Season 1
Episode: 1x01 | Airdate: Jan 22, 1983
Newly-divorced Vinton has been evicted from his house along with Buzz and Sonja, and Mama decides to take them all in -- but Fran is none too thrilled when she finds her writing studio has been turned into Sonja's room behind her back. Meanwhile, Vinton gets reacquainted with Mama's next-door neighbor Naomi.
Episode: 1x02 | Airdate: Jan 29, 1983
Just as Naomi and Vint are getting closer, Naomi announces she's sold her house and is moving away. After she ends up spending the night with Vint (much to Mama's shock), he decides to marry her and move himself and the kids with her to Arizona.
Episode: 1x03 | Airdate: Feb 5, 1983
The eve of Vint and Naomi's wedding is an eventful one -- Buzz accompanies Vint to a stag party, Ellen suspects her own husband is seeing another woman, and Eunice blows up after being told she can't sing at the ceremony.
Episode: 1x04 | Airdate: Feb 12, 1983
The wedding day arrives, and a drunk Eunice almost ruins the ceremony after learning Mama gave her late husband Carl's prized sapphire ring to Vint behind her back. Meanwhile, Vint and Naomi go ahead with their plans to move to Arizona, but the plans may have changed.
Episode: 1x05 | Airdate: Feb 19, 1983
Mama, Vint, Naomi, Ellen, and Buzz play against the Van Courtland family for a chance to win $10,000 on the game show Family Feud.
Episode: 1x06 | Airdate: Feb 26, 1983
Eunice's birthday party down at the Bigger Jigger goes as well as one would expect, with her and Mama carted off to jail after indirectly assaulting two police officers trying to break up their argument.
Episode: 1x07 | Airdate: Mar 5, 1983
Feeling as though she hasn't done anything with her life, Mama ends up landing a job as a receptionist at a travel agency. Her family is happy for her, but they soon discover they may be more dependent on her than they realize.
Episode: 1x08 | Airdate: Mar 12, 1983
On the night of the high school homecoming dance, Vint orders Buzz and Sonja to be back home by midnight -- but tempers flare when Sonja finds out Vint has allowed Buzz to stay out later solely because he's a boy.
Episode: 1x09 | Airdate: Mar 19, 1983
Mama's dancing on air after reuniting with an old flame of hers from 40 years prior, but the family thinks she may have made a misstep when the two of them decide to spend the weekend at a cabin.
Episode: 1x10 | Airdate: Mar 26, 1983
While ironing the dress Fran is planning to wear to a special occasion, Mama accidentally burns a hole through it, and she and Ellen buy a new one to replace it without Fran's knowledge.
Episode: 1x11 | Airdate: Apr 2, 1983
Taking place before Vint and Naomi were married, this episode sees Vint accepting an offer to marry an illegal immigrant in order to help her gain American citizenship -- and to help him gain some big money.
Episode: 1x12 | Airdate: Apr 30, 1983
Buzz credits the power of positive thinking for his recent successes, leading Eunice to join in the positivity herself. Her newfound way of thinking lands her a part in a production at the Pepper Pot Playhouse.
Episode: 1x13 | Airdate: May 7, 1983
Taking place before Vint and Naomi were married, this episode sees Vint pawning Mama's silver to help bail Claude, a rather shady friend of his, out of jail.
Season 2
Episode: 2x01 | Airdate: Sep 29, 1983
Vint and Naomi prepare to haul Mama's World War II-era things to a rummage sale at the high school, but Buzz and Sonja, who are in charge of the school dance, soon get the idea to give it a 1940's theme. Mama is excited about the idea... until the rest of the dance committee shoots it down in favor of a "punk rock" style.
Episode: 2x02 | Airdate: Oct 13, 1983
Naomi's second husband Leonard Oates comes back to Raytown a newly wealthy man, and tries to charm her into leaving Vinton and the Harpers for him and a "life of luxury".
Episode: 2x03 | Airdate: Oct 20, 1983
Ellen attends a ceremony at the Raytown Country Club celebrating her being named its Woman of the Year, but when Mama, Vint and Naomi crash the festivities, she becomes afraid that they'll embarrass her in front of the highest members of Raytown's society.
Episode: 2x04 | Airdate: Oct 27, 1983
Naomi's recent bouts with morning sickness lead Mama to think she may be pregnant. When Naomi tells Vinton the news, the couple are initially excited, but soon face the prospect of having to raise their new baby in their basement quarters.
Episode: 2x05 | Airdate: Nov 3, 1983
Mama's in the hospital after being hit in the head with a pot, and in the waiting room, Eunice, Ellen and Naomi all tell Vinton their own version of who delivered the blow, shown via flashbacks.
Episode: 2x06 | Airdate: Nov 10, 1983
Shortly after Naomi's campaign to be voted Friendly Employee of the Month at the Food Circus, she begins receiving inappropriate phone calls from an anonymous pervert, and Mama thinks the added friendliness is to blame.
Episode: 2x07 | Airdate: Nov 17, 1983
Ellen is afraid to have her new boyfriend meet the family due to him being much younger than her, and her fears are confirmed when they accidentally cross paths at the town's fanciest restaurant, Chez Ray.
Episode: 2x08 | Airdate: Dec 1, 1983
When Mama visits her cousin Gert at a retirement home to wish her a happy birthday, she's shocked to find the once-feisty Gert bedridden, depressed and with little to no energy. Mama soon makes it her mission to relight the fire in her cousin's spirit.
Episode: 2x09 | Airdate: Dec 8, 1983
During a talent show at the Bigger Jigger, Vint wows the crowd with his Fred Astaire impression. However, fame instantly rockets to his head, and the family decides to bring him back down to Earth before he makes a fool of himself.
Episode: 2x10 | Airdate: Dec 22, 1983
Insecure about their social status, Vint and Naomi decide to hold a dinner party for several of their higher-class friends. The night of the party, however, Mama suffers a back spasm, and Vint and Naomi are forced to literally hold the party around her as she lays on the floor.
Episode: 2x11 | Airdate: Jan 7, 1984
With a bus strike cutting off Mama's primary means of transportation, she turns to her family to help her get where she needs to go. Tired of having to take her places, however, her family insists she learn to drive herself.
Episode: 2x12 | Airdate: Jan 14, 1984
Naomi decides to take up a self-defense martial arts class, and talks Fran and Sonja into joining. Mama initially thinks it's a load of bunk, but soon changes her tune after being mugged.
Episode: 2x13 | Airdate: Jan 21, 1984
Mamma buys a car from someone that her and Vinton knew as a kid and gets taken to the cleaners.
Episode: 2x14 | Airdate: Feb 4, 1984
Momma gives advice to the manager of her favorite supermarket, he then gives her a job which leads to a demotion for Naomi and family problems.
Episode: 2x15 | Airdate: Feb 11, 1984
Vinton and Naomi go on a belated honeymoon and end up with a mamma problem, the kids plan a sleepover.
Episode: 2x16 | Airdate: Feb 18, 1984
Episode: 2x17 | Airdate: Feb 25, 1984
Episode: 2x18 | Airdate: Mar 10, 1984
Mamma breaks Naomi's new vacuum and blames Naomi for it resulting in both of then going to court over the matter. The judge finds himself with a major courtroom headache when the two women make an appearance.
Episode: 2x19 | Airdate: Mar 17, 1984
Buzz discovers why Mama doesn't like to celebrate her birthday.
Episode: 2x20 | Airdate: Mar 24, 1984
Mama's long lost brother-in-law arrives for a visit and charms everyone except her.
Episode: 2x21 | Airdate: Mar 31, 1984
Episode: 2x22 | Airdate: Apr 7, 1984
Season 3
Episode: 3x01 | Airdate: Sep 27, 1986
Episode: 3x02 | Airdate: Oct 4, 1986
Episode: 3x03 | Airdate: Oct 11, 1986
Episode: 3x04 | Airdate: Oct 18, 1986
Episode: 3x05 | Airdate: Oct 25, 1986
Episode: 3x06 | Airdate: Nov 1, 1986
Episode: 3x07 | Airdate: Nov 8, 1986
Episode: 3x08 | Airdate: Nov 15, 1986
Episode: 3x09 | Airdate: Nov 22, 1986
Episode: 3x10 | Airdate: Nov 29, 1986
Episode: 3x11 | Airdate: Dec 6, 1986
Episode: 3x12 | Airdate: Dec 13, 1986
Episode: 3x13 | Airdate: Dec 20, 1986
Mama's not in the merriest of moods when she's forced to play Santa at the mall.
Episode: 3x14 | Airdate: Jan 10, 1987
Episode: 3x15 | Airdate: Jan 17, 1987
Episode: 3x16 | Airdate: Jan 24, 1987
Episode: 3x17 | Airdate: Jan 31, 1987
After finding a note left on the front porch, Vint begins to think Thelma adopted him as a baby and soon arranges to meet the woman he suspects is his real mother.
Episode: 3x18 | Airdate: Feb 7, 1987
Episode: 3x19 | Airdate: Feb 14, 1987
Episode: 3x20 | Airdate: Feb 21, 1987
Episode: 3x21 | Airdate: Feb 28, 1987
Episode: 3x22 | Airdate: Mar 7, 1987
Episode: 3x23 | Airdate: Mar 14, 1987
Episode: 3x24 | Airdate: Mar 21, 1987
Episode: 3x25 | Airdate: Mar 28, 1987
Season 4
Episode: 4x01 | Airdate: Sep 26, 1987
After revealing to her family that she never graduated high school because a teacher humiliated her, Thelma agrees to enroll in night school with Bubba to show him how easy it will be to earn their diploma. However, she eventually tries to back out after seeing what the reading list is in her English class.
Episode: 4x02 | Airdate: Oct 3, 1987
When Thelma discovers how easy shopping at home becomes after becoming addicted to television infomercials, her loved ones come together to help her kick the habit once her credit card bill arrives.
Episode: 4x03 | Airdate: Oct 10, 1987
When Raytown experiences a rash of home break-ins, the police soon suspect that Vint is the prime suspect because the "courteous crook" can be traced back to his place of employment. As a result, Thelma and Iola set out to prove his innocence.
Episode: 4x04 | Airdate: Oct 17, 1987
After Vint and Naomi decide to separate after an argument about their finances, Thelma tries to get them to reconcile after they start driving her crazy with their current living arrangement.
Episode: 4x05 | Airdate: Oct 24, 1987
When Thelma has a near death experience on a stormy day, she vows to be more helpful to anyone who asks her for help. However, it doesn't take long for that to backfire when that generosity explodes around her family and friends.
Episode: 4x06 | Airdate: Oct 31, 1987
Mama wants to sing at Raytown's Founder's Day.
Episode: 4x07 | Airdate: Nov 7, 1987
Mama develops a crush on her night-school teacher (Joseph Campanella).
Episode: 4x08 | Airdate: Nov 14, 1987
The Harpers baby-sit for the minister's grandson.
Episode: 4x09 | Airdate: Nov 21, 1987
Mama and Naomi team up for tag-team wrestling.
Episode: 4x10 | Airdate: Nov 28, 1987
Iola discovers her handmade gifts to family members are being sold at the Harpers' garage sale.
Episode: 4x11 | Airdate: Dec 5, 1987
Vint's embarrassed at work when Mama brings him his childhood lunch box.
Episode: 4x12 | Airdate: Dec 12, 1987
A typical Russian homemaker visits the all-American Harper family.
Episode: 4x13 | Airdate: Dec 19, 1987
A family war erupts when Vint and Naomi want to switch bedrooms with Bubba.
Episode: 4x14 | Airdate: Jan 9, 1988
Episode: 4x15 | Airdate: Jan 16, 1988
Episode: 4x16 | Airdate: Jan 23, 1988
Episode: 4x17 | Airdate: Jan 30, 1988
Episode: 4x18 | Airdate: Feb 6, 1988
Episode: 4x19 | Airdate: Feb 13, 1988
Mama appears on the Jeopardy! game show and wins a trip to Hawaii.
Episode: 4x20 | Airdate: Feb 20, 1988
Surprises and romance await the Harpers in Hawaii.
Episode: 4x21 | Airdate: Feb 27, 1988
Mama, vacationing in Hawaii, plans to avoid the man she saved from drowning.
Episode: 4x22 | Airdate: Mar 5, 1988
Episode: 4x23 | Airdate: Mar 12, 1988
Episode: 4x24 | Airdate: Mar 19, 1988
When Naomi is stricken with amnesia, Mama hopes to turn her into the perfect housewife.
Episode: 4x25 | Airdate: Mar 26, 1988
Mama and Bubba almost miss high-school graduation.
Season 5
Episode: 5x01 | Airdate: Nov 5, 1988
Episode: 5x02 | Airdate: Nov 12, 1988
Episode: 5x03 | Airdate: Nov 19, 1988
Episode: 5x04 | Airdate: Nov 26, 1988
Episode: 5x05 | Airdate: Dec 3, 1988
Episode: 5x06 | Airdate: Dec 10, 1988
Episode: 5x07 | Airdate: Dec 17, 1988
Episode: 5x08 | Airdate: Jan 7, 1989
Episode: 5x09 | Airdate: Jan 14, 1989
Episode: 5x10 | Airdate: Jan 21, 1989
Episode: 5x11 | Airdate: Jan 28, 1989
Episode: 5x12 | Airdate: Feb 4, 1989
Episode: 5x13 | Airdate: Feb 11, 1989
Episode: 5x14 | Airdate: Feb 18, 1989
Episode: 5x15 | Airdate: Feb 25, 1989
Episode: 5x16 | Airdate: Mar 4, 1989
Stubborn Mama refuses to pay what she believes is an outrageously high electric bill.
Episode: 5x17 | Airdate: Mar 11, 1989
Episode: 5x18 | Airdate: Mar 25, 1989
Episode: 5x19 | Airdate: Apr 1, 1989
Episode: 5x20 | Airdate: Apr 15, 1989
Episode: 5x21 | Airdate: Apr 22, 1989
Episode: 5x22 | Airdate: May 6, 1989
Episode: 5x23 | Airdate: May 13, 1989
Episode: 5x24 | Airdate: May 20, 1989
Episode: 5x25 | Airdate: May 27, 1989
Season 6
Episode: 6x01 | Airdate: Sep 23, 1989
Episode: 6x02 | Airdate: Sep 30, 1989
Episode: 6x03 | Airdate: Oct 7, 1989
Episode: 6x04 | Airdate: Oct 14, 1989
Episode: 6x05 | Airdate: Oct 21, 1989
Episode: 6x06 | Airdate: Oct 28, 1989
Episode: 6x07 | Airdate: Nov 4, 1989
Episode: 6x08 | Airdate: Nov 11, 1989
A psychic delivers messages to Mama from her dead husband causing conflict in the house.
Episode: 6x09 | Airdate: Nov 18, 1989
Episode: 6x10 | Airdate: Nov 25, 1989
Episode: 6x11 | Airdate: Dec 2, 1989
Vint fears that his job is on the chopping block when he learns the Bernice Corporation plans on closing Kwik Keys and opening a frozen yogurt shop in its place. When Thelma learns that she owns stock in an old trolley company that is now owned by the same corporation that plans to fire Vint, she finds a way for her son to keep his job.
Episode: 6x12 | Airdate: Dec 9, 1989
Episode: 6x13 | Airdate: Dec 16, 1989
Episode: 6x14 | Airdate: Dec 23, 1989
A live goose, meant to be Christmas dinner, becomes a pet.
Episode: 6x15 | Airdate: Jan 20, 1990
Episode: 6x16 | Airdate: Jan 27, 1990
Episode: 6x17 | Airdate: Feb 3, 1990
Episode: 6x18 | Airdate: Feb 10, 1990
Episode: 6x19 | Airdate: Feb 17, 1990
Episode: 6x20 | Airdate: Feb 24, 1990
Naomi and Vint's (Dorothy Lyman, Ken Berry) baby arrives early.