Mama's Family: The Complete First Season (1983) Review

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(More customer reviews)Mama's Family definitely gets five stars. One of my favorite shows of all-time, especially during its first two seasons with the occasional appearances of Eunice. What a stellar cast: Vicki Lawrence, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Dorothy Lyman, Ken Berry (How was it ever canceled in the first place?) I really liked the kids Buzz and Sonja, too.
The reason I am knocking a star off the score is that these episodes are edited. They are like the syndication edits that are still aired all the time. What's up with that??!! I've been waiting to see these episodes uncut for years. I know how much they've cut because I have an audio recording of "The Wedding Part 1" from when it aired back around 1985 (a rerun even, not the first airing which was 2/5/83):
1. They cut out the part about the hoochie coochie dancer in the kitchen scene with Mama, Buzz, and Vint.
2. When Sonja asked if she was a slave, Fran's comeback line "If you were, you would've been sold years ago" is gone.
3. Mama explaining to Sonja that "strong drink can make even the daintiest of ladies seem unattractive and crude" (and then hic-ups from the beer) got the ax.
4. The scene with Mama and Fran in the kitchen is shortened.
5. They cut out Mama talking about seeing her husband Carl naked out of the shower. She shoved him in the linen closet and never looked again.
6. A lot of dialogue about the controversy over Eunice's "O Promise Me" solo is missing.
7. And the worst omission of all: Eunice screaming "Well All Right!!!" after Mama exclaimed, "This is my house and I say there ain't gonna be no da*n singing!" isn't there! I've been looking forward to seeing that scene again which always seems to be cut in syndication.
These are just what is cut out of one episode! And the tags during the closing credits are missing, too. I definitely would have paid more money to get these episodes uncut, wouldn't you? Anyway, here are the episodes from Season 1:
"Vint and the Kids Move In": Vint and the kids are kicked out of their house and they have to move in with Mama.
"For Better or For Worse": "Her! Him! Here!" Mama hyperventilates when she finds out Naomi and Vint spent the night together down in the basement. Vint and Naomi then decide to get married and run a trailer park in Arizona.
"The Wedding Part 1": While getting ready for the wedding to be held a Mama's showplace, Eunice takes delight in telling sister Ellen the truth about her husband and his secretary.
"The Wedding Part 2": Eunice slightly changes her rendition of "O Promise Me" after she finds out Mama gave Vint her father's sapphire ring. Later, Vint and Naomi discover there trailer park plans were a rip-off and they have to move in with Mama again.
"Family Feud": The Harpers "wind up" on Family Feud. Richard Dawson is a guest.
"Cellmates": Eunice and Mama find themselves in jail with a prostitute who gets them to consider their mother/daughter relationship. This is the episode where Eunice finds out Mama sent her dream man Duke Reeves away when she was in high school.
"Mama Gets A Job": Mama gets a job at a travel agency and her family keeps bugging her a work. I like the part where she's learning how to answer the phones: "It's a great day here at the Raytown Travel Agency! May I heeelp you?!"
"Double Standard": Sonja gets all women's rights when she finds out her younger brother has a longer curfew.
"Mama's Boyfriend": Mama shocks her family when she plans on spending a weekend in a cabin by the lake with an old flame.
"Fran's Dress": Mama accidentally ruins Fran's priced dress she plans on wearing to an awards banquette.
"Alien Marriage": In another get-rich-quick scheme, Vint plans on marrying a Portuguese woman to get her a green card. In this episode, Naomi and Vint are not married yet. Naomi is still Mama's complaining neighbor. Anyway, Mama really goes off in this one! Great shouting scene including a nice argument between Mama and her flighty, old maid sister Fran.
"Positive Thinking": One of the funniest episodes. Eunice starts listening to positive thinking tapes and gets a role in a play. Great Eunice line: "I just decked the entire cast over there at the Pepperpot Playhouse!"
"Mama's Silver": Vint pawns Mama's precious sterling.

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Thank goodness it's Mama's Family and not yours! Mama's Family of dingalings, wannabes and can't-get-alongs sure knows how to put the fun in dysfunctional. Season 1 of this uproarious working-class comedy series -spun off the popular skits originated on The Carol Burnett Show - stars Burnett Show alumna Vicki Lawrence as cantankerous Mama. Ken Berry (F Troop) as her dim-bulb son and Rue McClanahan (The Golden Girls) as her flighty sister. Add guest appearances by Carol Burnett as tightly wound daughter Eunice, Burnett Show veteran Harvey Korman as Eunice's hapless hubby and Betty White (The Golden Girls) as Mama's highfalutin daughter Ellen, and you have 13 hilarious episodes in a 2-disc set that prove Father knows best...but Mama knows funny!

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