Mama's Family backdrop
Comedy

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 9.3/10

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.

Airs on
NBCSyndication
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons6

All123456

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Click to reveal
    Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 4 - The Really Loud Family
    9.3/10(128 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Mama's Family Season 2 Episode 5 - Rashomama
    8.9/10(172 votes)

    S2:E5

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Liz Sage

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 8 - The Love Letter
    8.7/10(111 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 7 - Cat's Meow
    8.6/10(104 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 9 - An Ill Wind
    8.6/10(116 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Mama's Family Season 4 Episode 16 - I Do, I Don't
    8.6/10(92 votes)

    S4:E16

    After attending a family wedding, Bubba, Mama, and Iola fantasize about what married life would be like with the objects of their affections.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Mama's Family

    READ
  7. Mama's Family Season 1 Episode 4 - The Wedding (2)
    8.5/10(151 votes)

    S1:E4

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 5 - Soup to Nuts
    8.5/10(101 votes)

    S3:E5

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Mama's Family Season 4 Episode 3 - The Key to the Crime
    8.5/10(107 votes)

    S4:E3

    When Vint is accused of being Raytown's "Courteous Crook", Mama and Iola take action to clear his name.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 11 - Mama Bell
    8.5/10(100 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Mama's Family Season 6 Episode 1 - Mama's Medicine Show
    8.5/10(95 votes)

    S6:E1

    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:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Mama's Family Season 1 Episode 6 - Cellmates
    8.4/10(155 votes)

    S1:E6

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Dick Clair

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Mama's Family Season 2 Episode 3 - Country Club
    8.4/10(118 votes)

    S2:E3

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 16 - Have it Mama's Way
    8.4/10(96 votes)

    S3:E16

    An anonymous letter convinces Vint that he's adopted, so he sets out to find his biological mother.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 12 - Very Dirty Dancing
    8.4/10(111 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 16 - More Power to You
    8.4/10(88 votes)

    S5:E16

    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:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 19 - April Fools
    8.4/10(94 votes)

    S5:E19

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Mama's Family Season 5 Episode 24 - Dependence Day
    8.4/10(90 votes)

    S5:E24

    Thelma and Iola prepare to go a cruise down the Ray River on the Dixie Bell,seems they got a special, two for one deal and that's the only way they could go.Then Iola comes in and says her mother had another dizzy spell and she can't leave her.So Mama reminds her of a few of the times her mother has prevented her from doing stuff.Feeling enpowered Iola runs home to confront her mother. She returns minutes later,with the news that she confronted her mother and said she was gonna go on that cruise.Who responded to her plea for independence by throwing her out.Mama and the family reluctantly agree she should stay with them until the cruise.But this arrangment quickly turns sour. Iola takes over Mama's kitchen and works non-stop from daylight till dawn,including vacuuming under Vint and Naomi's bed at 7:00 in the morning.She's also a terrible bunk mate,getting up to go to the bathroom constantly and opening the window and then adding more covers.

    Director:Dave Powers
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Mama's Family Season 6 Episode 7 - A Blast From the Past
    8.4/10(96 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Mama's Family Season 6 Episode 19 - There Is Nothing Like the Dames
    8.4/10(91 votes)

    S6:E19

    Vinton and Naomi buy an RV and plan to move to a trailer park; however, they are unable to start the vehicle once it is in the driveway. Meanwhile, Mama is planning to host a fancy backyard luncheon for an snooty society group called the Dames.

    Director:Dave Powers
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Mama's Family Season 2 Episode 19 - Mama's Birthday
    8.3/10(113 votes)

    S2:E19

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 11 - Where There's Smoke
    8.3/10(120 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Mama's Family Season 4 Episode 4 - Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
    8.3/10(83 votes)

    S4:E4

    Vint and Naomi are separated yet living in the same house (and driving Mama crazy in the process).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Mama's Family Season 4 Episode 10 - Gift Horse
    8.3/10(94 votes)

    S4:E10

    Mama hopes to raise enough to purchase a VCR by selling Iola's gaudy, homemade gifts at a yard sale.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Mama's Family Season 4 Episode 19 - Mama on Jeopardy!
    8.3/10(103 votes)

    S4:E19

    Mama finds herself competing on Jeopardy!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Best Episodes Summary

"The Really Loud Family" is the best rated episode of "Mama's Family". It scored 9.3/10 based on 128 votes. Directed by Dave Powers and written by Neil Lebowitz, it aired on 11/26/1988. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "Rashomama".