Mama’s Family definitely gets five stars. One of my accepted shows of all-time, especially during its first two seasons with the occasional appearances of Eunice. What a stellar cast: Vicki Lawrence, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Dorothy Lyman, Ken Berry (How was it ever canceled in the first location? ) I really liked the kids Buzz and Sonja, too.
Buy,Download, Or Stream Mama’s Family - The Complete First Season! Click Here
The reason I am knocking a star off the derive is that these episodes are edited. They are like the syndication edits that are serene aired all the time. What’s up with that??!! I’ve been waiting to watch these episodes uncut for years. I know how considerable they’ve slash because I have an audio recording of “The Wedding Allotment 1″ from when it aired succor around 1985 (a rerun even, not the first airing which was 2/5/83) :
1. They carve out the portion about the hoochie coochie dancer in the kitchen scene with Mama, Buzz, and Vint.
2. When Sonja asked if she was a slave, Fran’s comeback line “If you were, you would’ve been sold years ago” is gone.
Buy,Download, Or Stream Mama’s Family - The Complete First Season! Click Here
3. Mama explaining to Sonja that “strong drink can do even the daintiest of ladies seem unattractive and coarse” (and then hic-ups from the beer) got the ax.
4. The scene with Mama and Fran in the kitchen is shortened.
5. They sever out Mama talking about seeing her husband Carl naked out of the shower. She shoved him in the linen closet and never looked again.
6. A lot of dialogue about the controversy over Eunice’s “O Promise Me” solo is missing.
7. And the worst omission of all: Eunice screaming “Well All True!!!” after Mama exclaimed, “This is my house and I say there ain’t gonna be no da*n singing!” isn’t there! I’ve been looking forward to seeing that scene again which always seems to be prick in syndication.
These are unbiased what is slit out of one episode! And the tags during the closing credits are missing, too. I definitely would have paid more money to bag these episodes uncut, wouldn’t you? Anyway, here are the episodes from Season 1:
“Vint and the Kids Recede In”: Vint and the kids are kicked out of their house and they have to go in with Mama.
“For Better or For Worse”: “Her! Him! Here!” Mama hyperventilates when she finds out Naomi and Vint spent the night together down in the basement. Vint and Naomi then resolve to collect married and hurry a trailer park in Arizona.
“The Wedding Section 1″: While getting ready for the wedding to be held a Mama’s showplace, Eunice takes delight in telling sister Ellen the truth about her husband and his secretary.
“The Wedding Piece 2″: Eunice slightly changes her rendition of “O Promise Me” after she finds out Mama gave Vint her father’s sapphire ring. Later, Vint and Naomi leer there trailer park plans were a rip-off and they have to travel in with Mama again.
“Family Feud”: The Harpers “wind up” on Family Feud. Richard Dawson is a guest.
“Cellmates”: Eunice and Mama glean themselves in jail with a prostitute who gets them to deem their mother/daughter relationship. This is the episode where Eunice finds out Mama sent her dream man Duke Reeves away when she was in high school.
“Mama Gets A Job”: Mama gets a job at a go agency and her family keeps bugging her a work. I like the piece where she’s learning how to respond the phones: “It’s a mountainous day here at the Raytown Go Agency! May I heeelp you?!”
“Double Standard”: Sonja gets all women’s rights when she finds out her younger brother has a longer curfew.
“Mama’s Boyfriend”: Mama shocks her family when she plans on spending a weekend in a cabin by the lake with an aged flame.
“Fran’s Dress”: Mama accidentally ruins Fran’s priced dress she plans on wearing to an awards banquette.
“Alien Marriage”: In another get-rich-quick draw, Vint plans on marrying a Portuguese woman to gather her a green card. In this episode, Naomi and Vint are not married yet. Naomi is smooth Mama’s complaining neighbor. Anyway, Mama really goes off in this one! Broad shouting scene including a nice argument between Mama and her flighty, customary maid sister Fran.
“Distinct Thinking”: One of the funniest episodes. Eunice starts listening to clear thinking tapes and gets a role in a play. Broad Eunice line: “I fair decked the entire cast over there at the Pepperpot Playhouse!”
“Mama’s Silver”: Vint pawns Mama’s precious splendid.
As a real fan of “Mama’s Family” for years and years, I understanding no one was more thrilled than me that this series was finally seeing the light of day on DVD.
But Warner Bros. did a sloppy job by giving this exhibit the barest of releases, so why should they gain my money?
They won’t.
And as you can survey, I am not alone—the fans are speaking out.
It’s poor enough that they couldn’t even bother to achieve the complete episodes on the discs. But no Special Features? Give me a rupture, how pathetic.
Where is the fresh opening theme song, not seen since the current broadcast?
Where are the introductory segments of Harvey Korman as Alastair Quince, also not seen since said broadcasts?
Where is the “Eunice” TV movie?
Where are any “Family” sketches from “The Carol Burnett Expose”?
Where is the clip of Vicki Lawrence winning her Emmy award for “The Carol Burnett Note” in 1976, which she won partially for her portrayal of Mama?
Where is the gag reel of bloopers?
Where are any cast or crew interviews/documentaries?
Where are any commentaries?
ANY of those would have been very welcome Special Features for the fans. And while I’m at it, where is season 2? Since only seasons 1 and 2 were on NBC, why not release both seasons packaged together—since they have Fran, Eunice, Ellen, Buzz, and Sonja—complete and with extra goodies, and then you could tout the season 3 release as the “unusual phase” of the point to with Bubba and Iola, since seasons 3 through 6 were a bit different in syndication. Season 1 has only 13 episodes, Season 2 has 22, and the others have over 20. So it would have made considerable more sense to squeeze 1 and 2 together—the NBC years—and then release the remaining four seasons separately.
I have news for you, Warner. You can’t simply set aside out a mundane release and have the fans not recognize. We’re making our voices heard that we want bulky, unedited releases packed with special features—what this present deserves—and what there it could be.
I strongly back everyone disappointed in this to write and call Warner Bros. (more effective than e-mail) and yell your frustration, disappointment, and refusal to buy:
DVD Department
Warner Home Video
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522-1543
Telephone: 818-954-6000
Fax: 818-954-6480
Thank you.
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