Mama's Family - TV-PG

Mama's in charge of this comedy. Older tweens OK.

TV Rating: TV-PG Network: ION, Syndicated, TBS Cast: Vicki Lawrence, Dorothy Lyman, Ken Berry Genre: Comedy
Available on: DVD

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this series highlights the importance of family and supporting family members, despite the their eccentricities. Thelma Harper is a strong, caring woman, but she continually offers sarcastic insults to those who displease her (which may be funny but isn't the best example). Parents also need to know that the show sometimes tackles adult situations, including extramarital love interests (often prompted by Iola's constant flirtations with Vinton).

Families can talk about the role extended family plays in their lives. What kind of support does extended family offer? What kinds of things can you do to support family members? What limits, if any, should you establish when helping them? Families can also discuss the importance of respecting elders and the unique challenges that come with dealing with aging family members. Last but not least, families can talk about how the Harpers interact with each other. Does Thelma love her family or despise them? How can you tell?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Melissa Camacho

Offering an offbeat-but-funny take on positive family values, MAMA'S FAMILY highlights one woman's efforts to keep her dysfunctional extended family together.

The series -- which is roughly based on comedienne Carol Burnett's own childhood -- began life as a sketch called "The Family" on Burnett's variety show in the '60s and '70s. It was spun off into a stand-alone show in 1983 and ran until 1990 (it still airs in syndication and is available on DVD).

Mama's Family focuses on Harper family matriarch Thelma Mae Crowley Harper (Vicki Lawrence) and the daily trials caused by her extended family in the blue-collar Southern suburbs.

The show features a noisy, bickering assortment of relatives who Thelma takes in when they have nowhere else to go. Live-in guests include Thelma's uptight sister Fran (Rue McClanahan) her unmotivated locksmith son Vinton (Ken Berry), his second wife Naomi (Dorothy Lyman), and, of course, her quirky daughter Eunice Higgins (played by Burnett herself during the first season).

Thelma's best friend and neighbor, prim Iola Boylan (Beverly Archer), adds to the craziness. As the seasons progress, new relatives and old friends join the fray, including Eunice's son Bubba (Allen Kayser) who comes to live with Thelma after he's released from juvenile hall.

While Thelma's house is small, she never turns away those who need a place to stay. In turn, however, family members must cope with a blue-haired, sharp-tongued, hot-tempered, support-hose-and-glasses-wearing widow who doesn't hesitate to air her opinions (which often take the form of insults) about each of them. But despite her biting words, Thelma is committed to her relatives and friends and clearly represents the idea that people's strength and support comes from their family, no matter how zany or dysfunctional it is.

Fans may also enjoy The Golden Girls and Grace Under Fire.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Flirtation, some spoken innuendo, and mild references to sexual behavior. Naomi sometimes uses her feminine wiles to get her way.
Violence
Language Characters frequently toss sharp insults at each other, but they don't swear.
Message
	Social Behavior The show highlights the importance of family and the need to support family members in need. The show also presents a woman as the strength behind the family and as the authority figure. References to extramarital romance are occasionally made but are treated as negative behavior. Mama has a tendency to belittle her family members (even though she clearly cares about them).
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Occasional references to alcohol, including beer and homemade alcoholic beverages.