9.2/10102 votesLoading...#1 - The Really Loud Family
Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 11/26/1988
Mama's already annoyed and trying to avoid Roselle so she won't have to head up the latest charity drive. While Bubba's late for dinner, which of course annoys Mama even more. He's learning to use the school video camera as he's planning to make a film about the Harper family for a school project. So to begin he has everyone gather at the dining room table, problem is their all decked out in their best clothes.
Director: Dave Powers
Writer: Neil Lebowitz
- 8.9/10148 votesLoading...
#2 - Rashomama
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 11/3/1983
The story starts in the hosptal, and Vint comes into the scene with Naomi, Ellen, and Eunice standing the the middle of the lobby, looking worried. As he asks what happened, Naomi is the first one to tell him the story of what happened in the kitchen that day. Mama and the girls were in the kitchen making gooseberry jam, and she was being the perfect daughter-in-law, Ellen was helping a little bit, and Eunice comes into the door late, claiming that her car broke down, and that she was almost run over out on route 5. Ellen said that she was out on route 5 getting the berries, and she didn't see her at all. However, Eunice thinks different.They pick a fight, and then the gooseberries start to stick to the pot. When Mama says: ""Sweetie, Get that pot for me"", they both run to the pot and start to argue for it. They tell Naomi to butt out, and then they fight for the pan. As they are swinging it around, they smack Mama in the afce with it. She is out cold. The next one to tell the story is
Director: N/A
Writer: Liz Sage
- 8.7/1087 votesLoading...
#3 - The Love Letter
Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 11/15/1986
Naomi is giving Bubba and Vint a love test to see how romantic they are,from the latest issue Lady's Circle.As it turns out Vint is a ""cold fish"" and Bubba is a ""Red Hot Romeo"". Vint decides to try and be more romantic and gets Bubba to.write a romantic letter to Naomi
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.6/1078 votesLoading...
#4 - I Do, I Don't
Season 4 Episode 16 - Aired 1/23/1988
After attending a family wedding, Bubba, Mama, and Iola fantasize about what married life would be like with the objects of their affections.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.5/1096 votesLoading...
#5 - An Ill Wind
Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 11/22/1986
The Harpers, Iola and Aunt Effie must go.for cover in the basement when a tornado passes through Raytown on Thanksgiving.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.4/10119 votesLoading...
#6 - The Wedding (2)
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 2/12/1983
The day of the wedding is at hand, and Vint and Naomi are ready to tie the knot. While Eunice still wants to sing her solo, she first asks Vint who says she'll have to talk to Naomi about it. Mama then gives Vint his daddy's ring as a wedding present, problem is Eunice thinks it's her ring, because Carl always wanted her to have it. While Naomi is getting ready she shows Eunice the ring, saying it's something blue and she prepares to wear it around her neck. Vint and Naomi say their vows and Eunice, who is already upset at Mama for giving her ring away and has had a few to many beers, prepares to sing her solo in front of the whole crowd. She starts yelling at Mama half way thru about the ring and Mama yells back and it turns into a free-for-all, with Eunice insulting everyone and eventually Ed has to carry out. Later,Mama and Fran sit on the couch, and enjoy the peace and quiet that they now have. Vint (who decided to take the kids afterall), Naomi, and the kids have left for Arizona.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.4/1098 votesLoading...
#7 - Country Club
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/20/1983
Ellen Shows up and announces she's been given the ""Woman of the Year"" award at the Raytown Country Club that night.But what she doesn't know is Mayor Tutwiller has invited Mama and the family along as a surprise for Ellen. In a side plot Vint thinks Mama's lost his bowling ball after she says she put it in a ""Safe Place"".As expected the family arrives at the country club and Ellen is mortified.They ofcourse embarass her with the way they act. Finally after dinner,which Mama complains wasn't done.Mayor Tutwiller starts the ceremony by letting Mama say a few words.It turns out to be more than few as she basically brings the house down with comments.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.4/1080 votesLoading...
#8 - Cat's Meow
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 11/8/1986
Iola is distraught when her cat Midnight dies,although everyone else is thankful,noting that the cat was as mean as a rattlesnake. But Iola refuses to let go and nothing can console her---until she decides to have it freeze-dried.She goes all out and buys a model that meows when you pet it.She leaves it with Mama for a while and Mama takes it out to the front porch and leaves it. That's where Vint falls on it as he, Naomi and Bubba are bringing in a trunk they just bought from the police surplus. Thinking they killed the cat, they bury it,and go into to open the trunk.Which has a hole on the side of it and is the home of a Mama cat and her kittens.One of which looks just like Iola's former pet who adopts it immediately.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.4/1093 votesLoading...
#9 - Where There's Smoke
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 12/6/1986
Thelma invites Reverend Meecham to dinner in the hopes of being named the president of the Church Ladies League. However, a surprise visitor of Hubby's throws a hitch into her plans.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.4/1080 votesLoading...
#10 - Mama Bell
Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 1/28/1989
Mama forgets one of Bubba's phone messages but refuses to admit she needs to write them down, as she did earlier with Naomi. So Iola suggests they get a answering machine. Thinking it would cost to much, Mama refuses, until Iola says she has one they can have for free. Meanwhile, Naomi brings a stray dog home and her and Vint try to find a home for it, while trying to keep it hid from Mama. They lock it up in the garage, where Mama keeps hearing it bark but they convince her she's losing her mind. After intercepting a series of phone messages, Mama becomes convinced there gonna send her off, because she's going crazy. But all is soon revealed, and the dog finds a home at the senior citizens center.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.4/1082 votesLoading...
#11 - A Blast From the Past
Season 6 Episode 7 - Aired 11/4/1989
Mama is invited to her junior high school's 50th reunion, but she is reluctant to go because of a false rumor that was spread about her years ago that earned her the nickname "Hotpants"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.3/10123 votesLoading...
#12 - Cellmates
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 2/26/1983
Mama, Vint and Ed throw Eunice a suprise birthday party at the bigger jigger, problem is she's hoping for a trip to the Babalonian Roof Gardens. The birthday party soon turns ugly as Vint mentions Duke Reeves (he has a poster on the bar announcing his run for congress), who came to the house one day with flowers wanting to take Eunice out for a soda. But Mama turned him down and sent him away. Eunice starts making a huge scene about Duke being the only man she's ever loved. Vint goes to pick up Naomi and Ed goes to read the bathroom walls, when the argument escalates into an all out fight, and Eunice ends up punching a cop out and Mama wacks one with her pocket book and Mama and Eunice end up in jail. Scarlet, a hooker, arrives soon after they do and their fighting soon gets on her nerves and she tries to mediate a truce. She then tells them about her Mama and how she hated her every day, until she died and how she wished she was still living. Mama and Eunice make up just as Ed comes t
Director: N/A
Writer: Dick Clair
- 8.3/1083 votesLoading...
#13 - Soup to Nuts
Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 10/25/1986
Mama's sister, Frannie, has just passed away, and even if she can't bring herself to tell how Frannie actually died (it was by inhaling a tooth pick in the ladies room at the Bigger Jigger). Mama is never the less determined to give her late sister something she never had, a ""perfect day"". But things soon turn from perfect to terrible as one disaster after another strikes. First Mama finds out Don and Loraine won't be there and ofcourse Buzz and Sonya won't either (for unexplained reasons) and Ed and Eunice have moved to Florida (a blessing). Then Ellen calls and says she's got something more pressing business and can't make it either. Later, as the the family gets home from the funeral, we find out Vint forgot to shut the hearse door, resulting in the coffin flying out of the hearse and down the on-ramp to the free way.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.3/1093 votesLoading...
#14 - Very Dirty Dancing
Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 2/4/1989
Mama is sacked out on the couch after laser surgery to remove a Corn from her toe. Having Bubba wait on her hand and foot, when Vint and Naomi come in, dressed for a dance contest their going to. Mama's starts talking about her memories of the place where the event being held and everyone decides to go along with them as their cheering session. Mama runs into an old friend, Ramon and they decide to enter the contest against Vint and Naomi, as do Bubba and Iola. Two of the final three are ofcourse Vint/Naomi and Mama/Ramon. It comes down to having to draw from a hat to determine which dance your gonna do. In the end Mama and Ramon win in an upset after doing the ""Latin Sizzle"" aka Dirty Dancin.
Director: Dave Powers
Writer: Jim Geoghan
- 8.3/1078 votesLoading...
#15 - April Fools
Season 5 Episode 19 - Aired 4/1/1989
April fools day has Mama in a particularly foul mood, as always. First Bubba gets her with a hand buzzer and Vint scares her with a plastic snake. Before leaving Naomi gets her too with a sign on her back that Iola finds. The fun though isn't contained to the family as Iola gets her too with a special 'lemon sponge cake', that turns out to really be a lemon and sponges. All this time, Mama is hoping to win the golden troll award. The last draw is when Naomi, Vint and Bubba blow off yard work for a day on the lake watching the ski show. While Mama's next door, the family gets a call telling them they've won the award and should expect the media around 4 0'clock. Only problem is Mama doesn't believe them when she's informed off the wonderful news.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.3/1077 votesLoading...#16 - Mama's Medicine Show
Season 6 Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/1989
After reading about how much it costs to raise a child, Vint and Naomi decide to start a business selling bottles of Mama's mother-in-law's "miracle tonic."
Director: Dave Powers
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1088 votesLoading...
#17 - Mama's Birthday
Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 3/17/1984
It's Mama's birthday and she doesn't want no fuss. No cake, no party, and no presents. She only wants one thing, everyone to help clean out the attic. She thinks they could get it done in a couple of hours if everyone pitched in. But Vint, Sonya, Ellen, and Naomi all come up with some silly excuses to get out of it. Buzz is the only one who can't think of one so he agrees. While there cleaning Buzz asks Mama to tell him about her 30th birthday party. In a flashback, we see Mama and the kids as she's getting ready for her party and thinking Carl is going to get a big promotion at work she orders a 19 cubic foot deep freeze. Then Grandma Crowley calls to say she can't make Thelma's Birthday cake. Carl comes in and announces he didn't get the promotion, right as they deliver the deep freeze. Thelma has to use a fruitcake as her cake,topped by Vint's present of a paper heart. Thelma soon finds out that Carl didn't the promotion as Burt Wembley Stops by to thank Carl for turning it down. He
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1081 votesLoading...
#18 - Ask Aunt Fran
Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 3/31/1984
Fran gets a fill-in job as a an advice columnist, when she asks Mama for an answer to a question and Mama does what she does best, tells people what to do and Fran uses it. Soon Fran's editor takes notice of her popularity and Buzz advice's Mama that she should be getting some of the money Fran is now earning. But Fran refuses saying she plans to slowly stop using Mama's ""Home-Spun"" advice as she adds some pyschological insights in her latest article. Fran's got a date that night with her editor, Dwight Nettles, who loves the advice Fran's been giving but can't understand why Fran included all the psychological babble (which he edited out)in her latest article. He also has a problem he needs some advice on and that's why he wanted to see her tonight. Seems ""his friend"" has just hired a new woman at work and has the hots for her, even though he's married, he wants to know what to do. Fran sneaks away from the table and calls Mama from the pay phone to beg her advice. Mama recognizes ri
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1099 votesLoading...
#19 - Farewell, Frannie
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 9/27/1986
Mama finds Frannie's diary when she goes to get Bubba for breakfast. Inside is a note telling Mama to call the executor of her will, Larwin P. Finstadler. When Mr. Finstadler arrives he informs Mama that Fran was worth $35,000. Fran's will stipulated 10% of that would go to the ""Ray of Hope Home for Wayward Girls"". But the other $31,500 was to be split evenly between Mama, and Vint and Naomi. Only one stipulation stands between Mama and the money, she has to keep from losing her temper for a period of two weeks and it's totally on her honor. So for the next two weeks Vint and Naomi wait on her hand and foot, trying to keep her from getting upset. Including paying Bubba $10 to do his homework and doing the dishes and most of the other housework. While they begin to bicker among themselves, Mama relaxes and takes it easy.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1075 votesLoading...
#20 - Have it Mama's Way
Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 1/24/1987
An anonymous letter convinces Vint that he's adopted, so he sets out to find his biological mother.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1075 votesLoading...
#21 - The Best Policy
Season 3 Episode 24 - Aired 3/21/1987
Vint brings home a new electric blanket he received for signing up for a life insurance policy. A few minutes later, his insurance agent arrives for him to sign the papers, and as it turns out it's an old boyfriend of Naomi's, Stony Hall. Stony explains that the policy is worth $200,000 in case of accidental death and much to Mama's dismay, Vint announces that Naomi is his sole beneficiary. Following the announcment, Vint starts having accidents. First, he almost electrocutes himself while working on Naomi's hair dryer (while it's still plugged in) and then falls down the basement stairs, slipping on a bottle of Naomi's nail polish and spraining his ankle in the process. This gives Iola the idea that Naomi is trying to bump Vint off for the money. She becomes convinced, as does Mama, after Bubba spies Naomi and Stony eating at a Chinese restaurant with the insurance policy in hand.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1083 votesLoading...
#22 - The Key to the Crime
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 10/10/1987
When Vint is accused of being Raytown's "Courteous Crook", Mama and Iola take action to clear his name.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1089 votesLoading...
#23 - Mama on Jeopardy!
Season 4 Episode 19 - Aired 2/13/1988
Mama finds herself competing on Jeopardy!
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.2/1074 votesLoading...
#24 - My Mama, Myself
Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 12/17/1988
Iola arrives to collect for the church rummage sell. While Naomi and Vint have nothing, Mama is looking through her jewelry case. Soon finding her dear departed mother's old brouch. Naomi comments that it may be worth some serious money. Bubba then comes in and annouces his college class is going to Oswald Caverns and it'll only cost two hundred bucks. Which Mama refuses to give him. Naomi and Vint convince Mama to let them have the brouch appraised and that's when the ghost of ""Grandma Crowley"" appears to Mama and tells her not to sell her it. Later, as Vint and Naomi leave for the jewelers. Iola shows up and is spooked to hear the story of the ghost. Vint and Naomi arrive back and say the brouch could be worth $1600. Mama demands they go back and get it, so she rushes them through dinner, where Bubba announces he got a job to pay for his trip (which he ends up getting fired at). Iola returns to inform Mama about her findings in the latest issue of a psychology magazine.
Director: Dave Powers
Writer: Bill Braunstein, Sydney A. Blake
- 8.2/1074 votesLoading...
#25 - More Power to You
Season 5 Episode 16 - Aired 3/4/1989
Naomi and Vint rush in to get ready for the awards banquet that night for Food Circus. While Mama complains to the meter guy about her electric bill saying it's always a certain price but this month it's $20.00 higher and she refuses to pay it.
Director: Dave Powers
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Mama's Family
Every episode of Mama's Family ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Mama's Family!
Thelma Harper and her spinster sister Fran open their home to Thelma's recently divorced son Vinton and his teenage son and daughter. It's quite an...
Genre:Comedy
Best Episodes Summary
"The Really Loud Family" is the best rated episode of "Mama's Family". It scored 9.2/10 based on 102 votes. Directed by Dave Powers and written by Neil Lebowitz, it aired on 11/26/1988. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Rashomama".