Two characters from The Carol Burnett Show, that hilarious collection of incorrigible humor and sight gags, proved so popular with the viewers that they were granted their own TV special after the original show ended. The characters of Ed and Eunice came back for a repeat appearance but it was another character who got her own sitcom out of the deal.  Thelma Harper, the country matron and mama to Eunice, debuted on NBC in 1983.

The show was cancelled soon after but during those early episodes the sitcom kept pretty close to the original sketch. Vicki Lawrence played Mama and Carol Burnett (Eunice), Harvey Korman (her husband Ed), Betty White (Thelma’s other daughter) and Rue McClanahan (Thelma’s sister) made regular appearances as her family. After cancellation, the show moved on to syndication and the cast lineup changed, with many characters departing and a few new faces moving into Mama’s home.

Thelma’s son, Vinton, was now married to erstwhile next-door neighbor and full-time hussy—according to Mama—Naomi. Young Bubba, Ed and Eunice’s son, joined the family after a stint in juvenile detention, bringing a brain-dead je ne sais quoi to the household. Iola Boyland was the prissy neighbor frequently found in Thelma’s parlor, in an attempt to get away from her own elderly and oppressive parents.

Mama’s Family chronicled the life and funny times of a small town, where there was always a bake-off or church social or scandal-filled gossip session to pass the time. Thelma ruled the roost with country wisdom that she seemed to have in abundance, in contrast to everyone else in her near vicinity. Bubba, Vinton and Iola often found themselves on the receiving end of Mama’s indignant tirades. Vinton especially earned Mama’s tight-lipped fury for marrying Naomi, while Iola’s constantly sunny personality irritated Thelma on a daily basis.

This incarnation of the show became popular and ran for six seasons in syndication, proving as resilient as Mama’s blue hair coiffure. Reruns persisted for two more decades in various local channels and cable television.