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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!

Binge this in 2d 6h•Peaking at 10.0/10

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 adjustment for everyone, especially the cranky, argumentative Thelma.

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Mama's Family Season 1 Episode 5 - Family Feud
    10.0/10(143 votes)

    #1 - Family Feud

    S1:E5

    Vinton gets an idea of taking the family (eveyone except Sonja) on to the game show Family Feud, so that they can have a chance at winning $10,000. He's even selected each person for his team for different reasons: Buzz (the teenage heartthrob), Naomi (the beauty), Mama (the sweet old lady), and Ellen and Vint as the brains of the family and could prolly win the money on their own. Ellen disagrees and says that she is the only one that is smart enough to win the money (meaning that Vint is dumb). Everyone takes a while to convince Mama to go, but she finally gives in. The opposing family is the very snooty Van Courtland's, who win the first round. Vint ends up winning the second match-up and decides to play in order to take the lead. After a short break, the point values are doubled and the Van Courtland's win the face-off and almost win the game, but Mama gets one last chance to steal. The survey question was ""What do you wind up?"" and the Harper's are telling Mama to answer with ""A m

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 4 - The Really Loud Family
    9.0/10(121 votes)

    #2 - The Really Loud Family

    S5:E4

    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

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  3. Mama's Family Season 6 Episode 7 - A Blast From the Past
    9.0/10(92 votes)

    #3 - A Blast From the Past

    S6:E7

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Mama's Family Season 1 Episode 2 - For Better or For Worse
    8.0/10(125 votes)

    #4 - For Better or For Worse

    S1:E2

    After many years of not seeing each other, since high school, Vinton and Mama's next door neighbor Naomi Oates are reunited. They become quite close and Vint tells her that he had a big crush on her in high school. After coming home from the Bigger Jigger at 2 in the morning, Naomi and Vint go down to the basement to look at Vint's collection of TV Guides (25 years worth). Naomi remarks on how cute Mr. Ed is because that was her favorite show. They end up sleeping together and the next morning, while Mama and Fran are in the kitchen having breakfast, Naomi attempts to sneak out and is caught. Mama throws a fit and is outraged at Vint. Naomi, who had just sold her house, asks Vint to come with her to Arizona to run a trailer park because the job wants a husband and wife. Vint agrees and lets everyone know that he and Naomi plan on getting married and moving to Arizona. Mama is so shocked that she tells them that they can have the wedding at her house.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Liz Sage

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  5. Mama's Family Season 2 Episode 12 - Black Belt Mama
    8.0/10(112 votes)

    #5 - Black Belt Mama

    S2:E12

    Naomi gets home from her self defense class all fired up and Fran and Sonya decide to go next time.But Mama refuses saying it's a waste of time and there's no need for it.Although she's scared to go to her bingo games anymore. So Naomi,Sonya and Fran head to there Karate class and Mama to her Bingo.But Mama never makes it to Bingo as she is mugged while waiting for the bus.She gets home still shaking and clutching her purse strap.And quickly decides she too will join the Karate class,where Naomi is the star pupil.And Sonya is falling in love with Chuck,the instructor.Mama finds it tough to fit in. A while later Mama returns to the same bus stop where she meets an elderly lady and begins telling her about the classes and how she was mugged.When the same mugger attacks again,but he turns his back to take the other womens purse and Mama wacks him in the head with her purse which is loaded with a light weight Iron.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 3 - Best Medicine
    8.0/10(104 votes)

    #6 - Best Medicine

    S3:E3

    Mama is the editor of the years church bazaar cookbook, in it she plans to use her own recipe for Chili. Iola objects thinking it should be hers that Mama uses. Soon Naomi too throws her hat in the ring, saying she makes the best Chili. So the three decide to have to a chili cook-off with the winner getting her recipe in the cookbook. Vint, being stuck in the middle of this brewing argument, is choosen, against his will, as the judge of the contest. All three have identical supplies, with Mama and Iola also have identical ingredients. While Naomi's chili is far different from the other two as it includes two giant cans of store bought chili, plus beer, cheetos and several other items not usually associated with chili. Each bringing back a certain memory from one of her ex-husbands or boyfriends. Each bowl is lettered as the contest begins and Vint decides the 'B' bowl is the best, which belongs to Iola, and she runs home to show her father and dare her mother to throw it out again.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Mama's Family

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  7. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 7 - Cat's Meow
    8.0/10(98 votes)

    #7 - Cat's Meow

    S3:E7

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 8 - The Love Letter
    8.0/10(106 votes)

    #8 - The Love Letter

    S3:E8

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 9 - An Ill Wind
    8.0/10(113 votes)

    #9 - An Ill Wind

    S3:E9

    The Harpers, Iola and Aunt Effie must go.for cover in the basement when a tornado passes through Raytown on Thanksgiving.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 11 - Where There's Smoke
    8.0/10(117 votes)

    #10 - Where There's Smoke

    S3:E11

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 13 - Santa Mama
    8.0/10(134 votes)

    #11 - Santa Mama

    S3:E13

    Vinton is chosen to play Santa @ the Raytown Mall. However, with too much practice, he loses his voice! So Mama fills in the last second as Santa Claus. She deals with many brats, but was touched by a little girl who wanted tools for her unemployed daddy. Mama's also upset that her star's missing (the one her husband made for her on their 1st Christmas).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 19 - Buck Private Bubba
    8.0/10(89 votes)

    #12 - Buck Private Bubba

    S3:E19

    Vint's former Army Sergeant comes to town and recruits Bubba, who enlists after his girlfriend breaks up with him.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Mama's Family Season 4 Episode 19 - Mama on Jeopardy!
    8.0/10(100 votes)

    #13 - Mama on Jeopardy!

    S4:E19

    Mama finds herself competing on Jeopardy!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Mama's Family Season 4 Episode 21 - Mama Goes Hawaiian - Part 2
    8.0/10(94 votes)

    #14 - Mama Goes Hawaiian - Part 2

    S4:E21

    Vint's dumb luck gets Mama dragged to a party with the "beach bum" she's been trying to avoid.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Mama's Family Season 4 Episode 25 - Pomp and Circumstance
    8.0/10(88 votes)

    #15 - Pomp and Circumstance

    S4:E25

    Mama and Bubba will graduate from high school together, but Bubba wants to skip the ceremony.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 1 - Ladies Choice
    8.0/10(84 votes)

    #16 - Ladies Choice

    S5:E1

    Mama's reign as the Church Ladies League President only has two weeks to go and being that it's limited to one term Mama needs someone to nominate her for a second term. So she drafts Iola to take on the CCL's power broker in Alberta Meechum. but it doesn't quite go as planned as a very nervous Iola stumbles through her nomination of Mama. Thelma versus Iola Alberta makes it clear that she thinks it's unfair to ask anyone to carry the load of being president for another two years. So in a shocking twist she nominates Iola and it's soon decided to have an election. The campaign turns nasty quick and Mama challenges Iola to a public debate.

    Director:Dave Powers
    Writer:Jim Evering

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  17. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 3 - Naomi's New Position
    8.0/10(81 votes)

    #17 - Naomi's New Position

    S5:E3

    Naomi's on top of the world with the news that she has an interview for the now vacant Assistant Manager's job at Food Circus. While Vint worries if she gets the job she'll never be home. All of this is because a new manager (Archie Woods) has taken over and begins to shakes things up, including firing the old Assistant Manager. Naomi arrives for her interview full of new ideas for the store. Problem is there are several job requirements that she didn't count on when she applied. Like, for instance, having to make it with Mr. Woods if she wants the promotion or for that matter to even keep her old checkers job. She's horrified and it takes a while before she can explain to Mama and Iola what exactly happened.

    Director:Dave Powers
    Writer:Dorothy Van

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  18. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 5 - Many Unhappy Returns
    8.0/10(81 votes)

    #18 - Many Unhappy Returns

    S5:E5

    It's the day before Mama's birthday and Vint decides to make her a present instead of buying her something. It ends up being a really ugly cocktail belt, which Bubba's not sure what to think of when he sess it. A little later, a knock comes at the front door and it's Vint's boss, Mr. Carstairs. He wants Vint to hold on to a gift he bought for his ""Mother"", his pet name for his wife. A $200 diamond bracelet. The problem's start when Mama finds it and thinks it's for her after she reads the card and it says ""to my darling mother."" So not being able to except such an expensive gift she takes it back to the store and exchanges it. Buying gifts for everyone else in the process. Bubba gets an LP, Naomi gets her bed sheets and Vint's get the watch he wanted.

    Director:Dave Powers
    Writers:Sydney A. Blake, Bill Braunstein

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  19. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 7 - My Mama, Myself
    8.0/10(87 votes)

    #19 - My Mama, Myself

    S5:E7

    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
    Writers:Sydney A. Blake, Bill Braunstein

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  20. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 8 - Full House
    8.0/10(77 votes)

    #20 - Full House

    S5:E8

    Mama, Naomi and Iola are planning to go to a show at the Pepper Pot Playhouse, while Vint and Bubba are set to play poker with the ""poker pals"". Mama finds out who's starring in the play and decides not to go, so Naomi and Iola leave as the ""pals"" arrive. Mama's headed off to bed when the phone rings, come to find out the other guys can't play. So Vint begs Mama to set in. Mama proves to be a much better player than anyone expected and is soon the hit of the evening, sharing embarrassing stories about Vint as a kid. Until she gets pulled away from the table by Vint and he begs her to build him up, so the ""pals"" will think he's a big man. Problem is that doesn't go as well and Mama soon begins boring every one with her endless stories. The last shoe drops when Mama reveals, in another story, that Vint touches the end of his when he's not telling the truth. Which ends up costing him a hand and he storms out mad. Naomi and Iola return and Naomi thinks the play was horrible.

    Director:Dave Powers
    Writer:Jim Evering

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  21. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 9 - Bedtime for Bubba
    8.0/10(82 votes)

    #21 - Bedtime for Bubba

    S5:E9

    Mama's sitting up late waiting for Bubba when Vint and Noami come in and start telling her about the new best seller they just bought.It seems the book gives couples ideas on how to get pregnant more easily.One of them they seem intent on trying is doing it in different places. Bubba finally does come in and introduces his new study buddy Toni Malone,a girl.Mama flips and refuses to leave them alone until Bubba threatens to move into the college's Co-ed dorm.Which convinces Mama to go to bed. The next morning,while cleaning Bubba's room they find a black lace bra in the sheets.Thinking it's Toni's,Mama tries to get Bubba to admit to it over dinner,but he doesn't.So Mama and Iola get the idea to stitch bells to his mattress,that way if Bubba and Toni do decide to do something they'd be caught.But in the middle of the stitching job,they hear someone coming so they hide in the closet.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 10 - What a Dump
    8.0/10(89 votes)

    #22 - What a Dump

    S5:E10

    Mama plays host to the neighborhood block party, where Mayor Tutwiller is set to make a major announcement. Mama thinks he's going to award her the ""Golden Troll"" award for the best yard in Raytown. But he instead annouces that the city council has voted to make Raylane the new city dump and buy all the houses on the block. Mam though refuses to move, even though everyone else is for it. Bubba plans to move into the dorm and Vint and Naomi find a newspaper ad for their dream house, which with the money they'll get from the city for the old house, they can now afford. Meanwhile, Bubba is working on a history paper for class on the founder of Raytown, James A.Ray. It seems he can find plenty of facts about his life but nothing about his death.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Beverly Archer

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  23. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 11 - Mama Bell
    8.0/10(96 votes)

    #23 - Mama Bell

    S5:E11

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 12 - Very Dirty Dancing
    8.0/10(107 votes)

    #24 - Very Dirty Dancing

    S5:E12

    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

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  25. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 13 - Mama's Layaway Plan
    8.0/10(81 votes)

    #25 - Mama's Layaway Plan

    S5:E13

    Vint, Naomi and Bubba are preparing for the upcoming Bowl-A-Thon, hoping to beat the Huflanders, who've won 8 years in a row. When Mama returns with Aunt Effie from their Cousin Ludie's funeral, were they where the only mourners. Deciding this won't happen to her, Mama begins to plan her own funeral. Including spending the $1200 the family had saved for their Grand Canyon trip. Having to replace Mama on their team, Vint, Naomi and Bubba choose Iola, as Mama refuses to go, saying it's to expensive. Soon after they leave though, Mama gets a shock from the lamp and passes out. Dreaming about her own funeral and how everyone walked out to go bowling.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Family Feud" is the best rated episode of "Mama's Family". It scored 10/10 based on 143 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 2/19/1983. This episode scored 1.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Really Loud Family".