Mama's Family (1983–1990)

1. S01E01Vint and the Kids Move InJanuary 22, 1983—Mama's in a hurry to get to the mall for a sale and tries to hurry Fran along to finish eating. But before that can happen Fran's boss at th
2. S01E02For Better or For WorseJanuary 29, 1983 8.0After many years of not seeing each other, since high school, Vinton and Mama's next door neighbor Naomi Oates are reunited. They become qu
3. S01E03The Wedding (1)February 5, 1983—Vint and Buzz go to a bachelor party in celebration of Vint's impending marriage to Naomi. Meanwhile back at the house, Fran, Ellen, and Mam
4. S01E04The Wedding (2)February 12, 1983—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 V
5. S01E05Season's bestFamily FeudFebruary 19, 1983 10.0Vinton gets an idea of taking the family (eveyone except Sonja) on to the game show Family Feud, so that they can have a chance at winning $
6. S01E06CellmatesFebruary 26, 1983 7.0Mama, 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 Gard
7. S01E07Mama Gets a JobMarch 5, 1983—Mama is complaining about not having done nothing with her life, so Naomi suggests she get a job. So Mama heads down to the employment agenc
8. S01E08Double StandardMarch 12, 1983 7.0Buzz and Sonya are getting ready for the the high school's Homecoming dance, when Vint tells the kids they both have to be in by midnight. B
9. S01E09Mama's BoyfriendMarch 19, 1983 7.0Mama is all dressed up as Fran gets back from the store and she wonders ""Who Died?"", Sonya soon asks the same question, before Mama reveal
10. S01E10Fran's DressMarch 26, 1983—Vint, who has a bowling tournament, wants Mama to wash and iron his shirt and have dinner ready early. Then Fran, who has an awards banquet
11. S01E11Alien MarriageApril 2, 1983—Claude, having come up with another hair brained scheme, tells Vint that he has a good deal, and Vint could make $1600 (and Claude will make
12. S01E12Positive ThinkingApril 30, 1983—Eunice is telling Mama how bad her life sucks, while at the same moment making everyone else's life a living hell too. That's when Buzz come
13. S01E13Mama's SilverMay 7, 1983—Mama's going on about Vint's friend Claude being a bum and everything, when Ellen finally brings Mama's silver back. Mama wants Vint to put

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

1. S02E01Flaming FortiesSeptember 29, 1983—Buzz and Sonya are the organizers of a dance to raise funds to build a new gym at the high school. They get an idea after finding some of Ma
2. S02E02The Return of Leonard OatesOctober 13, 1983—Naomi's 2nd ex- husband, Leonard Oates, returns to Raytown after 3 years a wealthy man. Seems he's now the worm king of Tallahassee, Florida
3. S02E03Country ClubOctober 20, 1983—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 kn
4. S02E04Naomi and the StorkOctober 27, 1983—Naomi's ailing and all the signs point to her the Stork being on the way for her and Vint. A fact that Mama is the first to discover, after
5. S02E05RashomamaNovember 3, 1983—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 w
6. S02E06Obscene CallNovember 10, 1983—Mama finds Naomi at work being overly nice,and she explains to Mama she's trying to win the Food Circus Friendly Employee of the Month.Which
7. S02E07Ellen's BoyfriendNovember 17, 1983—Mama won't let anyone leave because Ellen (who recently divorced her husband Bruce) is on the way over for another one of her european slide
8. S02E08Gert Rides AgainDecember 1, 1983—Mama's cousin Gert (Imogene Coca) was once a sprited woman, but time in an old folks home has left her lifeless.
9. S02E09Amateur NightDecember 8, 1983—Mama, Fran and Naomi take Vint to the Bigger Jigger to try and cheer him up over not getting a promotion at Kwik Keys. Naomi then convinces
10. S02E10The Mama Who Came to DinnerDecember 22, 1983—Mama and Fran are putting green stamps into her books,when Vint and Naomi come in from an evening with their friends.They're complaining abo
11. S02E11Mama Learns to DriveJanuary 7, 1984—Mama's wanting desperately to go to the mall and pick up this blue hat she wants. But no one will drive her, seems everyone has plans. Then
12. S02E12Black Belt MamaJanuary 14, 1984 8.0Naomi gets home from her self defense class all fired up and Fran and Sonya decide to go next time.But Mama refuses saying it's a waste of t
13. S02E13Mama Buys a CarJanuary 21, 1984—Mama finally decides to buy herself a car after her meals on wheels job falls through because she can't find a ride.So she takes the thousan
14. S02E14SupermarketFebruary 4, 1984—After shopping at Food Circus for over 40 years, Thelma knows more about the store than it's manager. After hearing some of her ""Old Fashio
15. S02E15No Room at the InnFebruary 11, 1984—It's Vint and Naomi's first wedding anniversary and Vint prepares by reserving two days and one night at a kinky hotel out of town. Meanwhil
16. S02E16Mama for Mayor (1)February 18, 1984—Ellen talks Mama into having Mayor Tutwiller's Re-Election press conference at the house.As the Mayor starts his speech starts going on abou
17. S02E17Mama for Mayor (2)February 25, 1984—Mama and the whole family attend the Inauguration ceremony as the Mayor prepares to swear Mama in as the New Mayor of Raytown.Vint interupts
18. S02E18Harper Versus HarperMarch 10, 1984—Naomi trys to fix breakfast for her family but Mama dumps it out, with Naomi complaining about never being able to do anything for her husba
19. S02E19Mama's BirthdayMarch 17, 1984—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
20. S02E20Mama Cries UncleMarch 24, 1984—Carl's long lost brother, Roy Harper, shows up out of nowhere on Carl's birthday. Not knowing that his brother has been dead for 11 long yea
21. S02E21Ask Aunt FranMarch 31, 1984—Fran gets a fill-in job as a an advice columnist, when she asks Mama for an answer to a question and Mama does what she does best, tells peo
22. S02E22A Grave MistakeApril 7, 1984—Mama can't get anyone to go with her to Carl's grave, so she goes by herself. After arriving and having a long talk with Carl, Mama notices

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

1. S03E01Farewell, FrannieSeptember 27, 1986—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
2. S03E02Where There's a WillOctober 4, 1986—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 missin
3. S03E03Season's bestBest MedicineOctober 11, 1986 8.0Mama 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
4. S03E04National MamaOctober 18, 1986—When Mama's dreams start providing the names of winning horses, the family figures they're in the money.
5. S03E05Soup to NutsOctober 25, 1986—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 to
6. S03E06Mama and Dr. BrothersNovember 1, 1986—In this Thanksgiving episode, Mama, Bubba, Vinton, Naomi, Iola, and Aunt Effie (Dorothy Van) all go for cover in the basement when an unexpe
7. S03E07Cat's MeowNovember 8, 1986 8.0Iola is distraught when her cat Midnight dies,although everyone else is thankful,noting that the cat was as mean as a rattlesnake. But Iola
8. S03E08The Love LetterNovember 15, 1986 8.0Naomi 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
9. S03E09An Ill WindNovember 22, 1986 8.0The Harpers, Iola and Aunt Effie must go.for cover in the basement when a tornado passes through Raytown on Thanksgiving.
10. S03E10Steal One, Pearl TwoNovember 29, 1986—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
11. S03E11Where There's SmokeDecember 6, 1986 8.0Thelma invites Reverend Meecham to dinner in the hopes of being named the president of the Church Ladies League. However, a surprise visitor
12. S03E12Fly NaomiDecember 13, 1986 7.0Unhappy 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,
13. S03E13Santa MamaDecember 20, 1986 8.0Vinton is chosen to play Santa @ the Raytown Mall. However, with too much practice, he loses his voice! So Mama fills in the last second a
14. S03E14Desperately Seeking AnyoneJanuary 10, 1987—Mama and Naomi's plan to find a date for Iola backfires when the date is more interested in Mama.
15. S03E15Porn AgainJanuary 17, 1987—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
16. S03E16Have it Mama's WayJanuary 24, 1987—An anonymous letter convinces Vint that he's adopted, so he sets out to find his biological mother.
17. S03E17BirthrightJanuary 31, 1987—An anonymous letter convinces Vint that he's adopted, so he sets out to find his biological mother.
18. S03E18Grandma USAFebruary 7, 1987—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 w
19. S03E19Buck Private BubbaFebruary 14, 1987 8.0Vint's former Army Sergeant comes to town and recruits Bubba, who enlists after his girlfriend breaks up with him.
20. S03E20Mama's CousinFebruary 21, 1987—Mama's worldly cousin (Vicki Lawrence in a dual role) annoys Mama with her neverending stories.
21. S03E21Mama with the Golden ArmFebruary 28, 1987—Mama emerges as a contender in an arm-wrestling competition.
22. S03E22It Takes Two to WatusiMarch 7, 1987—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
23. S03E23Fangs a Lot, MamaMarch 14, 1987—After Vint is invited to join the Mystic Order of the Cobra, a local men's club, Mama attempts to sabotage his induction.
24. S03E24The Best PolicyMarch 21, 1987—Vint brings home a new electric blanket he received for signing up for a life insurance policy. A few minutes later, his insurance agent ar
25. S03E25After the FallMarch 28, 1987—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.

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

1. S04E01Educating MamaSeptember 26, 1987—When Bubba has trouble in high school, it's revealed that Mama failed to graduate as well.
2. S04E02Zirconias Are a Girl's Best FriendOctober 3, 1987—Mama develops an addiction to online shopping.
3. S04E03The Key to the CrimeOctober 10, 1987—When Vint is accused of being Raytown's "Courteous Crook", Mama and Iola take action to clear his name.
4. S04E04Breaking Up Is Hard to DoOctober 17, 1987—Vint and Naomi are separated yet living in the same house (and driving Mama crazy in the process).
5. S04E05A Big Hand for MamaOctober 24, 1987—After nearly being hit by lightning, Mama finds a new outlook on life.
6. S04E06Flounder's DayOctober 31, 1987—After 50 years, Mama finally gets her chance to sing at Raytown's Founders' Day celebration.After nearly being hit by lightning, Mama finds
7. S04E07Teacher's PetNovember 7, 1987—Mama tries to become romantic with her night school teacher.
8. S04E08Child's PlayNovember 14, 1987—Reverend and Mrs. Meechum drop by to ask Thelma if she would mind watching their little Eugene while they visit the shut-ins at the hospital
9. S04E09Mama ManiaNovember 21, 1987—Didi, an old friend of Naomi's and a professional wrestler, talks Naomi into being a last-minute substitute for her ailing tag-team partner
10. S04E10Gift HorseNovember 28, 1987—Mama hopes to raise enough to purchase a VCR by selling Iola's gaudy, homemade gifts at a yard sale.
11. S04E11Workman's HolidayDecember 5, 1987—When Mama traumatizes Vinton at work with the "Binky Bunny" lunchbox she made for him when he was a kid, she must find a way to cure him of
12. S04E12Mama Sees RedDecember 12, 1987—A man from the State Department asks the Harpers to host a Russian national named Olga for one day as part of "Project Heartland."
13. S04E13A Room with No ViewDecember 19, 1987—Tired of living in the basement, Vint and Naomi agree to switch rooms with Bubba - pleasing everyone except Mama.
14. S04E14The Sins of the MotherJanuary 9, 1988—After Bubba comes home late and drunk, Mama is enraged and gives him an excessive punishment.
15. S04E15A Friend IndeedJanuary 16, 1988—Iola spends all her time with a new friend.
16. S04E16I Do, I Don'tJanuary 23, 1988—After attending a family wedding, Bubba, Mama, and Iola fantasize about what married life would be like with the objects of their affections
17. S04E17Mama Gets the BirdJanuary 30, 1988—After Uncle Oscar passes away, Mama is willed his gabby pet parrot.
18. S04E18Mama's GirlsFebruary 6, 1988—Mama starts a senior citizens' tap-dancing troupe in an effort to get Aunt Effie to exercize.
19. S04E19Season's bestMama on Jeopardy!February 13, 1988 8.0Mama finds herself competing on Jeopardy!
20. S04E20Mama Goes Hawaiian - Part 1February 20, 1988—After Mama wins a trip to Hawaii on Jeopardy!, Mama and the family (plus Iola) say aloha!
21. S04E21Mama Goes Hawaiian - Part 2February 27, 1988 8.0Vint's dumb luck gets Mama dragged to a party with the "beach bum" she's been trying to avoid.
22. S04E22Bubba's Double DateMarch 5, 1988—When Bubba gets stood up by his prom date, Mama sets him up with Iola's nerdy niece, Vernette.
23. S04E23Bed and BreakdownMarch 12, 1988—The Harpers rent out a room during the Tri-State Fair.
24. S04E24Naomi's Identity CrisisMarch 19, 1988—After Naomi loses her memory, Mama seizes the opportunity to "reprogram" her.
25. S04E25Pomp and CircumstanceMarch 26, 1988 8.0Mama and Bubba will graduate from high school together, but Bubba wants to skip the ceremony.

Season 4 ranked & reviewed

1. S05E01Ladies ChoiceNovember 5, 1988 8.0Mama's reign as the Church Ladies League President only has two weeks to go and being that it's limited to one term Mama needs someone to no
2. S05E02Baby TalkNovember 12, 1988—Mama and Iola are working hard on a homemade quilt to enter an upcoming contest when Iola comments about the house being so quiet lately. Vi
3. S05E03Naomi's New PositionNovember 19, 1988 8.0Naomi's on top of the world with the news that she has an interview for the now vacant Assistant Manager's job at Food Circus. While Vint wo
4. S05E04Season's bestThe Really Loud FamilyNovember 26, 1988 9.0Mama'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, whi
5. S05E05Many Unhappy ReturnsDecember 3, 1988 8.0It's the day before Mama's birthday and Vint decides to make her a present instead of buying her something. It ends up being a really ugly c
6. S05E06Found MoneyDecember 3, 1988—The mail is late,meaning Mama's pention check is late also,so she has to wait around for the mailman.Come to find out Iola had it the whole
7. S05E07My Mama, MyselfDecember 17, 1988 8.0Iola arrives to collect for the church rummage sell. While Naomi and Vint have nothing, Mama is looking through her jewelry case. Soon findi
8. S05E08Full HouseJanuary 7, 1989 8.0Mama, Naomi and Iola are planning to go to a show at the Pepper Pot Playhouse, while Vint and Bubba are set to play poker with the ""poker p
9. S05E09Bedtime for BubbaJanuary 14, 1989 8.0Mama's sitting up late waiting for Bubba when Vint and Noami come in and start telling her about the new best seller they just bought.It see
10. S05E10What a DumpJanuary 21, 1989 8.0Mama plays host to the neighborhood block party, where Mayor Tutwiller is set to make a major announcement. Mama thinks he's going to award
11. S05E11Mama BellJanuary 28, 1989 8.0Mama 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 suggest
12. S05E12Very Dirty DancingFebruary 4, 1989 8.0Mama 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 Nao
13. S05E13Mama's Layaway PlanFebruary 11, 1989 8.0Vint, Naomi and Bubba are preparing for the upcoming Bowl-A-Thon, hoping to beat the Huflanders, who've won 8 years in a row. When Mama retu
14. S05E14My Phony ValentineFebruary 18, 1989—It's Valentine's day and Naomi feels unloved and Vint buying her cheap stuff for doesn't help. Mama and Iola however are busy making hearts
15. S05E15The Big WheelFebruary 25, 1989—The entire family is abuzz with Lotto fever, except Mama that is, who just wants Iola to get back with the cinnamon so they can start on the
16. S05E16More Power to YouMarch 4, 1989 8.0Naomi 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 elect
17. S05E17Mama in OneMarch 11, 1989 7.0Trying to update the church's phone directory is hard enough, but having to do it with everyone running in and out is impossible. But fortun
18. S05E18There's No Place Like...No PlaceMarch 25, 1989—Bubba's off to a rally for the homeless, as Mama and Iola are off to the Rayplex, while Vint and Naomi are headed out to route five to see t
19. S05E19April FoolsApril 1, 1989 8.0April 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
20. S05E20Reading the Riot ActApril 15, 1989 8.0Bubba and Vint are playing basketball out back, when Mama comes out and starts talking about Lolly Purdue and how bad a job she is doing as
21. S05E21A Taxing SituationApril 22, 1989 7.0Vint and Naomi are doing their taxes while Bubba works on Mama's, but their using the long form and she's using the short. So they figure ou
22. S05E22The Mama of InventionMay 6, 1989 8.0Iola meets a man that is interested in one of her inventions.But as it turns out Vint,Naomi and Bubba have an invention of their own,the Pet
23. S05E23Hate Thy NeighborMay 13, 1989 8.0Mama's sworn enemy and next door neighbor, Fred Gebhart blows leafs back into Thelma's yard which starts a screaming match that has to be br
24. S05E24Dependence DayMay 20, 1989 8.0Thelma 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 w
25. S05E25Mama Makes ThreeMay 27, 1989—Naomi annouces her and Vint can't get pregnant because Vint is shooting blanks,so Iola suggests that they try and adopt a baby.Turns out she

Season 5 ranked & reviewed

1. S06E01Mama's Medicine ShowSeptember 23, 1989 8.0After 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
2. S06E02An Affair to ForgetSeptember 30, 1989 8.0Mama suspects that Vint is having an affair with his new trainee Heather, so she and Iola go to his workplace to investigate.
3. S06E03Mr. WrongOctober 7, 1989 8.0Mama encourages Iola to find herself a man, but the man she finds turns out to be a domineering blowhard.
4. S06E04Now Hear ThisOctober 14, 1989 8.0The Harpers install an intercom so that Naomi will be able to monitor her baby, but Mama uses it to eavesdrop on the family, and vice versa.
5. S06E05Tri-State's Most WantedOctober 21, 1989 8.0Mama is attracted to actor Leslie Lemoyne, until she sees him on "Tri-State's Most Wanted" (the local version of America's Most Wanted), and
6. S06E06Mama Fights BackOctober 28, 1989 8.0Mama verbally attacks a radio show's unhelpful consumer advocate, and the station manager offers her his job, with Mama broadcasting from he
7. S06E07Season's bestA Blast From the PastNovember 4, 1989 9.0Mama 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 year
8. S06E08Psychic Pheno-MamaNovember 11, 1989 8.0Vinton and Naomi persuade Mama to have a psychic called "Madame Rita" give everyone readings. At first, Mama is surprised by the psychic's a
9. S06E09Take My Mama, Please!November 18, 1989 8.0After heckling a stand-up comedian at the Bigger Jigger, Mama accepts a challenge to do a routine of her own.
10. S06E10Bubba's House BandNovember 25, 1989 8.0Bubba books a band called The Bonecrushers for homecoming, and tells the family that the band will be staying with them. They turn out to be
11. S06E11Mama Takes StockDecember 2, 1989 7.0Vinton learns that he is about to lose his job because Kwik Keys is being shut down by the new owners, a corporation called Bernice. When Bu
12. S06E12War of the RosesDecember 9, 1989 8.0Mama and Iola are preparing for the Crystal Thorn flower contest, and Iola is angry to find that Mama's flowers have cross-pollinated with o
13. S06E13Mama Takes a DiveDecember 16, 1989 7.0When Mama slips on a roll of pennies in the bank, the family suggests that she sue the bank. To this end, she hires a sleazy lawyer Settleme
14. S06E14Mama Gets GoosedDecember 23, 1989 8.0Mama's cousin sends her a live goose for her family's Christmas dinner, and everyone except Mama is against the idea of killing and cooking
15. S06E15The Big NapJanuary 20, 1990 7.0After watching detective movies on TV for a week, and hearing that Iola's mother is missing, Mama dreams that she is a film noir-style detec
16. S06E16Pinup MamaJanuary 27, 1990 8.0While working on a photography project, Bubba makes a picture of a young bikini-clad woman with Mama's head, as a joke. However, this pictur
17. S06E17Guess Who's Going to DinnerFebruary 3, 1990 8.0Vint wins a Mother's Day dinner for two at a North African (Moroccan) restaurant called Abdul's Garden of Eating. As a result, Mama and Naom
18. S06E18Look Who's BreathingFebruary 10, 1990 8.0Naomi and Vinton are taking a childbirth class. When Vint is called in to work, Mama has to go to class with Naomi instead of going to the B
19. S06E19There Is Nothing Like the DamesFebruary 17, 1990 8.0Vinton 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. Mea
20. S06E20Bye-Bye–Baby!February 24, 1990 8.0When Naomi is upset about her baby being late, Mama tries to calm her down with a false story about Carl. Mama tells Iola what really happen

Season 6 ranked & reviewed