"Mama's Family" (1983) TV series 1983-1990

Creators:

Dick Clair
Jenna McMahon
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

22 January 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Thelma Harper and her spinster sister Fran open their home to Thelma's recently divorced son Vinton and his teenage son and daughter...

Plot Keywords:

Widow | Mother Son Relationship | Female Bonding | Family Relationships | Grandmother

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Vicki Lawrence	...	Thelma 'Mama' Crowley Harper (130 episodes, 1983-1990)
Ken Berry	...	Vinton Harper / ... (130 episodes, 1983-1990)
Dorothy Lyman	...	Naomi Oates Harper / ... (125 episodes, 1983-1990)
Allan Kayser	...	Bubba Higgins (95 episodes, 1986-1990)
Beverly Archer	...	Iola Lucille Boylen (91 episodes, 1986-1990)

Series Directed by
Dave Powers		(95 episodes, 1986-1990)
Roger Beatty		(35 episodes, 1983-1984)
Harvey Korman		(31 episodes, 1983-1984)
Dick Martin		(3 episodes, 1983)

Series Writing credits
Jim Evering		(29 episodes, 1983-1990)
Rick Hawkins		(27 episodes, 1983-1989)
Dorothy Van		(19 episodes, 1983-1990)
Neil Lebowitz		(12 episodes, 1987-1989)
Gene Perret		(8 episodes, 1983-1987)
Liz Sage		(8 episodes, 1983-1984)
Chuck Bulot		(7 episodes, 1986-1988)
M.J. Cody		(7 episodes, 1986-1988)
Dick Clair		(5 episodes, 1983-1989)
Jenna McMahon		(5 episodes, 1983-1989)
Sydney A. Blake		(5 episodes, 1988-1990)
Bill Braunstein		(5 episodes, 1988-1990)
Dale Phillips		(5 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jim Geoghan		(3 episodes, 1987-1989)
Alberta DaSilva		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Kathryn Davison		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Katherine Green		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Phillip Jayson Lasker		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Ann Elder		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Tom Perew		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Manny Basanese		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Produced by
Joe Hamilton	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1983)
Ed Simmons	....	supervising producer (2 episodes, 1983)
Fred Rubin	....	producer (unknown episodes, 1984)
Neil Lebowitz	....	co-producer / producer (unknown episodes, 1989-1990)
Roger Beatty	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Jim Evering	....	co-executive producer / producer (unknown episodes)
John Hamilton	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Rick Hawkins	....	co-executive producer / co-producer (unknown episodes)
Harvey Korman	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Dave Powers	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Liz Sage	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Peter Matz		(1 episode, 1983)

Series Film Editing by
Patrick Williams		(48 episodes, 1986-1988)
Joe Bella		(unknown episodes)
Marc Lamphear		(unknown episodes)
Chris Love		(unknown episodes)
Frank Mazzaro		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Rhonda Young		(1 episode, 1983)
Pamela Basker		(unknown episodes, 1985-1990)
Fern Champion		(unknown episodes, 1985-1990)
Justine Jacoby		(unknown episodes)
Pat Melton		(unknown episodes)
Donna Rosenstein		(unknown episodes)
Gilda Stratton		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Paul Barnes		(1 episode, 1983)
Larry Wierner		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Bill Harp		(1 episode, 1983)
Steve Hill		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Ret Turner		(1 episode, 1983)

Series Makeup Department
Bob Osterman	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1983)
Jerry Brown	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Lucia Castaneda	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Tommy Cole	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Debbie Easton	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Roselle Friedland	....	wig maker (unknown episodes)
Joni Lawrence	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Donna Maret	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
D.J. Plumb	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Diana Shinneman	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Patricia Walker	....	production supervisor (1 episode, 1983)
Cindy Brody	....	unit manager (unknown episodes)
Kevin E. Fortson	....	unit manager (unknown episodes)
Patty Gary Cox	....	unit manager (unknown episodes)
Nada Hassan	....	unit manager (unknown episodes)
Mary Ellen Jones	....	unit manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jim Cox	....	associate director (1 episode, 1983)

Series Sound Department
Scott Millan	....	audio (1 episode, 1983)
Terry Hensey	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Yasmin Muniz	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Jay Nefcy	....	camera operator (19 episodes, 1989-1990)
John O'Brien	....	video controller (15 episodes, 1989-1990)
John P. Aguirre	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Tony Cestare	....	lighting director (unknown episodes)
Ed Chaney	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Gorm Erickson	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Jim Reilly	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Paul Sherwood	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Ken Woo	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Donna Rosenstein	....	casting associate (1 episode, 1983)
Lindsay Chag	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bob Mackie	....	original costume concepts (1 episode, 1983)

Series Editorial Department
Mike Cole	....	editor: video tape (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Dick Walter	....	composer: stock music (1 episode, 1990)
Peter Matz	....	composer: theme "Bless My Happy Home" (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Carlinda Agrella	....	production assistant (1 episode, 1983)
Willie Dahl	....	stage manager (1 episode, 1983)
Rick Hawkins	....	executive script consultant (1 episode, 1983)
Liz Sage	....	executive script consultant (1 episode, 1983)
Gunter Schmitt	....	video (1 episode, 1983)
Margaret Scott	....	assistant to producers (1 episode, 1983)
Jim Smith	....	stage manager (1 episode, 1983)
Harry Tatarian	....	technical director (1 episode, 1983)
Garlinda Agrella	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Franklyn Annino	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Manny Basanese	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Robert A. Bowen	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Jim Cox	....	associate director (unknown episodes)
Kathryn Davison	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jonathan Eisley	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jim Evering	....	executive story consultant (unknown episodes)
Neil Lebowitz	....	executive story consultant (unknown episodes)
Arleen Mahoney	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Becky Mann	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jenna McMahon	....	executive story consultant (unknown episodes)
Katherine Nakayama	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Dale Phillips	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Kim Tushinsky	....	production assistant / production coordinator (unknown episodes)
David Valliere	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Tia Wildermuth	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Joe Hamilton Productions

Distributors

• Lorimar Telepictures (1986-1989)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1983-1985)
• Warner Bros. Television (1989-)

Other Companies

• CBS Television City  taping location (1982-1986)
• Fox Television Center  taping location (1986-1990)
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono (1983-1986) | Stereo (1986-1990)

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

1019 Montrose Avenue, South Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Joe Hamilton Productions

Trivia:

In the majority of the episodes, the characters would wear the same colored or similar-colored attire. Mama wears blue or purple, Vinton wears tan, Naomi wears yellow (though in earlier episodes she didn't), Iola wears pink.

Quotes:

Ellen Jackson: Aunt Fran, Mama has some good news and bad news. The bad news is... there isn't any good news.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Nanny: The Two Mrs. Sheffields (#3.9)" (1995)

Still Loving MaMa's Family!!

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.