MovieChat Forums > That's My Mama (1974) Discussion > Thoughts on why the show failed....

Thoughts on why the show failed....

posted 16 years ago by larkpraise
4 replies | jump to latest

I remember this charming series when it first debuted. I was sad when it was cancelled prematurely in its second season.

Here are some thoughts:

1. The premise was built around Mama but most of the episodes of the second season weren't centered around her.

2. The supporting characters were underdeveloped and one-dimensional. Earl, for example most of the time comes off as an irritating, selfish, annoying bonehead.

3. Junior is good for stealing scenes but we know nothing about him except that he's "Got It, Got It, Got it!!...Ooooh Wee!!"

4. Josh and Wildcat inexplicably disappear in the second season. In the first they are good for a few laughs.

5. Tracy was never developed. Lynne Moody left after the first season and was replaced by Joan Pringle. We never get to really care about her and there's absolutely no chemistry between her and Clifton...or her and her boorish husband Leonard..or anyone, really.

6. The character of Leonard is also one-dimensional. He comes off stupid. He along with Earl are unwatchable. Didn't the writers have time to explore these characters in depth???

This show had great, great promise and could have been a classic African-American sitcom. Its potential was never fully realized.

[–] prettyD2368 16 years ago

I liked the first season but the second season is the reason for it being cancelled. Why did they have to change the show around so much. It was good the way it was. They should have replaced Tracy's husband and kept Lynne Moody as Tracy. Josh and Wildcat should have been kept around, and Earl should have stayed on Mailman.

[–] Fire-Hawke 15 years ago

I've never seen the second season until now. I can definitely see why it was cancelled. The cast revamp was not necessary. Even the theme song was changed (it's not bad... just different). Leave well enough alone if it is working. Something that TV shows never seem to learn.

Too much of Leonard, change of Tracy's actress (Joan Pringle), Earl as Clifton's right-hand man was wrong. At least Uncle Gus didn't make it into the cast, though maybe he could have added some humour to the show. Oh man... it is dull!

Oooooweeeee... this is terrible!

Okay, this episode (Clifton and La Femme) in season two was funny http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0720398.
It didn't have Leonard in it which may have been the reason!

[–] zapatera 11 years ago

Junior was the worst yet he always got applause just walking thru the door. He was a grown up Arnold Jackson. Well maybe that's giving him too much credit. Just an old gimmick that gets tired quick.
I actually love Earl because he is Al Dunbar.

[–] imitationbagel 10 years ago

The first season and the second season of the show feel like two different TV shows because of all the changes!

* The funky theme song was changed to a theme song you could barely understand the words to.
* Lynne Moody disappeared.
* Wildcat and Josh disappeared.
* They turned Earl from a mailman to a barber.
* More episodes started to revolve around supporting characters, like Leonard.

I feel like the show lost its edge the second season. I agree that this could have been a classic TV show. I think the second season sort of ruined that.