"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 | Grandparent Grandchild Relationship | Female Bonding | Friendship Between Women | Famous Opening Theme

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)
Albert 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)
Toem Perew		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Manny Basanese		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Produced by
John Hamilton	....	line producer / associate producer (130 episodes, 1983-1990)
Joe Hamilton	....	executive producer (4 episodes, 1983)
Ed Simmons	....	supervising producer (4 episodes, 1983)
Dick Clair	....	producer (3 episodes, 1983)
Jenna McMahon	....	producer (3 episodes, 1983)
Robert Wright	....	associate producer (3 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)
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)
Robert Bernstein		(3 episodes, 1983)
Joe Bella		(unknown episodes)
Marc Lamphear		(unknown episodes)
Chris Love		(unknown episodes)
Frank Mazzaro		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Rhonda Young		(3 episodes, 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		(2 episodes, 1983)
Larry Wiemer		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Bill Harp		(3 episodes, 1983)
Steve Hill		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Ret Turner		(3 episodes, 1983)

Series Makeup Department
Robert Ostermann	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1983)
Jerry Brown	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Debbie Easton	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Roselle Friedland	....	wig maker (unknown episodes)
Joni Lawrence	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Lucia Mace	....	hair stylist (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 (3 episodes, 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 (3 episodes, 1983)

Series Sound Department
Robert Houston	....	sound mixer (57 episodes, 1986-1988)
Terry Hensey	....	audio (2 episodes, 1983)
Yasmin Muniz	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Spice Williams-Crosby	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1987)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Jay Nefcy	....	camera operator (19 episodes, 1989-1990)
John O'Brien	....	video controller (15 episodes, 1989-1990)
Mike Denney	....	cameras / camera operator (3 episodes, 1983)
Pat Kenney	....	cameras / camera operator (3 episodes, 1983)
Lauri Moorman	....	lighting director (3 episodes, 1983)
Ed Chaney	....	cameras (2 episodes, 1983)
Benjamin Wolf	....	cameras (2 episodes, 1983)
John P. Aguirre	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Tony Cestare	....	lighting director (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 (3 episodes, 1983)
Lindsay Chag	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bob Mackie	....	original costume concepts (3 episodes, 1983)

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

Series Music Department
Peter Matz	....	composer: theme music (2 episodes, 1983)

Series Other crew
Carlinda Agrella	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1983)
Willie Dahl	....	stage manager (3 episodes, 1983)
Rick Hawkins	....	executive script consultant (3 episodes, 1983)
Liz Sage	....	executive script consultant (3 episodes, 1983)
Margaret Scott	....	assistant to the producers / assistant to producers (3 episodes, 1983)
Harry Tatarian	....	technical director (3 episodes, 1983)
Becky Mann	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1983)
Gene Perret	....	creative consultant (2 episodes, 1983)
Gunter Schmitt	....	video (2 episodes, 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 Erickson 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)
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-)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (complete first season)

Other Companies

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

Also Known As:

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:

Thelma's husband's name was Carl, also played by Ken Berry.

Quotes:

Thelma 'Mama' Harper:For 50 years I have been in charge of Christmas. I've jingled your bells and I've roasted your chestnuts. This Christmas you goons can just rum-pa-pum-pum without me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: 2012 Teachers Tournament Semifinal Game 1 (#28.113)" (2012)

The quality of this programme is`nt surprising.

Just recently started to watch the reruns of this show and I am wondering how I could have missed the initial airing of it. This is an excellent comedy series which doesn't rely on sexually connotated trash. Sick of the current comedic filth?, then you`ll enjoy this laugh a minute offering, the characters are superbly portrayed and the plots always hilarious.