Starring Vicki Lawrence as Thelma "Mama" Harper and spun off from The Carol Burnett Show, Mama's Family revolves around the wacky misadventures of the Harper family. Always at the center of the trouble and confusion is the dysfunctional family's matriarch, Mama—a quick-tempered, sharp-tongued 65-year-old widow. Despite her abrasive and wisecracking ways, Mama's warm heart is evident in her dealings with eccentric family members, who are often in need of a roof over their heads or simply a little tough love.