Mama's Family

I remember when Mamas Family first aired on NBC, although I thought it was in 1981. This show is very funny and holds up very well over time. I set my vcr to record the show so I can watch them at leisure. I like the fact that Mamas Family is a show you can still watch with every member of your family and not have to worry about vulgarity, like in so many shows on today. Mamas Family was a sweet, simple and fun show. I wish there were more shows like it made today.

Just recently started to watch the reruns of this show and I am wondering how I could have missed the initial airing of it. This is an excellent comedy series which doesn't rely on sexually connotated trash. Sick of the current comedic filth?, then you`ll enjoy this laugh a minute offering, the characters are superbly portrayed and the plots always hilarious.

Loved this show from the day it premiered in 1983 until the day it ended it 1990. I remember being bitterly disappointed when NBC cancelled it in 1984. When it was revived for first-run syndication, I was skeptical if it could be as funny without seasoned pros like Rue McClanahan and Betty White, but the new "unknown" cast members quickly made me forget about the old as they made those characters their own. This is one of the few programs that made me laugh out loud during every single episode. But like the Beverly Hillbillies, this show was looked down upon by a lot of la-dee-dah people (as Mama would say) who thought they were above the lowbrow humor. Who cares? I know whenever I need a good laugh, I can always count on that cranky family from Raytown, USA.

This is one of the best shows ever on television. This is the one I could watch forever. But the show really took off when it went into syndication. I like how they worked the name of the city of Raytown into everything, such as Ray-Mart, K-Ray(the radio station) and other goofy stores like The Donut Hut. Too bad the show ended with an open end as they could have gone on for a few more years with the baby storyline. And did anyone else notice that each of the five characters had a specific color they always wore? Iola had pink, Bubba had green, Naomi had yellow, Vint had brown and Thelma had blue/purple?

Most shows that are on the air today are crass, exploitive and just plain not funny. But this eighties gem is hilarious and I recommend you catch at least one episode. It's funny how the show got better after NBC cancelled it. They moved to syndication and the show got much better. The two stars that make this show so funny are the sharp tounged Mama (usually with a can of Big Top Beer stuck in her hand) and her bumbling son Vinton. If you are looking for a show that actually can be funny without being disgusting, then try Mama's Family. I'm the last guy who thought Mama's Family would be funny, but it's become my second favorite tv show. Have to go, Mama's Family is starting. Have a good one.