Parents' Guide to

Mama's Family

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

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

TV ION , Syndicated , TBS Comedy 1986
Mama's Family Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

NathanS 1
NathanS 1 Adult
March 23, 2015
age 10+

They don't make em' like this anymore

A wonderful sitcom I grew up with. It has all the qualities I love in shows....live studio audience, tons of comedy, family loyalty and pride despite constant criticisms from the overbearing matriarch, emotional drama that occurs in the everyday life and a cast of average looking, every day people instead of the unrealistic attractive people that dominates the vast majority of current shows.

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What's the Story?

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.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (4 ):

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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • 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?

TV Details

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