Mama's Family

- Season 5

(1988)

Mama seeks a repeat term as Church Ladies League president, but finds herself running against the last person she thought would be her opponent.

After visiting a friend with a new baby, Naomi and Vint decide they want a baby themselves. But Mama, who feels that there isn't room in the house for another person, decides to have them babysit another friend's cranky infant, in order to discourage them.

Naomi's new store manager Archie Woods has offered her the newly-opened position of assistant manager. She's flattered to have been selected but is not flattered one bit when Mr. Woods makes it clear, in words and actions, that she must be "very friendly" to him to secure the promotion. Naomi realizes this is why the the last female assistant manager was let go. He tells her to go home and think it over. She goes home and tells Mama and Iola what he did. After giving her a talk about what he did was sexual harassment, she's still too upset to do anything, so Mama ...

Bubba has a class project: to make a video about his family. The Harpers and Iola are happy to participate. But a short in the camera makes for awkward moments, as everyone's comments come out differently than intended.

All Mama wants for her birthday is an electric mixer. When she discovers a hidden expensive piece of jewelry meant for someone else and assumes it's for her, disaster ensues.

An ATM malfunction leaves Mama with a small fortune. Her plans on what to do with the money prove vastly different than her family's ideas.

Mama considers selling a brooch that belonged to her late mother, but has second thoughts when the old woman's spirit begins to haunt her in protest.

Vint wants to join a poker circle and, unsurprisingly, needs Mama's help. But her "help" may do more harm than good.

Mama finds evidence suggesting that Bubba has been engaging in hanky panky, and convinces Iola to help her catch him in the act.

It's Mama vs. City Hall when the town decides to turn her neighborhood into the new landfill.

Mama reluctantly gets a phone machine and Vint and Naomi hid a stray dog in the garage and succeed in convincing Mama that she's getting senile when she claims she keeps hearing a dog barking.

Mama finds herself competing against Vint and Naomi in a dance contest. The kind of dancing she must do to win makes her unsure of the whole thing.

After attending a barebones funeral with no mourners, Mama vows her own funeral will be an unforgettable extravagance. Her all-consuming plans alienate her family.

It's Valentine's Day, and romance is in the air. But Cupid has less-than-romantic plans for everyone.

Mama and Iola quarrel over ownership of a winning lottery ticket. The winner appears on TV to try for more money, but things don't go as expected.

Mama believes the electric company has made an error on her bill, and refuses to pay it. They respond with expected results.

A weekend alone seems like Mama's dream come true, but the quiet and loneliness prove more than she can handle.

Mama has no sympathy or understanding for the homeless. But after being accidentally arrested during a police round-up of homeless people,she lands in jail and gets to know them better...and is surprised to find her cousin Cora among them.

Vint, Naomi, and Bubba subject Mama to pranks every April Fools Day. Mama thinks she's finally going to outprank them, but it seems her plan isn't so watertight.

Mama starts a drive to impeach Lolly Purdue (Marge Redmond), the president of the Church Ladies League because of her poor performance in office.

Mama does some creative accounting on her income tax return. Her victory over Uncle Sam is short-lived, however, when an IRS agent comes calling.

Iola believes her invention is a million dollar idea. But when the product's marketer favors Vint's brainless idea over Iola's, Mama smells trouble.

Mama's age-old feud with her neighbor reaches a new boiling point when Bubba becomes smitten with the neighbor's granddaughter.

Mama emboldens Iola to finally stand up to her domineering mother. When the old woman responds wrathfully, it's Mama who suffers the surprising consequence.

Naomi and Vint decide to adopt a child because Vint can't get Naomi pregnant.