Mama's Family
| Mama's Family | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by |
Dick Clair Jenna McMahon |
| Directed by | Roger Beatty Harvey Korman Dick Martin Dave Powers |
| Starring |
Vicki Lawrence Ken Berry Dorothy Lyman Rue McClanahan (Seasons 1–2) Eric Brown (Seasons 1–2) Karin Argoud (Seasons 1–2) Betty White (Seasons 1–3) Beverly Archer (Seasons 3–6) Allan Kayser (Seasons 3–6) |
| Theme music composer | Peter Matz |
| Opening theme | "Bless My Happy Home" |
| Composer(s) |
Peter Matz Dick Walter |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 (NBC run) 4 (syndicated run) |
| No. of episodes | 35 (NBC run) 95 (syndicated run) 130 (total) (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Joe Hamilton |
| Producer(s) | Jim Evering Neil Lebowitz Dave Powers Fred Rubin |
| Location(s) |
CBS Television City Hollywood, California (1982–84) Metromedia Square Hollywood, California (1986–90) |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 24–25 minutes (NBC episodes) 21–22 minutes (syndicated episodes) |
| Production company(s) | Joe Hamilton Productions |
| Distributor |
Lorimar-Telepictures (1986–1989) (seasons 1–3) Warner Bros. Television Distribution (1989–1996, 2003–present) Telepictures Distribution (1996–2003) |
| Release | |
| Original network |
NBC (1983–1984) Syndicated (1986–90) |
| Audio format |
Mono (1983–1984) Stereo (1986–1990) |
| Original release | January 22, 1983 – April 7, 1984 September 27, 1986 – February 24, 1990 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Eunice |
Mama's Family is an American television sitcom starring Vicki Lawrence as Thelma Harper (Mama). The series is a spin-off of a recurring series of comedy sketches called "The Family" featured on The Carol Burnett Show (1974–78) and Carol Burnett & Company (1979). That led to the made-for-TV movie, Eunice, and finally the television series.
The show's theme song is "Bless My Happy Home" by Peter Matz (music) and Vicki Lawrence (lyrics). The show's producers chose to use an instrumental version.
Mama's Family originally aired on NBC, debuting on January 22, 1983. After several timeslot changes and subsequent drop in ratings the network cancelled the series, the final episode airing on April 7, 1984. NBC broadcast reruns until September 1985.
Two years after its cancellation, original series producer Joe Hamilton Productions (JHP) decided to follow a lead that several other programs at the time had set and revive Mama's Family for first-run syndication on local stations across the United States. The revived series, produced by JHP and distributed by Lorimar-Telepictures, premiered on September 27, 1986. The syndicated version garnered substantially higher ratings than did its network version, eventually becoming the highest rated sitcom in first-run syndication. Its four season-run ended on February 24, 1990.
The show, set in the city of Raytown, revolves around the wacky misadventures of the Harper family, extended non-Harper family members, and their neighbor friend in later seasons. Always at the center of the trouble and confusion is head of the clan and matriarch Thelma Harper—a buxom, blue-haired, purse-lipped, 65-year-old widow, who is portrayed as explosively quick-tempered, abrasive, brash, smart alecky, and full of snappy retorts. Thelma's snappy retorts and fretful wisecracks are particularly highlighted with a running gag in which the final scenes of each episode cut to an exterior shot of her house. While the exterior of Thelma's house displays, she's heard riposting the comments of whoever has previously spoken. This is then followed by audience laughter and applause. In spite of the many digs and fretful wisecracks that Mama regularly and casually makes about her family, she is nurturing and obliging at heart. She allows her various family members to live in her home, who would otherwise have no place to live. Beyond providing her resident family members shelter, Thelma routinely cooks for and cleans up after them as well. Despite her nurturance, Thelma's various family members can be ingrates, even banding together and ganging up on Thelma on occasion.
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