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The Best Episodes of Mama's Family Season 3

Every episode of Mama's Family Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Mama's Family Season 3!

Binge this in 10h 25m•Peaking at 8.7/10

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
    Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 1 - Farewell, Frannie
    8.2/10(112 votes)

    #1 - Farewell, Frannie

    S3:E1

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 2 - Where There's a Will
    7.9/10(98 votes)

    #2 - Where There's a Will

    S3:E2

    The family is in the middle of a game of scrabble when Ellen stops by with a gift for Mama and to attempt to once again apologize for missing her Aunt Fran's funeral. Mama refuses to forgive her and throws her out. Later, Naomi comes in and says she heard that Ellen was in the hospital about to under go surgery. With that, Mama drags the rest of the family to the hospital to visit her. The visit soon turns very uncomfortable for Ellen as Mama begins yelling at the family for one and then another. Not able to stand it any longer, Ellen calls for the nurse and orders her to throw the family out and post an armed guard at the door. Mama finally sends everyone home, but sneaks back in herself and stays with Ellen through the night. Mama and Ellen soon forgive one another for all the years of fighting and Ellen finally reveals to Mama why she is the hospital in the first place, she's having a fanny tuck.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 3 - Best Medicine
    7.9/10(101 votes)

    #3 - 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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  4. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 4 - National Mama
    7.9/10(90 votes)

    #4 - National Mama

    S3:E4

    When Mama's dreams start providing the names of winning horses, the family figures they're in the money.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 5 - Soup to Nuts
    8.5/10(94 votes)

    #5 - Soup to Nuts

    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

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  6. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 6 - Mama and Dr. Brothers
    7.8/10(86 votes)

    #6 - Mama and Dr. Brothers

    S3:E6

    In this Thanksgiving episode, Mama, Bubba, Vinton, Naomi, Iola, and Aunt Effie (Dorothy Van) all go for cover in the basement when an unexpected tornado passes by Raytown.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 7 - Cat's Meow
    8.5/10(92 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
    8.7/10(100 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
    8.6/10(109 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 10 - Steal One, Pearl Two
    7.5/10(88 votes)

    #10 - Steal One, Pearl Two

    S3:E10

    Bubba wants to borrow $200 to buy a new drum set, while Iola's upset that she can't get her jewelry box open to put her pearls away, so she brings the box over for Vint to open. When he can't, Bubba quickly borrows a bobby pin and opens it easily. Iola heads home only to return a few minutes later in search of her beloved pearls, which have mysteriously disappeared. Iola is quick to accuse Bubba, who comes in with a brand new drum set, claiming he borrowed them from a friend of a friend who's name he forgets. Pretneding to defend Bubba, Mama throws Iola out. Now convinced, she too accuses Bubba. Feeling betrayed by his own family Bubba attempts to run away from home. She finds him at the ""Rayhound"" station and tells him the story of what happened when Eunice tried ran away.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 11 - Where There's Smoke
    8.3/10(111 votes)

    #11 - 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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  12. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 12 - Fly Naomi
    7.7/10(91 votes)

    #12 - Fly Naomi

    S3:E12

    Unhappy with the rut she's gotten into, Naomi decides to make a change and arrives home with the news that, after seeing an ad in the paper, she's decided to attend school to train as a flight attendant. Vint gets upset because she didn't ask him first. While, Bubba joins the debate team to be near a girl he likes. Naomi aces her first exam, which only serves to make Vint more upset. With a growing rift between Vint and Naomi, Iola tries to make her move and asks Vint to have ice cream with her one night. What Vint views as innocent, Mama see clearly as Iola trying to get her claws into Vint and tells him so in no uncertain terms. Naomi tries to get everyone in the family to help her train for that night's big test, but the only one who will is Mama.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Ann Elder

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  13. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 13 - Santa Mama
    8.0/10(128 votes)

    #13 - 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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  14. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 14 - Desperately Seeking Anyone
    7.9/10(86 votes)

    #14 - Desperately Seeking Anyone

    S3:E14

    Mama and Naomi's plan to find a date for Iola backfires when the date is more interested in Mama.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 15 - Porn Again
    7.9/10(87 votes)

    #15 - Porn Again

    S3:E15

    Mama is appalled when she finds a girlie magazine named Casanova under Bubba's bed while cleaning. She firsts wants to know were Bubba could get such a magazine. It soon comes out that Naomi, who wasn't paying much attention, sold it to him a few days before at Food Circus. Thinking something needs to be done, Iola has the idea to boycott Food Circus until they stop selling magazine's like that. Iola, Mama, Aunt Effie and Pearl form MOP (Mothers Opposing Pornography), and set out to picket in front of Food Circus, much to the dismay of Naomi. Who insists they go home. First Pearl breaks ranks for a tuna offer and then Effie needs to use the bathroom, and finally Iola leaves when the store offers Triple Coupons. Just as it seems all hope is lost, the media arrives and they end up getting on the National news.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Ann Elder

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  16. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 16 - Have it Mama's Way
    8.4/10(88 votes)

    #16 - Have it Mama's Way

    S3:E16

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 17 - Birthright
    7.8/10(89 votes)

    #17 - Birthright

    S3:E17

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 18 - Grandma USA
    8.1/10(97 votes)

    #18 - Grandma USA

    S3:E18

    Mama is surprised to learn she was entered in the Grandma USA contest by Bubba. She is at first reluctant to compete, but changes her mind when she finds out the grand prize is a dream kitchen, complete with a self cleaning oven. Vint then starts to wonder why they would select Mama over all the other entries, Bubba says it's because he sent in Naomi's picture instead of Mama's. A fact this is only discovered after they are greeted by the host, Raytown personality Eddie Edwards, and he thinks Naomi is entering. After considering his options, Edwards agrees to let Mama compete instead, thinking it might be a novelty to have someone in the pageant who really looks like a Grandma.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 19 - Buck Private Bubba
    7.6/10(86 votes)

    #19 - 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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  20. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 20 - Mama's Cousin
    8.0/10(89 votes)

    #20 - Mama's Cousin

    S3:E20

    Mama's worldly cousin (Vicki Lawrence in a dual role) annoys Mama with her neverending stories.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 21 - Mama with the Golden Arm
    7.7/10(87 votes)

    #21 - Mama with the Golden Arm

    S3:E21

    Mama emerges as a contender in an arm-wrestling competition.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 22 - It Takes Two to Watusi
    7.8/10(88 votes)

    #22 - It Takes Two to Watusi

    S3:E22

    Naomi's best friend Luann has just been divorced and Naomi wants to set her up with a friend of her's for a double date with her and Vint to play miniature golf. But before Luann ever arrives, her date calls to say he can't make it. Naomi then suggests Bubba could be a last minute stand-in. Mama nearly goes through the roof and says no. Not wanting Bubba to associate with the likes of Luann. After a lengthy discussion, Mama gives in and let's Bubba decide for himself, while trying to lay a guilt trip on him.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 23 - Fangs a Lot, Mama
    7.9/10(86 votes)

    #23 - Fangs a Lot, Mama

    S3:E23

    After Vint is invited to join the Mystic Order of the Cobra, a local men's club, Mama attempts to sabotage his induction.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 24 - The Best Policy
    8.2/10(83 votes)

    #24 - The Best Policy

    S3:E24

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Mama's Family Season 3 Episode 25 - After the Fall
    7.8/10(82 votes)

    #25 - After the Fall

    S3:E25

    Mama brings Auntie Effie home to nurse her back to health after she falls off the roof of her house while.trying to reshuffle it.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 3 Ratings Summary

"Farewell, Frannie" is the best rated episode of "Mama's Family" season 3. It scored 8.2/10 based on 112 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/27/1986. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "Where There's a Will".