Mama's Family

1983 • NBC
4.8
130 reviews
TV-UNRATED
Rating
Eligible
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Season 2 episodes (22)

1 Flaming Forties
9/29/83
While helping the kids settle on a theme for their school dance, Mama becomes nostalgic as she looks through her old clothing from the '40s. Deciding to go punk rather than nostalgic, the school committee plans to sell off Mama's old clothing to raise money. Arriving at the gym to prevent her memories from being sold, Mama must save the dance when the punk band scheduled to perform doesn't show up.
2 The Return of Leonard Oates
10/13/83
Working at the cash register of Food Circus, Naomi is confronted by her second husband, Len Oates. Wealthy and determined to win her back, Len overwhelms Naomi. Resisting his charms, she vows to stay with Vint. Deciding the Harper family is too crazy, Len willingly leaves Raytown.
3 Country Club
10/20/83
Ellen's news that she's been named "Woman of the Year" by the Raytown Country Club doesn't interest the family until they all receive invitations to the awards dinner. Once there, the Harpers do their utmost to disrupt the formal affair.
4 Naomi and the Stork
10/27/83
The Harper household seems crowded enough when Naomi announces she may be pregnant. Not wanting to raise a child in the basement, Vint and Naomi request a move upstairs. It's not long before the family is fighting over which room the couple will take. Plans dissolve when a doctor informs all that the pregnancy is a false alarm.
5 Rashomama
11/3/83
Vint is sent to the hospital after receiving word that Mama has had an accident while making jam. Vint tries to figure out who's at fault by listening to Naomi's, then Ellen's, and finally Eunice's version of the incident.
6 Obscene Call
11/10/83
Naomi feels her privacy has been invaded when she begins receiving obscene phone calls. Turning to the family for support, she is angered when they suggest the caller is attracted to her because of the way she dresses and acts. When the other family members also get obscene calls, they understand what Naomi's going through.
7 Ellen's Boyfriend
11/17/83
Ellen's attempts to keep her relationship with a younger man secret fail when the family stumbles upon the couple in a restaurant. Embarrassed and hurt by Mama's criticism, Ellen confronts her later at home.
8 Aunt Gert Rides Again
12/1/83
Mama's off to the nursing home to help Gert celebrate her birthday. After the visit, Mama expresses shock at how much Gert has slowed down. Determined to revive Gert's energetic spirit, Mama returns to throw her a wild party.
9 Amateur Night
12/8/83
After Vint is turned down for a promotion, the family goes to the Bigger Jigger in an effort to cheer him up. A talent show is announced and Naomi convinces Vint to participate. Vint wins the contest and becomes conceited. Transformed into "Vinnie Vegas," Vint is convinced he has a future as an entertainer. It becomes Mama's duty to set him straight.
10 The Mama Who Came to Dinner
12/22/83
Upset because she's never had a dinner party, Naomi talks Mama into letting her use the house. Before the party begins, Mama suffers a back spasm and is unable to get up from the living room floor. When the guests arrive, Mama demands total attention.
11 Mama Learns to Drive
1/7/84
Fed up with having to chauffeur Mama all over town, the family decides to teach her to drive. After several mishaps, Mama gets her license. Now the family is too afraid to let her use their cars!
12 Black Belt Mama
1/14/84
After being mugged while waiting for a bus, Mama decides to join Naomi, Fran and Sonia in a self-defense class. Mama then successfully defends herself against a potential mugger.
13 Mama Buys a Car
1/21/84
Though she has her driver's license, Mama is frustrated because she doesn't have a car. A visit to the dealership of an oily used car salesman lands her behind the wheel of the "perfect" car. On a ride with the family, the car self-destructs. Determined to reclaim her money, Mama confronts the salesman. At first refusing to pay up, he is anxious to return her money when she threatens to ruin his business.
14 Supermarket
2/4/84
Upon learning business has been bad at the Food Circus, Mama offers some suggestions on how to attract customers. Impressed, the manager hires Mama as a consultant. Angered because Mama makes her seem incompetent, Naomi pressures Mama to quit.
15 No Room at the Inn
2/11/84
On their first wedding anniversary, Vint plans to take Naomi to the Wandering Hearts Hotel for the honeymoon they never had. Despite Naomi's protests, Vint obliges Mama and gives her a ride to Aunt Effie's house on the way. At the hotel, the couple is dismayed when Mama shows up, having left Aunt Effie after a heated argument.
16 Mama for Mayor, Part 1
2/18/84
Mama attracts media attention when she has a confrontation with Mayor Tutwiller at a press conference held in the Harper home. Fed up with his unpopular policies, Mama declares her candidacy. In a televised debate, she establishes herself as a legitimate contender. Consequently, Mama wins the election.

Part one of a two part episode
17 Mama for Mayor, Part 2
2/25/84
Upon taking office as mayor, Mama begins to lose control of the town. Faced with a call for her resignation, Mama turns to the former mayor for help. Realizing she isn't qualified for the position, Mama turns the job back over to Mayor Tutwiller.

Part two of a two part episode
18 Harper Versus Harper
3/10/84
Naomi's feud with Mama lands the two in court when Mama breaks Naomi's vacuum cleaner. The judge has an impossible time keeping order and he holds both parties in contempt of court. The case is then dismissed as the two are left to resolve the problem themselves.
19 Mama's Birthday
3/17/84
The family can't understand why Mama dislikes celebrating her birthday. Helping her clean out the attic later that day, Buzz finally pries the story out of her. In a flashback, Mama recounts a disastrous childhood birthday.
20 Mama Cries Uncle
3/24/84
The sudden appearance of Carl's nomadic brother, Roy, excites everyone but Mama. Although she seems upset that Roy is popular with the rest of the family, she admits her affection for him. To Mama's distress, Roy, true to his restless nature, leaves the Harper home again.
21 Dear Aunt Fran
3/31/84
Aunt Fran is temporarily given the responsibility of writing an advice column in the local newspaper. Unfortunately she doesn't have any good advice and comes to rely on Mama to supply material for the column. At lunch with her editor, Fran must apply some of Mama's advice herself when the man tries to take advantage of her.
22 A Grave Mistake
4/7/84
It's Carl's birthday and Thelma is going to visit his plot at the cemetery. Once there, she discovers a strange woman has been buried next to Carl. Confronting the cemetery director, she discovers that Carl's headstone had been placed over the wrong plot! Upset that she's been grieving for the wrong man, Mama refuses to visit Carl again until he sends her a sign that he's forgiven her.

About this show

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family. In a blue-collar Midwestern suburb, members of an extended, eternally squabbling family struggle to live together under one roof--owned by their outrageous matriarch--in the zany escapades of Mama's Family.

Ratings and reviews

4.8
130 reviews
Linda Turner
July 11, 2019
I love the character Vicky Lawrence portrayed, she is so believable as Momma and nothing gets past her. She is such a versatile character, she can play anything and is great. All of the characters are so good,and its no wonder that they are portrayed years later,together again. They are still loved as much now as they were in years gone by.I have wondered what has happened to Vickie and the rest of Mommas family.
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Brenda White
January 20, 2022
I have all episodes on DVD and just love them. This show is hilarious and even though I've seen them all hundreds of times....it is still my favorite show!
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JAKE LEGION
December 18, 2018
AMAZING SERIES THEY WILL NEVER MAKE THEM LIKE THIS AGAIN...IF THEY DO THE ACTORS WILL EITHER BE GAY BLACK LATINO SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE PERFECT LINE UP THEY ONCE WERE !!!!
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