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Mama's Family Season 3 Episodes
Season 3 Episode Guide
25 Episodes 1986 - 1987
Episode 1
Farewell, Frannie
Sat, Sep 27, 198621 mins
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.
Episode 2
Where There's a Will
Sat, Oct 4, 1986
The Harpers stand to gain a small fortune from Fran's estate, but only if Mama can follow the will's impossible stipulation.
Episode 3
Best Medicine
Sat, Oct 11, 1986
Mama is still angry with Ellen for Ellen's having passed up Aunt Fran's funeral for a bridge tournament. When Ellen comes over to try to make amends, Mama refuses to accept her apology. Then, the next evening, Vint and Naomi come home with the news that Ellen has been hospitalized. Now, Mama is alarmed, and she and the rest of the family and Iola rush to the hospital to see Ellen. Is it too late for Mama to make up with Ellen?
Episode 4
National Mama
Sat, Oct 18, 1986
Mama's bizarre dreams coincide with horse race winners, leading the Harpers to believe they've got a sure-fire betting system.
Episode 5
Soup to Nuts
Sat, Oct 25, 198621 mins
Mama, Naomi, and Iola have a chili cookoff, forcing Vint into the unenviable task of judging which most deserves inclusion in the church cookbook.
Episode 6
Mama and Dr. Brothers
Sat, Nov 1, 1986
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.
Episode 7
Cat's Meow
Sat, Nov 8, 1986
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.
Episode 8
The Love Letter
Sat, Nov 15, 1986
A love letter meant for Naomi mistakenly ends up in the hands of both Mama and Iola, leading to hilarious complications for all.
Episode 9
An Ill Wind
Sat, Nov 22, 1986
Family animosities come to light (and the boiling point) when the Harpers are trapped together due to a Thanksgiving Day tornado.
Episode 10
Steal One Pearl Two
Sat, Nov 29, 1986
All eyes fall on Bubba in suspicion when Iola's pearls come up missing and he comes home with a new drum set.
Episode 11
Where's There's Smoke
Sat, Dec 6, 1986
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.
Episode 12
Fly Naomi
Sat, Dec 13, 1986
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.
Episode 13
Santa Mama
Sat, Dec 20, 198621 mins
Mama is in no mood for Christmas merriment, and matters are not helped when she must fill in as Santa at the mall when Vint gets sick with laryngitis.
Episode 14
Desperately Seeking Anyone
Sat, Jan 10, 1987
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.
Episode 15
Porn Again
Sat, Jan 17, 1987
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.
Episode 16
Have It Mama's Way
Sat, Jan 24, 1987
Mama and Bubba get jobs at the same fast food restaurant. Their relationship as co-workers does not go smoothly.
Episode 17
Birthright
Sat, Jan 31, 198721 mins
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.
Episode 18
Grandma USA
Sat, Feb 7, 1987
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.
Episode 19
Buck Private Bubba
Sat, Feb 14, 1987
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.
Episode 20
Mama's Cousin
Sat, Feb 21, 198721 mins
Mama questions her life's accomplishments when her successful, glamorous cousin Lydia (Vicki Lawrence) comes to town.
Episode 21
Mama with the Golden Arm
Sat, Feb 28, 198721 mins
Mama's big mouth lands her in an armwrestling match, where she meets her most formidable foe yet.
Episode 22
It Takes Two to Watusi
Sat, Mar 7, 1987
Bubba is smitten with Naomi's curvy, but much older, friend. Mama, however, will stop at nothing to prevent their romance.
Episode 23
Fangs a Lot, Mama
Sat, Mar 14, 1987
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.
Episode 24
The Best Policy
Sat, Mar 21, 1987
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.
Episode 25
After the Fall
Sat, Mar 28, 1987
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.
