Mama's Family

Who isn't familiar with the epic talents of Vicki Lawrence? Singer, actress and comedian, her performances entertain and amaze audiences all over the world. Many tend to immediately identify Lawrence's name with that of Carol Burnett, however, the reason being is because of the iconic character of Mama, otherwise known as Thelma Harper. Thelma got her following from foiling her daughter, Eunice's high expectations of fame and fortune.

No one suspected when the character of Mama made her first appearance on the 'Carol Burnett Show' the following would be so sensational that a separate series that found such success would quickly follow; however, that's exactly what happened. True to the formula that made Mama such a beloved character, Vicki Lawrence remained faithful to the character she had developed, which led to an entirely new fan base when 'Mama's Family' found its niche. Despite the fact that the show left the air after one season, it was soon a success when it returned with a new formulation and a couple of additional characters.

The main character is, of course, Thelma, otherwise lovingly known as Mama. Initially, Mama and her sister, Fran shared the house that Mama was left when her husband died. However, the house suddenly becomes full as Mama's youngest child, Vint, moves back in after losing his home in a divorce and brings his two children, Buzz and Sonya with him. While this is frustrating enough to Mama and most definitely Fran, add to the mix Vint's new wife, Naomi, who was the next door neighbor that Mama detests.

The show went through a revamping that found a great deal of success when the show transitioned after Fran's death and the cast changed to include Eunice's youngest son, Bubba and Thelma's best friend and nosy next door neighbor Iola. Gone were Sonya and Buzz, however, Vint and Naomi could still be counted on to keep Mama on her toes.