User Reviews

Mama's Family never got the proper recognition that it long deserved as a cult hit. What started out as a family sketch on the Carol Burnett show evolved into something of it's own life. Unfortunately, the sad end of the show was probably because it's executive producer and creator, Joe Hamilton, and former husband of Carol Burnett, would pass away a year or so later. This season was tough because they ran out of ideas. Sadly, I wished that they brought the family together one more time for a reunion before calling it quits but it didn't happen. In this episode and the series finale, the blessed event of Naomi's baby is due to give birth and she is frantic that Vinton won't be there for the event. While Mama gets her house back since Vint and Naomi are moving into their trailer at the mobile home park in town and grandson Bubba will move into the fraternity house at the community college. Still, the baby is always welcome even if it means the end of the show and an era. Mama's Family was the first family that I felt was real. The characters were imperfect and sometimes didn't get along when they were together. They weren't like the other family sitcoms of the era. This show should have stayed in prime time but the network canceled it after two seasons for whatever reasons. In syndication, Mama's Family was queen because it allowed the show to move along without the politics of network television but without the money but it still delighted the fans who miss this show terribly and miss the characters as well.

Ken Berry gives a hilarious performance playing Vinton and the opposite versions of his father Carl. The baby theme surprisingly never really tanked the series. The only obligatory "the baby is so cute" sappy shtick was at the end of this episode. And it was tolerably done in a very witty and charming way. Fun to see then 41-year-old Vicki Lawrence as she really looks except for the weight padding.

I'm not a big fan of the series first two years cast. I started watching season 3 to the end of season 6. Definitely a very underrated classic sitcom. For me it really became a classic when Beverly Archer and Dorothy Lyman's roles increased after cast cuts.