Mama's Family Wiki

Welcome to New Wiki Name
Mama's Family Wiki is an encyclopedia about everything related to the 1980s sitcom. The wiki format allows anyone to create or edit any article, so we can all work together to create a comprehensive database for fans of Mama's Family.

Introduction
MAMA'S FAMILY spun-off of The Carol Burnett Show featured skit called "The Family", which co-star Vicki Lawrence (Thelma Harper) based her show Mama's Family off of. Mama's Family debuted on January 22nd, 1983; featuring a Southern blue collar family from Raytown, Missouri. Thelma "Mama" Harper is a sharp-tongued, gray-haired widow who shared her house with her sister Fran Crowley, a journalist for the local newspaper. Dim-witted Vinton; Thelma's son, moved in with kids Buzz and Sonja after his wife Mitzi abandoned the family to become a Las Vegas showgirl. The same year Vinton met trampy and flirty neighbor Naomi Oates and eloped. During these years Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, and Betty White were supporting cast members. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled and the two year's later resurfaced on CBS in syndication.

In the fall of 1986 Mama's Family returned to television with many changes. Rue McClanahan (Fran) and Betty White (Ellen) had pursued careers on NBC's new show The Golden Girls, and the cast was axed to only Mama Harper, Vinton, and Naomi. Two newcomers had joined the cast, Beverly Archer as Iola Boylan, the prissy next door neighbor and friend to Thelma, and Allan Kayser as Euince's delinquent son Bubba Higgins. Over the shows run, Mama's Family distinguished itself as a show for enjoyment. The ever revolving dysfunctional family plot-lines, strong cast, wacky costumes, and one-liner comedic insults helped made this show the #1 syndicated program in television for four consecutive years (1986-1990).