered the blow, shown via flashbacks.
Shortly after Naomi's campaign to be voted Friendly Employee of the Month at the Food Circus, she begins receiving inappropriate phone calls from an anonymous pervert, and Mama thinks the added friendliness is to blame.
Ellen is afraid to have her new boyfriend meet the family due to him being much younger than her, and her fears are confirmed when they accidentally cross paths at the town's fanciest restaurant, Chez Ray.
When Mama visits her cousin Gert at a retirement home to wish her a happy birthday, she's shocked to find the once-feisty Gert bedridden, depressed and with little to no energy. Mama soon makes it her mission to relight the fire in her cousin's spirit.
During a talent show at the Bigger Jigger, Vint wows the crowd with his Fred Astaire impression. However, fame instantly rockets to his head, and the family decides to bring him back down to Earth before he makes a fool of himself.
Insecure about their social status, Vint and Naomi decide to hold a dinner party for several of their higher-class friends. The night of the party, however, Mama suffers a back spasm, and Vint and Naomi are forced to literally hold the party around her as she lays on the floor.
With a bus strike cutting off Mama's primary means of transportation, she turns to her family to help her get where she needs to go. Tired of having to take her places, however, her family insists she learn to drive herself.
Naomi decides to take up a self-defense martial arts class, and talks Fran and Sonja into joining. Mama initially thinks it's a load of bunk, but soon changes her tune after being mugged.
Mamma buys a car from someone that her and Vinton knew as a kid and gets taken to the cleaners.
Momma gives advice to the manager of her favorite supermarket, he then gives her a job which leads to a demotion for Naomi and family problems.
Vinton and Naomi go on a belated honeymoon and end up with a mamma problem, the kids plan a sleepover.
Mama is goaded into running against the smugly incumbent and decidedly incompetent mayor.
Conclusion. Her honor the new mayor discovers there's a lot more hassle to the job than she'd imagined.
Mamma breaks Naomi's new vacuum and blames Naomi for it resulting in both of then going to court over the matter. The judge finds himself with a major courtroom headache when the two women make an appearance.
Buzz discovers why Mama doesn't like to celebrate her birthday.
Mama's long lost brother-in-law arrives for a visit and charms everyone except her.
Fran is writing advice to the lovelorn, but it's Mama who comes up with all the smart answers.
When Mama visits Carl's grave, she is upset to discover that another woman is buried next to him in Mama's reserved plot.
When Mama's dreams start providing the names of winning horses, the family figures they're in the money.
Mama, Iola, and Naomi decide to have to a chili cook-off (with Vint as judge), with the winner getting her recipe in the church-bazaar cookbook.
Vint and Naomi are having trouble in the bedroom, and special guest Dr. Joyce Brothers takes Naomi's desperate phone call live on the air of the local TV station, prompting chaos in Mama's house.
Iola wants to freeze-dry her recently deceased cat.
A steamy love letter falls into the wrong hands at the Harper house.
A Thanksgiving tornado traps the clan in the cellar.
Iola believes Bubba is the prime suspect after her pearl necklace disappears.
A fugitive from Bubba's old reform school threatens Mama's chances of becoming church-league president.
Tired of her supermarket job, Naomi takes a flyer on airline-stewardess school.
Mama's not in the merriest of moods when she's forced to play Santa at the mall.
Mama and Naomi's plan to find a date for Iola backfires when the intended only has eyes for Mama.
Mama joins a group that opposes pornography.
Bubba and Mama apply for the same job at a local fast-food stand.
After finding a note left on the front porch, Vint begins to think Thelma adopted him as a baby and soon arranges to meet the woman he suspects is his real mother.
Mama has a sudden change of heart about participating in the Grandma USA contest when she learns that the grand prize includes a new car and a dream kitchen.
Bubba enlists in the Army to impress his girlfriend.
Mama's worldly cousin irritates Mama with stories about her extraordinary life style.
Mama emerges as a contender in an arm-wrestling competition and the entire family trains her for the championship event.
Bubba has his first experience with an older woman when he's a stand-in on a blind date.
Naomi feels neglected when Vint decides to join an elite men's club.
Mama suspects Naomi of trying to cash in on Vint's life insurance policy.
Mama comes to the aid of Aunt Effie when she suffers a concussion after falling off the roof.
When Raytown experiences a rash of home break-ins, the police soon suspect that Vint is the prime suspect because the "courteous crook" can be traced back to his place of employment. As a result, Thelma and Iola set out to prove his innocence.
After Vint and Naomi decide to separate after an argument about their finances, Thelma tries to get them to reconcile after they start driving her crazy with their current living arrangement.
When Thelma has a near death experience on a stormy day, she vows to be more helpful to anyone who asks her for help. However, it doesn't take long for that to backfire when that generosity explodes around her family and friends.
Mama wants to sing at Raytown's Founder's Day.
Mama develops a crush on her night-school teacher.
The Harpers baby-sit for the minister's grandson.
Mama and Naomi team up for tag-team wrestling.
Iola discovers her handmade gifts to family members are being sold at the Harpers' garage sale.
Vint's embarrassed at work when Mama brings him his childhood lunch box.
A typical Russian homemaker visits the all-American Harper family.
A family war erupts when Vint and Naomi want to switch bedrooms with Bubba.
When Bubba comes home tipsy, Mama is reminded of a drunken incident involving Eunice.
Mama is jealous when Iola acquires a new best friend.
Iola, Bubba and Mama fantasize about marriage after attending a wedding.
After Uncle Oscar passes away, Mama is willed his gabby pet parrot.
With help from Mama, a senior citizens' tap-dancing class becomes a hot ticket in Raytown.
Mama appears on the Jeopardy! game show and wins a trip to Hawaii.
Surprises and romance await the Harpers in Hawaii.
Mama, vacationing in Hawaii, plans to avoid the man she saved from drowning.
After Bubba's date for the prom cancels at the last minute to attend a fraternity party, Bubba cannot find anyone else to go with him, so Mama sets him up without his knowledge with Iola's nerdy niece Vernette.
Mama opens her house to boarders with hopes of raising money for a new stove.
When Naomi is stricken with amnesia, Mama hopes to turn her into the perfect housewife.
Mama and Bubba almost miss high-school graduation.
Bubba videotapes his family for a class project.
Mama mistakenly believes that Vint bought her an expensive bracelet.
Greed overtakes Mama when she gets $800 from a malfunctioning bank teller machine.
Mama is haunted by visions of her departed mother, who was always trying to run her daughter's life.
Mama disrupts Vint's plans to join an elite poker club.
Mama suspects Bubba of more than studying with a pretty classmate.
It's Mama vs. City Hall when the town decides to turn her neighborhood into the new landfill.
Mama reluctantly gets a phone machine and Vint and Naomi hid a stray dog in the garage and succeed in convincing Mama that she's getting senile when she claims she keeps hearing a dog barking.
Mama finds herself competing against Vint and Naomi in a dance contest. The kind of dancing she must do to win makes her unsure of the whole thing.
Mama earmarks her life savings for a perfect funeral.
It is Valentine's Day, and Mama falsely says she has a date so that Iola will feel free to go out. To support her lie, Mama orders an escort from "Rent-a-Gent."
When a lottery ticket seems to be the grand prize winner, Mama and Iola fight over whose it is.
Stubborn Mama refuses to pay what she believes is an outrageously high electric bill.
Mama's quiet weekend alone turns to boredom.
Mama is arrested at a rally for homeless people.
Mama sets out to get even with an April Fools' Day prankster.
Lolly Purdue is doing a terrible job as President of the Church Ladies League, so Mama and Iola plan to have her impeached.
Mama does some creative accounting on her income tax return. Her victory over Uncle Sam is short-lived, however, when an IRS agent comes calling.
Vint is tricked into thinking his latest invention could make him a millionaire.
Bubba starts going out with the granddaughter of neighbor Fred Gebhart, which upsets Mama because of a lifelong feud between the Harpers and the Gebharts.
Iola finally stands up to her manipulative mother, only to be kicked out of her house, leaving her no alternative but to move in with the Harpers.
When Vint and Naomi decide to adopt a child, Mama hurts their chances by confiding in the psychologist who's evaluating the family.
The Harpers install an intercom so that Naomi will be able to monitor her baby, but Mama uses it to eavesdrop on the family, and vice versa.
Mama is attracted to guest actor Leslie Lemoyne, who's appearing in a local play, until she sees him on "Tri-State's Most Wanted".
When Mama lands her own radio show, she gets a chance to do what she does best: criticize.
A reunion exposes Mama's junior-high reputation.
A psychic delivers messages to Mama from her dead husband causing conflict in the house.
Mama heckles a comic, who challenges her to do better.
Bubba brings home an all-female heavy-metal band.
Vint fears that his job is on the chopping block when he learns the Bernice Corporation plans on closing Kwik Keys and opening a frozen yogurt shop in its place. When Thelma learns that she owns stock in an old trolley company that is now owned by the same corporation that plans to fire Vint, she finds a way for her son to keep his job.
When Iola raises a rose destined for garden-show glory, Mama is green with envy.
Mama slips on a roll of pennies and sues the bank.
A live goose, meant to be Christmas dinner, becomes a pet.
After watching detective movies on TV for a week, and hearing that Iola's mother is missing, Mama dreams that she is a film noir-style detective hired to find her client's mother.
Mama's ad for a church dance produces an overwhelming response because of a mix-up at the printing shop.
Vint must choose between Mama and Naomi when he wins a dinner for two.
Mama describes parenthood to Naomi's childbirth class.
Vint and Naomi buy an RV and plan to move to a trailer park, but their timing could not be worse: Mama is planning to host a fancy backyard luncheon for a snooty society group called the Dames.
In the series finale, Naomi is upset about her baby being late, so Mama tries to calm her down with a false story about Carl, then later tells Iola what actually happened. Both versions are seen in flashback, featuring Ken Berry as Carl. Later that day, Naomi goes into labor and Mama ends up delivering her granddaughter, Tiffany Thelma Harper.