Ep 10. Bedtime for Bubba

Mama's Family is an American sitcom that aired for six seasons from 1983 to 1990. It revolves around the life of Thelma "Mama" Harper, a sharp-tongued, country humorist from Raytown, Missouri. The show followed Mama, her family, and their everyday shenanigans as they navigated their lives together. In season 5 episode 10, titled "Bedtime for Bubba," the Harper family deals with the challenges of getting a young child to sleep.

The episode begins with Mama (played by Vicki Lawrence) getting agitated about Bubba (played by Allan Kayser) staying up too late at night. Bubba, who is Mama's grandchild, is spending the night at Mama's house, and he is refusing to go to bed. Mama scolds Bubba for his behavior and tells him that he needs to listen to her and go to bed when she says so.

However, Bubba is persistent and does not want to go to bed. Instead, he tries to convince Mama that he is too old for bedtime and that he can stay up as late as he wants. Mama argues that Bubba needs his sleep, especially since he has a big day ahead of him, but Bubba is not convinced.

As the night wears on, Mama tries various tactics to get Bubba to go to sleep. She reads him a story, sings him a lullaby, and even tries to bribe him with ice cream. However, Bubba remains stubborn and refuses to close his eyes.

Meanwhile, other members of the Harper family try to help Mama get Bubba to sleep. Aunt Fran (played by Rue McClanahan) suggests that Mama try to tire Bubba out by playing games with him, while Vinton (played by Ken Berry) and Naomi (played by Dorothy Lyman) suggest that Mama give Bubba a warm bath to help him relax.

Eventually, Mama decides to give Bubba a little bit of tough love. She tells Bubba that if he does not go to bed, she will cancel their plans for the next day. This finally convinces Bubba to go to sleep, and Mama can breathe a sigh of relief.

The episode ends with Mama checking on Bubba to make sure he is asleep. She smiles as she sees Bubba sleeping soundly and says, "Sometimes you just have to be firm with them."

Overall, Mama's Family season 5 episode 10 is a heartwarming and humorous episode that explores the challenges of getting a young child to sleep. The episode showcases the Harper family's love for each other and their willingness to work together to solve problems. With its witty dialogue and classic sitcom humor, "Bedtime for Bubba" is sure to entertain audiences of all ages.