Mama's Family

Bubba's not the only Harper who'll be going to night school when the family coerces Mama to join him to get her high school equivalency diploma.

It's mass confusion at the Harper household when Mama becomes hooked on television shopping. Surrounded by the clutter of her purchases and tires of fending for themselves, the family decides to cure Mama of her addiction with their own hysterical form of "adversion therapy".

Vint is mistakenly accused of being Raytown's serial burglar, "The Courteous Crook," following a break-in at the Harper house. Determined to prove Vint's innocence, Mama and Iola set out in "Cagney and Lacey" fashion to solve the crime.

Finances not only cause Vint and Naomi to separate, but also force them to remain living at home with Mama. Mama, on the other hand, is so miserable that she has no alternative but to force them back together.

When Mama is almost struck by lightning and nearly loses her life, she feels "reborn". The Harper family takes full advantage of her new attitude, but whether they can handle it or not remains to be seen.

When Verna May Rae passes on, Mama finally gets the opportunity to sing "Raytown, O Raytown" on Founder's Day. It's been 50 years since she first auditioned, and this time she will stop at nothing to win.

Joseph Campanella guest stars as the night school teacher for whom Mama develops a "schoolgirl" crush. Mama seeks the family's advice to get his attention, and Iola suggests the way to his hear is with her famous apple cobbler. But when that fails, Mama turns to Naomi's seductive body language.

The Harper family has more than its hands full when they are asked to watch the Reverend and Mrs. Meechum's 8-year-old grandson. The little brat drives them mad, and when he ends up staying the night, Mama gets irate as only Mama can.

Naomi is persuaded to join a longtime friend from high school in a women's tag team wrestling match. But when Mama accidentally knocks out the friend, she and Naomi must take on the "Masked Mabels" as the "Queen Bees."

The Harpers' garage sale is a success until Iola discovers her handicraft gives to the family were part of the sale. In a fit of anger, mama gives Iola back her "colorful Kleenex caddy," which, unbeknownst to her, contains the profits from the sale--which were to buy the family a new videocassette recorder.

Vint is so embarrassed when Mama brings his childhood lunchbox to work that he accidentally cuts his finger and takes to his bed, refusing to go back to work.

The Harpers are chosen as the "typical American family" to be visited by Olga, a "typical Russian homemaker," who not only cleans their house inside and out, but also decides to stay.

Following Mama's protests to allow Vint and Naomi to switch bedrooms with Bubba, Iola convinces her to form a family council and vote on the issue. The bedroom switch passes, but the results create even greater battles within the family for everyone except Mama.

When Mama overreacts to Bubba coming home drunk, he learns that he has triggered painful memories for Mama of an embarrassing "drunken" incident with Eunice.

Mama becomes jealous when Iola spends all her time with her new best friend, Arlene. But she soon discovers that Arlene can hardly wait to get the clinging Iola out of her life.

After attending a big wedding, Bubba, Iola and Mama each fantasizes what it would be like to be married and each realizes that, for now, that "heaven can wait!"

When Mama's crazy old Uncle Oscar passes on, he leaves her his talking parrot, Captain Petey, who convinces the family that Mama was left a treasure worth more $50,000, which is hidden somewhere in the house.

To get Aunt Effie to follow her doctor's advice to exercise, Mama persuades her to join a tap dance class at the Senior Citizens Center. Mama soon takes over the class, forming a troupe of blue-haired hoofers that becomes the toast of Raytown.

Alex Trebek guest stars when Iola's crush on the "Jeopardy" game show host turns into a bonanza! Mama accompanies Iola to an audition for the show, but Mama not only becomes the contestant, but also wins a trip to Hawaii for the entire family.

An old Hawaiian custom rings true for Iola, Bubba and even possibly Mama when a visit to Lover's Grotto brings them romance. Naomi and Vint's passions are frustrated, however, when Vint accidentally rubs bath gel on Naomi's back instead of sunscreen.

ᐸIᐳFirst part of a two-part episode.ᐸ/Iᐳ

Mama schemes to rid herself of Billy, the man she saved from drowning, and she goes sightseeing with Iola, Bubba and their new "true" loves. Meanwhile, Vint leaves a sunburned Naomi for golf with some high-powered executives.

ᐸIᐳPart two of a two-part episode.ᐸ/Iᐳ

When Bubba's date for the prom cancels at the last minute, Mama, unbeknownst to him, fixes him up with Iola's shy, homely niece Vernette.

When the Tri-State fair comes to Raytown, Mama takes in weekend boarders in order buy a new stove. All "bed"lam breaks loose when they overbook and the family winds up sleeping together in the same room.

When Naomi loses her memory, Mama takes advantage of her condition to turn her into the perfect housewife, much to the dismay of the rest of the family.

A disappointed Bubba refuses to go to his graduation when he learns his parents will not be there. Mama, the valedictorian and speaker for the commencement, won't go without him, and they both nearly miss the ceremony.