Q 01/05

What is Mama's real name?

A) Thelma Harper

B) Eunice Higgins

C) Naomi Oates

D) Iola Boylen

Answer · why

A) Thelma Harper

Vicki Lawrence was only in her early thirties when the sitcom began, playing a widow in her late sixties under a grey wig and padding.

Q 02/05

Mama's Family was a spin-off of a recurring sketch from which variety series?

A) The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

B) The Carol Burnett Show

C) Laugh-In

D) The Tim Conway Show

Answer · why

B) The Carol Burnett Show

The sketch was called 'The Family' and ran during the show's last five seasons, from 1973 to 1978.

Q 03/05

On which network did Mama's Family originally premiere in January 1983?

A) CBS

B) ABC

C) NBC

D) Fox

Answer · why

C) NBC

It lasted two seasons there before cancellation, and reruns did well enough to earn it a second life in syndication.

Q 04/05

How many seasons did Mama's Family run in total, across both its network and syndicated lives?

A) Four

B) Six

C) Eight

D) Ten

Answer · why

B) Six

Two on NBC and four in first-run syndication, for 130 episodes altogether.

Q 05/05

What is the title of the show's theme song, written by Vicki Lawrence?

A) Bless My Happy Home

B) Home Sweet Raytown

C) Mama's Got a Family

D) Thelma's Waltz

Answer · why

A) Bless My Happy Home

She wrote it a cappella with lyrics, but the show used a Peter Matz instrumental. She still sings the words in her stage show.