Mama

We move from 4 strong Southern women to one crotchety old hag in orthopedic shoes and support hose.

Let's meet the family, shall we?

Thelma - mean, selfish, overbearing grandmother.

Vinton - moronic, mildly retarded son.

Naomi - slutty, skanky, daughter-in-law; AKA Skeeter.

Iola - prudish, annoying neighbor.

Bubba - enough said.

The family Harper lives in the small, generically Southern Raytown. Born from a strong set of sketches on the amazing Carol Burnett Show, the show ran on network for a full season and the rest was syndication history. From 1983 - 1990 Thelma & Co. brought some pretty blaring Southern stereotypes to its tens of fans.

The worst part is that it isn't even funny. It doesn't find humor in Southern colloquial life, nor does it satirize larger Southern stereotypes. I mean, in tonight's very special episode, the family tires of pretending to like Iola's hand-knitted tea cozies. What the hell is a tea cozy? Oh, she makes them for toasters too because toasters need hats. Right?

If for some reason you find yourself in a situation where Mama's Family is on TV and you can not escape (maybe you can't find your remote, or maybe you're busy knitting a cozy for a random appliance), relax and remember it's not real - there's really no Raytown, no Thelma or Bubba and no tea cozies.

And try not to hate Carol Burnett. At least not for this.

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