tjw Posted January 4, 2014 Report Share Posted January 4, 2014 I have to disagree with this. I finally watched the Eunice special today for the first time and it blew me away. The first three acts felt like Burnett show sketches in that they were more lighthearted and funny with dramatic undertones. But then the dramatic elements become overtones in the last act. All that had been simmering under the surface finally came to a boil. It was a catharsis, almost, watching that last act, where Eunice finally admits the tragedy of her life and accepts some responsibility. I was in tears by the end of it. It was definitely more heavy handed than the sketches, but I think if you take all the sketches into account they make for a perfect build up to that final moment. I was also amazed watching Ken Berry in this special. It really shows off his versatility as an actor. There were times I couldn't believe I was watching the same man who would go on to play Vinton Harper. His Philip was so controlled and upstanding and dignified, compared to his "dumber than a bag of rocks" take on Vinton. And the special also really shows what a rotten worm Ed Higgins was. And what a black-hearted witch Ellen truly was. It may not have been for everyone but it knocked my socks off. Have been catching up with some of the shows on the MAMA set... Have to admit I like the first two seasons the best, probably because I remember watching the shows when they first aired on NBC and because I had the privilege of seeing a few of them being taped. I love watching Carol Burnett and Betty White and that original cast... I sometimes think they could have called the later shows MAMA'S NEW FAMILY or MAMA'S SECOND FAMILY, if only because it has a totally different feeling to it... Have not had a chance to see EUNICE again. I remember when it aired, and it was a big hit... and like Brian, I was totally blown away by it all... Thought Ken Berry was wonderful in the show. (Think he's wasted as Vint... reduced to being a clown. Philip was a much more interesting character.) Inside story: I worked with Betty White on a project shortly after EUNICE was produced. She said that Carol (at least at that time) thought this special was the best thing she herself had ever done. Betty admitted that she would have to get a tape of it and watch it again -- she only vaguely remembered even doing it. Her husband, Allen Ludden, had died a short time before they did the show... She was tempted to bow out, but Carol convinced her to do it -- to get her out of the house and out of her grief... It did the former, but not the latter... I thought Betty was great in it, but she said she felt like the whole experience was just a foggy haze... Tjw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mot Morenzi Posted January 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 The individual release for Season 2 has the four disks stacked one on top of the other in the package. That's really odd. The version I got in the complete set had flip trays. I wonder why that was changed for the individual release? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mot Morenzi Posted January 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 Have been catching up with some of the shows on the MAMA set... Have to admit I like the first two seasons the best, probably because I remember watching the shows when they first aired on NBC and because I had the privilege of seeing a few of them being taped. I love watching Carol Burnett and Betty White and that original cast... I sometimes think they could have called the later shows MAMA'S NEW FAMILY or MAMA'S SECOND FAMILY, if only because it has a totally different feeling to it... Have not had a chance to see EUNICE again. I remember when it aired, and it was a big hit... and like Brian, I was totally blown away by it all... Thought Ken Berry was wonderful in the show. (Think he's wasted as Vint... reduced to being a clown. Philip was a much more interesting character.) Inside story: I worked with Betty White on a project shortly after EUNICE was produced. She said that Carol (at least at that time) thought this special was the best thing she herself had ever done. Betty admitted that she would have to get a tape of it and watch it again -- she only vaguely remembered even doing it. Her husband, Allen Ludden, had died a short time before they did the show... She was tempted to bow out, but Carol convinced her to do it -- to get her out of the house and out of her grief... It did the former, but not the latter... I thought Betty was great in it, but she said she felt like the whole experience was just a foggy haze... Tjw Poor Betty. That must've been a horrid time for her. That might explain why she only appeared in one of the four acts. She probably wasn't up for much more. So glad this DVD was able to include it, a true rarity. In some ways I wish they had used Philip on the series instead of Vinton. Especially in the later shows he was so annoyingly stupid it became grating. But the network version of Vinton was a bit more palatable than the syndicated version. Same for Naomi. They both became such dimwits in syndication that you don't so much laugh at them as fantasize about slapping them silly. Time Life sure seems to be a studio to go to for solid bonus features and box sets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mot Morenzi Posted January 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 I got the second season of Mama's Family for Christmas and love it (aside from the packaging). My favorites have to be Rashomama and Mama Learns to Drive. If anyone doesn't like Alaister Quince then "boo on you". I like the little voice overs during the end credts too. Its unfortunate a few of the Alastair intros are lost. Two from season 1 whose network masters have deteriorated and a few were snipped from the season 2 masters for some inexplicable reason. Not every season 2 episode had them but 2 or 3 were lost. It wasn't Time Life's fault, they simply used what the Hamilton estate provided them. Hopefully there are some backup videos out there that contain even low quality copies of them that will be found one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickylu Posted January 5, 2014 Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 Its unfortunate a few of the Alastair intros are lost. Two from season 1 whose network masters have deteriorated and a few snipped from the season 2 masters for some inexplicable reason. Not every season 2 episode had them but 2 or 3 were lost. It wasn't Time Life's fault, they simply used what the Hamilton estate provided them. Hopefully there are some backup videos out there that contain even low quality copies of them that will be found one day. I noticed that on the DVD insert it said Black Belt Mama was the last episode to feature Quince, but he wasn't shown in that or the episode before it. Still, compared to the hacked up first season released several years ago, these releases are MUCH better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeySanJoaquin Posted January 5, 2014 Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 Poor Betty. That must've been a horrid time for her. That might explain why she only appeared in one of the four acts. She probably wasn't up for much more. So glad this DVD was able to include it, a true rarity. In some ways I wish they had used Philip on the series instead of Vinton. Especially in the later shows he was so annoyingly stupid it became grating. But the network version of Vinton was a bit more palatable than the syndicated version. Same for Naomi. They both became such dimwits in syndication that you don't so much laugh at them as fantasize about slapping them silly. Time Life sure seems to be a studio to go to for solid bonus features and box sets. True that....if these "magic vaults" can keep spewing "not seen for over 60 years" material for up-and-coming ILL video releases, I think it's certainly possible! I just wish these estates, music publishing companies, lawyers, etc. would "play nice" though and realize they won't make a few bucks if they never get it together and let these things actually get released before the fan base for this stuff is 90 years old and doesn't give a hoot anymore! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyImHome Posted January 5, 2014 Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 Now I'm sure glad I went for the complete series, instead of the individual releases. I can't believe they changed the packaging (discs stacked on top of each other), for the individual releases! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreddieMertz Posted December 26, 2014 Report Share Posted December 26, 2014 A friend got me season three for Xmas. I was amazed to see that the dresser in Bubba's room is EXACTLY like an antique one at my grandmother's house. It's from the Jamestown NY furniture company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvsbway Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 ME-TV just put up a teaser Mama's Family will be joining their lineup. Oh happy day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickie Posted November 12, 2015 Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 Yes, Mama comes to ME-TV on Christmas Day with two holiday episodes then join the schedule the following week (I think) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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