Mama's Family

- Season 3

(1986)

Mama is determined to give Fran the perfect funeral despite everyone's insistence on knowing the details of her mysterious death, and her nerves are tested even further with the arrival of her grandson from reform school.

The Harpers stand to gain a small fortune from Fran's estate, but only if Mama can follow the will's impossible stipulation.

Mama is angry with Ellen for passing up Aunt Fran's funeral for a bridge tournament; but changes her attitude when she learns Ellen has been hospitalized.

Mama's bizarre dreams coincide with horse race winners, leading the Harpers to believe they've got a sure-fire betting system.

Mama, Naomi, and Iola have a chili cookoff, forcing Vint into the unenviable task of judging which most deserves inclusion in the church cookbook.

When Dr. Joyce Brothers appears on a local talk show, Mama is shocked and embarrassed when Naomi phones in for advice on her and Vint's marriage.

Iola is inconsolable when her nasty cat, Midnight, dies. Mama tries to cheer Iola, but is uncomfortable with the solution Iola finds to deal with her grief: having Midnight freeze-dried.

A love letter meant for Naomi mistakenly ends up in the hands of both Mama and Iola, leading to hilarious complications for all.

Family animosities come to light (and the boiling point) when the Harpers are trapped together due to a Thanksgiving Day tornado.

All eyes fall on Bubba in suspicion when Iola's pearls come up missing and he comes home with a new drum set.

Mama's plans for the Church Ladies League presidency are jeopardized with the arrival of an acquaintance of Bubba's who has run away from reform school.

Naomi is fed up with her job as a supermarket cashier, and signs up for stewardess school, believing it will lead to an exciting career. As the weeks pass, Vint is feeling neglected as Naomi spends all her time on her studies. And Mama is unsympathetic -- until she learns that flight attendants' families can fly anywhere they want for free.

Mama is in no mood for Christmas merriment, and matters are not helped when she must fill in as Santa at the mall.

The Harpers are tired of Iola's constant presence and wish she had someone else to spend time with, so Mama and Naomi enroll her in a matchmaking service. But the match date has eyes for someone other than Iola.

Mama finds an adult magazine in Bubba's room. When she learns he bought it at Food Circus (where Naomi is employed), she leads a boycott of the store.

Mama and Bubba get jobs at the same fast food restaurant. Their relationship as co-workers does not go smoothly.

Mother's Day for Mama comes crashing to a thud when Vint comes to believe he is adopted, and arranges a meeting with the woman he believes is his real mother.

As a practical joke, Bubba enters Thelma into the Grandma USA contest using a young woman's picture. But it's no joke when she's picked to compete and everybody gets a load of the real Thelma Harper.

Bubba's spur-of-the-moment decision to join the Army proves disastrous, and it's up to Mama to get him out of it.

Mama questions her life's accomplishments when her successful, glamorous cousin Lydia (Vicki Lawrence) comes to town.

Mama's big mouth lands her in an armwrestling match, where she meets her most formidable foe yet.

Bubba is smitten with Naomi's curvy, but much older, friend. Mama, however, will stop at nothing to prevent their romance.

Vint is keen on joining a secretive men's club, but its bizarre trappings cause concern for Naomi. It is up to Mama to get to the bottom, and to save Vint from disaster.

Vint has a series of near-death accidents shortly after a major life insurance purchase, causing Mama and Iola to suspect Naomi may be responsible.

Mama brings Aunt Effie, who's been in shock since she fell off her roof, home from the hospital and spends two weeks trying to rehabilitate her while her family puts together Vint's new 'miracle' jigsaw puzzle.