The Family (sketch)

"The Family" is a series of comedy sketches featured on The Carol Burnett Show, with one installment airing on Carol Burnett & Company. The Carol Burnett Show introduced the skit starting in the 1973-1974 season. Overall, it would air new installments of the skit for the last five seasons of its total 11-season run; the skit aired between the 1973-1974 season to the 1977-1978 season on the show. However, the final installment of "The Family" would not air until September 8, 1979 on an entirely different four week summer series entitled Carol Burnett & Company. This was the only installment of "The Family" that did not air on The Carol Burnett Show, which had completed its run almost a year and a half earlier on March 29, 1978. Altogether, there were 31 installments of "The Family" sketches.

Eunice rehearses a play with drama coach Mavis Danton (Madeline Kahn) in The Rehearsal (1976), with Ed watching.

Not only was "The Family" well received to become a recurring skit on The Carol Burnett Show, but its success saw it developed into a 1982 made-for-TV movie called Eunice, and then later spun off into a full-fledged sitcom in 1983, entitled Mama's Family. Mama's Family first aired on NBC until it was cancelled in 1984, then revived in 1986 in first-run syndication, lasting until its series finale in 1990.[1] Carol Burnett, whose Eunice Higgins character was central in "The Family" sketches, did not appear in the sitcom's second incarnation, due to her acrimonious 1984 divorce from The Carol Burnett Show and Mama's Family producer Joe Hamilton, who owned all the Mama's Family characters.[2]

Along with featuring Carol Burnett as Eunice Higgins, "The Family" skits featured Vicki Lawrence as Mama, Thelma Harper,[3] and Harvey Korman as Eunice's husband Ed Higgins. In "The Family" sketches, Mama has five children (in the subsequent series, she has only three): in addition to Ellen Harper (played by Betty White) and Eunice, there were three sons: Larry Harper (Alan Alda), Phillip Harper (Roddy McDowall), and Jack Harper (Tom Smothers). All three were replaced by Vinton Harper, played by Ken Berry, in the spin-off television series. Berry played Phillip in the made-for-TV movie, Eunice (precursor to Mama's Family). Tim Conway played recurring character Mickey Hart, Ed's employee.

Background

"The Family" sketch was created and written by Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon. They originally had Burnett in mind to play Mama and have a guest star to play Eunice. However, Burnett decided that she wanted to play Eunice and wanted to give the part of Mama to Lawrence. Burnett also decided to do the sketch southern because of her own Texas background. The writers were so displeased with these decisions that during the first run-through, they threw down their pads and pencils and stormed out of the rehearsal hall. They complained that the sketch was ruined and that it would offend the South. After airing and the enormously favorable viewer response, Clair and McMahon wound up writing the sketches for the rest of the run of the show.[4]

Premise

Among plot techniques, "The Family" uses: (A) satire and observational comedy, as the sketch subtly pokes fun at real life occurrences and real-life human behaviors, inflating them and making fun of them; (B) comedy of manners, as the characters satirize the behaviors of blue-collar, working-class southerners and speak in southern drawls.

Unlike Mama's Family, the central character of "The Family" sketches is Eunice. "The Family" sketches are about the noisy, quarrelsome couple of Eunice and Ed and Eunice's unwelcome house guest who only adds to the drama, that being her catty elderly mama. There was a great deal more squabbling in "The Family" sketches than on Mama's Family. It was stated many times that Eunice and Ed had two young sons, named Bubba Higgins and Billy-Joe Higgins (though in one skit, Eunice calls her children Bubba and Raymond); they are unseen characters in "The Family" sketches. The Bubba Higgins character, however, regularly appears in the first-run syndication version of Mama's Family. Mama, Eunice, and Ed often have uproarious verbal wars over petty issues, such as board games (they played Monopoly, Sorry!, and Password), how much butter has been used for the bread, what exactly happened 30 or 40 years ago, etc. The final "Family" sketch to air on The Carol Burnett Show had Eunice talking to a psychiatrist trying to figure out what went wrong with her life.

Characters
  • Eunice Higgins – As the very fiery, stormy, irrepressible, browbeating daughter of Mama and wife of Ed, Eunice is histrionic and full of powerful emotions: cheerful and giddy one minute and uncontrollably upset the next. Eunice seemingly never changes outfits as she's always seen in the same olive green dress. Greatly ambitious, Eunice aspires to achieve fame, power, and a career in entertainment; however, she's portrayed as a woman who can't excel past substandard living due to a selfless nature to see after her elderly mother (heavily emphasized in the Eunice movie). In addition, she feels deprived of even minimal contentment due to what she perceives as an inconsiderate, lowbrow husband who couldn't care less about her happiness.
She wishes for nothing more than to move up the ladder and live out her dreams, but lacks the initiative and get-up-and-go, choosing rather to care for her aging mother. Her siblings, who rarely visit or call Mama, all live successful lives. Eunice is the only offspring willing to care for Mama, but Mama ungratefully treats her the worst. This is often shown in Mama's tendency to praise her other children for their successes, and in the same breath belittling Eunice for having no talent and thereby making nothing of herself. This is just one of many reasons why heated altercations break out among the three characters. When Eunice starts ranting, she brings up loads of irrelevant matters that she holds resentment over. Often her long-drawn-out rants will relate to issues dating as far back as her childhood. Of the three characters, Eunice exercises the most control in the gang.
  • Mama – In "The Family" sketches, Mama is a cold, spiteful, cantankerous, elderly widow. Mama has other sides to her in Mama's Family, such as her tendency to make good-natured wisecracks and snappy retorts; however, her commentary in "The Family" sketches is limited to constant captious complaints, belligerent remarks that instigate the other characters, and an easily annoyed demeanor. She also makes insinuative, disparaging remarks intended to offend and anger her daughter and son-in-law. For example, she constantly lets Ed and Eunice know what's wrong with them and how they've amounted to nothing. She frequently makes veiled remarks to Eunice about how her other children, Philip and Ellen, are more successful and talented than she.
In contrast to Mama's Family, where she's portrayed as more independent and active, she's portrayed as a dependent senior in "The Family" sketches. Ever an aggressor, Mama's often the one stirring up all the conflict and commotion among the three. Sometimes when they're all starting to get along (an ephemeral occurrence on the show, often arising from a mercurial trait in all the characters), Mama will say something that she's fully aware will provoke Eunice and Ed. In fact, one of Eunice's most commonly used locutions is based on this behavior of Mama's: "Don't you start with me, ol' lady!"
Mama originally lives on her own in "The Family" sketches, but ends up moving in with Eunice and Ed when old age catches up to her. It's worth noting as well that the home Mama is said and shown to have raised her children in is different among "The Family" sketches, the Eunice movie, and Mama's Family. Moreover, there are slight changes between the home used in the first life of Mama's Family and its second life.
  • Ed Higgins – As the fiercely ill-tempered, slovenly, goofy, quirky son-in-law of Mama and the husband to Eunice. Ed is quick to become irritated by his wife and mother-in-law and doesn't hesitate to show it fiercely. When they're not at each other's throats, Eunice and Mama regularly bash Ed. Mama antagonizes Ed with putdowns over what a failure and unsuccessful slob he is, and Eunice regularly nags him about his "inconsiderate" treatment of her and her needs. Though Ed occasionally capitulates to his wife's browbeating and mother-in-law's carping, he has no qualms with exploding at and bickering with them, although it only gets him into shouting matches and heated altercations with Mama and Eunice, who will quickly move to bickering with each other in the process. Ed has nothing much to show for his life, and his low-class job and manner gives Eunice's rants and Mama's insults credibility. While in "The Family" sketches, as well as the Eunice movie, Ed leaves and divorces Eunice, he's seen married to her in all of their Mama's Family appearances.
  • Phillip Harper – In "The Family" sketches, Phillip was the eldest of Mama's three sons. He was a successful Hollywood-based screenwriter and Pulitzer/Nobel Peace Prize-winning author. Although Phillip was Mama's favorite (along with Ellen), he was never spared Thelma's criticism, insults, or wrath.
  • Larry Harper – In "The Family" sketches, Larry was Mama's first-to-last son. He was a free-spirit who is a commercial illustrator, and he was teased by Ed, who thought that painting was somewhat sissy. He appeared in the Christmas sketch, coming home for Christmas after five years, and he is unmarried.
  • Jack Harper – In "The Family" sketches, Jack was Mama's youngest son. He was visited by Eunice, Ed, and Mama in the hospital. It is mentioned that he and his wife Janie have children, and that he works in sales.
  • Ellen Harper – In "The Family" sketches, Ellen was older than Eunice, and was as snobby and stuck on herself as she was on Mama's Family with a difference: She would snap back at her mother with more frequency and didn't even try to hide her glee when she got something that Eunice wanted. She was frequently reluctant to help Eunice to the point of selfishness, or be around her mother or Eunice for any extended period of time. She was married (her husband originally referred to as Tom, then Arthur, and later as Bruce) and had two spoiled daughters, Mary Beth and Debbie. At one time, it was revealed that Ellen's full name was Mary Ellen.
  • Mickey Hart – In "The Family" sketches, Mickey was Ed's employee at the hardware store. He wears a hearing aid and calls Mama "Mother Harper" and has referred to her as "Thelma."
  • Dan Fogarty – An old friend of Ed's – portrayed by Dick Van Dyke – who stayed with Eunice for a short time after Ed abandoned her in the final season (Harvey Korman had left the series). Eunice evidently was rather sweet on him, but since Van Dyke left the show in the middle of the season, the relationship was never developed.
  • Carl Harper – A predominately unseen character, he is the deceased husband of Mama and father of Ellen, Eunice, Jack, Larry, and Philip. He spends the vast majority of his time nested on the toilet in the bathroom with the door closed. In fact, he died on the toilet. In flashbacks, Carl's portrayed as a grouch who doesn't want to be interrupted during his long hours on the toilet, even for emergencies.

Sketches
Nº Season Episode Airdate Title & Description Guest Stars
1 Season 7 (1973–1974) Ep 22 March 16, 1974 The Reunion – Phillip comes home for a visit. Roddy McDowall as Phillip
2 Season 8 (1974–1975) Ep 1 September 14, 1974 Brotherly Love – Mama, Eunice and Ed come back home from church.
3 Ep 5 October 12, 1974 Hospital Visit – The family visits Jack in the hospital. Tom Smothers as Jack
4 Ep 9 November 16, 1974 Sorry! – The family plays Sorry!
5 Ep 13 December 21, 1974 Home for the Holidays – Larry visits the family for Christmas. Alan Alda as Larry
6 Ep 16 January 25, 1975 Mama's Beau – Mama has a new beau, Willie. William Conrad as Willie
7 Ep 19 February 25, 1975 Mama's Accident – Mama breaks her leg and stays with Eunice and Ed while recuperating.
8 Ep 21 March 15, 1975 Visit to Phillip – The family visits Phillip in California. Roddy McDowall as Phillip
9 Ep 24 April 5, 1975 Hardware Store – Eunice and Mama visit Ed at the hardware store.
10 Season 9 (1975–1976) Ep 1 September 13, 1975 Eunice Splits – Ed goes to a massage parlor. Jim Nabors as Cab Driver
11 Ep 4 October 4, 1975 The Flashback – A flashback to when Eunice and Ed were dating.
12 Ep 7 October 25, 1975 Charades – Mickey has dinner with the family and they play charades.
13 Ep 10 November 15, 1975 Teacher's Dilemma – The family has a conference with Bubba's school teacher. Maggie Smith as Mrs. Collins
14 Ep 11 November 22, 1975 Mama's Birthday – Ellen visits Mama on her birthday. Betty White as Ellen
15 Ep 14 December 13, 1975 Aunt Mae Is Dead – The family goes to Mama's sister Mae's funeral.
16 Ep 20 February 7, 1976 The Restaurant – The family goes to an expensive restaurant.
17 Ep 21 February 14, 1976 Friend from the Past – Eunice reunites with her high school friend Midge. Joanne Woodward as Midge Gibson
18 Ep 24 March 13, 1976 The Business Fair – Eunice is jealous when Ed and Mickey go to a hardware convention.
19 Season 10 (1976–1977) Ep 1 September 25, 1976 Monopoly – The family plays Monopoly.
20 Ep 4 October 16, 1976 The Rehearsal – Eunice rehearses a play with her director Mavis Danton. Madeline Kahn as Mavis Danton
21 Ep 7 November 6, 1976 Mickey's Apartment – The family visits Mickey's apartment for dinner.
22 Ep 12 December 11, 1976 The Attic – Eunice, Ed and Ellen help Mama clean the attic. Betty White as Ellen
23 Ep 19 February 12, 1977 The Gong Show – Eunice appears on The Gong Show. Chuck Barris, Jaye P. Morgan, Jamie Farr and Allen Ludden as themselves
24 Season 11 (1977–1978) Ep 1 September 24, 1977 Visit from Dan – Dan, an old friend of Ed's, comes to dinner; Ed has left Eunice.
25 Ep 4 October 15, 1977 Overnight Guest – Mama drops in on a newly divorced Eunice unannounced.
26 Ep 7 November 5, 1977 Password – Eunice and Mama play Password with Mickey and Dan.
27 Ep 12 December 11, 1977 Mama's Exodus – Eunice and Mickey try to coax Mama into a retirement home.
28 Ep 15 January 8, 1978 Honorary Degree – Phillip visits again to receive an honorary degree. Roddy McDowall as Phillip
29 Ep 21 March 5, 1978 Ellen's Anniversary – Eunice and Mama visit Ellen before her anniversary party. Betty White as Ellen
30 Ep 24 March 29, 1978 The Psychiatrist – Eunice and Mama visit a psychiatrist. Craig Richard Nelson as Psychiatrist
31 Carol Burnett & Company Ep 1.4 September 8, 1979 Carl's Grave – Eunice and Mama visit the late Carl Harper's gravesite.

Other appearances
  • Password Plus (1980) – Carol Burnett and Vicki Lawrence appear as contestants in character as Eunice Higgins and Thelma Harper vs. Joanna Gleason and McLean Stevenson (also in character as Morgan Winslow and Larry Alder from their sitcom Hello, Larry) during the TV game show's "All-Star Week" from March 10 to 14.
  • The Tim Conway Show (1980) – Carol Burnett appears in the audience in character as Eunice Higgins, giddy about being on TV, and addresses the camera to say hello "to my Mama!"

References
  1. "The Mama's Family Site". Televisionhits.com. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  2. Lawrence, Vicki; Eliot, Marc (1995). Vicki!: the true-life adventures of Miss Fireball – Vicki Lawrence, Marc Eliot – Google Boeken. ISBN 9780684802862. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  3. "The Carol Burnett Show – The Family – Mickey's Apartment 1/2 (uncut)". YouTube. 2011-11-12. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  4. "Vicki Lawrence". Archive of American Television. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
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