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532:(played the "Ed" character), she came to accept and later embrace the adjusted version of Mama. She has stated that to this day, she appreciates how the character has "blossomed" and "matured" from "The Family" sketches. The original writers of the character had based Mama on their real-life family members and thus disapproved of the adjustments.
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and snappy retorts; an explosively quick temper; and a brash, rough and abrasive manner. Mama often relaxed with a can of beer, and when taking exception with something or someone, a purse whack, hand slam, object slam, shove, startling shout, or a healthy dose of wisecracking insults and criticisms
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skits. Lawrence recognized the modifications early on and disapproved. She has revealed that she originally found the softening of the "Mama" character to be unfunny. However, Lawrence has stated that after counsel about the character needing reshaping to fit sitcom television from Harvey Korman
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The character of "Mama" was originally based, at least in part, on the relationship between Carol
Burnett's mother and grandmother and was intended to be a maternal, elderly version of Eunice. Lawrence has noted that she also used her southern ex-mother-in-law and her own grandmother from
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Mama's appearance is based on that of a stereotypical elderly woman. She is a thickset, pursed-lipped widow, with silvery blue curls. All of her outfits have consisted of various short-sleeved, floral-print dresses that carry lace collars. As much of Mama's time on
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after one and a half seasons (1983 to 1984) and its subsequent high ratings in reruns. In 1986, the program was relaunched in first-run syndication, where it enjoyed a successful revival through to its series finale in 1990.
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as the special comedian in which the contestants had to interact and have a comedic sketch. Later seen out of the Thelma persona, Vicki
Lawrence played as a special guest judge to the contestants alongside RuPaul.
448:(the character of Mama's daughter) was broadcast. The special included the key characters from "The Family" sketches, including Mama. The skit was spun off again with a sitcom that surrounded the "Mama" character.
464:, Thelma had spent much of her time tending to the housework and nurturance of her loved ones, constantly engaged in cooking, cleaning, and providing loving support to her family. She ruled the roost with a
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in honor of Betty White. The sketch features a
Beverly Hills high school class reunion with three of Betty's "classmates" from 1939. The sketch has a run time just over two minutes.
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Carol
Burnett was originally intended to play the "Mama" character while Lawrence was to play her daughter, but because of Burnett's desire to swap roles, Lawrence played Mama.
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in 1974, "The Family" skit was created, which debuted the "Mama" role. Becoming a major hit with audiences, Lawrence ended up performing the character on
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With
Lawrence continuing to play the role into the present day, Mama has also made numerous other post-television show guest appearances, such as on
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In her autobiography, Vicki called Thelma "the only role which I got to go to makeup to get ugly!" It is
Lawrence's most well-known role.
405:(May 20, 2014); etc. In the late 1970s, Vicki appeared as Mama along with her daughter, Eunice (portrayed by Burnett), in an episode of
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Lawrence has resurrected the character of Thelma (still in her late sixties) several times on the game show
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of her speech and customs. Mama is an exaggerated version of a prototypical middle twentieth century
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Made you laugh!: the funniest moments in radio, television, stand-up, and movie comedy
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has two contrasting incarnations. This is as result of the show's cancellation from
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1986–1990); and finally in
Lawrence's ongoing untelevised stand-up comedy routine,
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grandmother in the United States South. The character was originally created for
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was spent cooking and cleaning, her dresses were often worn with an overlapping
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714:"Esther Jean Johnson and Mama Give Motherly Advice on The Queen Latifah Show"
737:"Video Gallery | Movies & Specials | All Videos : Newest"
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expanding on "The Family" sketches); then peaking as lead character on
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for the final 5 seasons of the show's 11 season run. Four years after
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This article is about the fictional character. For the member of the
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in her mid-to-late 60s. She has lived in an unspecified part of the
997:"RuPaul's Drag Race, Eden's World Full Episodes, Reality TV Shows"
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Vicki
Lawrence as Thelma Harper from her kitchen on an episode of
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By the "Mama" character's full development on the second life of
963:"Vicki Lawrence Interview | Archive of American Television"
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On
February 5, 2013, Thelma appeared in a special sketch during
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and in the 2008 TV Land Awards, and on numerous comedy tours.
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On
October 29, 2012, Thelma was seen once again on Logo's
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The persona of the "Mama" character was redeveloped for
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called "Raytown" for her entire life, evident from the
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Harper, Thelma with Vicki Lawrence & Monty Aidem.
290:, is a fictional character played by American actress
317:, however, Burnett preferred to play Mama's daughter
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St. James encyclopedia of popular culture, Volume 3
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10% shareholder in Bernice Co. (Season 6 - present)
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150:Secretary at the Raytown Travel Agency (Season 1)
804:Vicki Lawrence Is Back in 'Mama's Family' Series'
469:at the source of her irritation and displeasure.
321:, resulting in Mama as Lawrence's claim to fame.
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158:Customer Consultant at Food Circus (Season 2)
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879:Funny Ladies - Michael Karol - Google Books
778:This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection
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608:"Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two Woman Show"
366:Vicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two-Woman Show
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1238:American female characters in television
1228:Television characters introduced in 1974
864:TV therapy: the television guide to life
838:Sitcom Queens: Divas of the Small Screen
763:Pendergast, Todd & Sara Pendergast.
243:Grandpa Harper (father-in-law; deceased)
241:Grandma Harper (mother-in-law; deceased)
152:Worked for "Meals on Wheels" (Season 2)
984:Mama for President: Good Lord, Why Not?
862:West, Beverly West & Jason Bergund
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565:Thelma "wrote" a book in 2008 entitled
418:Mama character timeline (1970s–present)
324:The Mama character first appeared in "
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548:Vicki Lawrence as Thelma Harper, 2009
183:Tiffany Thelma Harper (granddaughter)
156:Cashier at McRays Burgers (Season 3)
7:
1206:A Special Evening with Carol Burnett
181:Vinton "Buzz" Harper, Jr. (grandson)
911:Indianapolis Monthly – Google Books
802:Goodman, Walter (21 January 1983).
791:TVparty!: television's untold tales
648:Kornelis, Chris (4 February 2005).
632:Handleman, Jay (21 February 2003).
527:after the character's inception on
511:Character development and evolution
294:. Mama is a purse-lipped, thickset
682:Lawrence: Great American Homemaker
680:Scott, Vernon (10 February 1984).
634:Vicki Lawrence Presents Her 'Mama'
535:
170:Grandma Crowley (mother; deceased)
14:
933:No sour grapes from Carol Burnett
931:McMahon, Tom (15 November 1986).
444:show ended, the TV-movie-special
137:President of Church Ladies League
360:1983–84, then revolutionized in
245:Verne (brother-in-law; deceased)
168:Frank Crowley (father; deceased)
111:Thelma Mae Crowley (maiden name)
853:, pp. 19, 102-03, 156-58 (2004)
1186: (1983–1984; 1986–1990) (
664:Lopez, Rich (26 August 2010).
1:
876:Karol, Michael (March 2004).
575:RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars
247:Ada (sister-in-law; deceased)
1243:Comedy television characters
397:'s 2nd Annual 90th Birthday"
261:Ida Sue (cousin by marriage)
217:Effie Harper (sister-in-law)
187:Billy Joe Higgins (grandson)
179:Sonja Harper (granddaughter)
154:Mayor of Raytown (Season 2)
1154:Carol Burnett & Company
587:'s 2nd Annual 90th Birthday
337:Carol Burnett & Company
251:Roy Harper (brother-in-law)
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821:Mama's Got A Brand New Bag
692:United Press International
267:Lucille (cousin; deceased)
22:Thelma Harper (politician)
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650:Mama's Back and She's Bad
425:In the seventh season of
389:'s Christmas Spectacular"
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33:Thelma Mae Crowley Harper
1233:Mama's Family characters
520:in the genesis of Mama.
277:Dooley (uncle; deceased)
235:Ludie (cousin; deceased)
185:Bubba Higgins (grandson)
638:Sarasota Herald-Tribune
273:Minnie (aunt; deceased)
239:Eloise (aunt; deceased)
219:Oscar (uncle; deceased)
195:Carl Harper (1942–1973)
172:Clyde Crowley (brother)
103:In-universe information
1248:The Carol Burnett Show
1069:Cinderella Gets It On!
1046:The Carol Burnett Show
827:p. 96 (September 2003)
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431:The Carol Burnett Show
427:The Carol Burnett Show
402:The Queen Latifah Show
331:The Carol Burnett Show
300:Southern United States
73:The Queen Latifah Show
1117:Eunice Harper Higgins
739:. NBC. Archived from
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362:first-run syndication
319:Eunice Harper Higgins
206:Eunice Harper Higgins
1062:As the Stomach Turns
825:Indianapolis Monthly
399:(February 5, 2013);
340:(1979); followed by
237:Mae (aunt; deceased)
225:Ina (aunt; deceased)
148:(prior to the show)
1083:Went with the Wind!
965:. Emmytvlegends.org
387:Larry the Cable Guy
221:Gert Corey (cousin)
56:"Phillip's Visit" (
27:Fictional character
1165:Films and TV shows
1137:List of characters
951:. 22 October 2017.
809:The New York Times
612:The Broker Company
567:Mama for President
550:
500:oxford heels style
311:lower middle class
286:, better known as
177:(sister; deceased)
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1167:based on sketches
866:, p. 11-12 (2005)
840:, p. 88-89 (2006)
793:, p.181-83 (2002)
780:, p. 88-90 (2010)
606:Lawrence, Vicki.
560:Primetime Country
555:Hollywood Squares
442:The Carol Burnett
374:Hollywood Squares
348:made-for-TV movie
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1096:List of sketches
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257:Willis (uncle)
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275:Vivian (aunt)
259:Izzy (cousin)
253:Myrtis (aunt)
233:Cora (cousin)
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705:Ghostarchive
703:Archived at
699:
690:(syndicated
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670:Dallas Voice
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618:December 17,
616:. Retrieved
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93:Portrayed by
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1122:Mr. Tudball
585:Betty White
540:appearances
494:movie. For
466:smart mouth
395:Betty White
263:Fern (aunt)
229:Don (uncle)
1222:Categories
1105:Characters
1076:The Family
1003:2013-03-05
969:2013-03-05
918:2013-03-09
895:2013-03-09
747:2013-03-05
687:TimesDaily
593:References
529:The Family
473:Appearance
438:The Family
356:(first on
326:The Family
142:Occupation
85:Dick Clair
81:Created by
59:The Family
214:Relatives
146:Housewife
1198:Episodes
1188:episodes
1054:Sketches
999:. LogoTV
707:and the
694:article)
518:Missouri
496:footwear
391:(2007);
380:The Talk
346:(a 1982
304:southern
200:Children
116:Nickname
719:YouTube
506:Persona
1175:Eunice
1157:(1979)
986:(2008)
886:
492:Eunice
446:Eunice
343:Eunice
192:Spouse
165:Family
127:Female
124:Gender
119:"Mama"
61:sketch
20:, see
536:Post-
484:apron
434:'
307:drawl
132:Title
108:Alias
884:ISBN
620:2021
288:Mama
454:NBC
358:NBC
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1037:e
1030:t
1023:v
1006:.
972:.
921:.
898:.
750:.
722:.
622:.
393:"
385:"
63:)
24:.
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