The Carol Burnett Show - the most fabulous TV show ever

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 9/11/03 at 1:59pm

How many of us baby show queens first got our taste of Broadway and Hollywood glamour from THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW?

I doubt that ANY TV show had a more dazzling array of guest stars - Liza, Bernadette (made her first guest spot in 1969), Chita, Gwen Verdon, Cher, Nanette Fabray, Martha Raye, Ella Fitzgerald, Lana Turner, Lynn Redgrave, Betty Grable, Carol Channing, Lucille Ball, Michelle Lee, Vivian Blaine, Eileen Farrell, Marilyn Horne, Ethel Merman, Kay Medford, Bing Crosby, Donald O'Connor, Nancy Wilson, Joan Rivers (in 1970), Jane Connell, Steve Lawrence & Edyie Gorme, Mamma Cass, Paul Lynde, Rita Hayworth, Jim Bailey, Kay Ballard, Valerie Harper, Gloria Swanson, Joel Grey, Peggy Lee, Phil Silvers, Lily Tomlin (Who can forget "Caged Dames"?) Maggie Smith (her American TV debut in 1974) Madeline Kahn, Dinah Shore, and Betty White.

And there were "musical tributes" to practically every film studio and Broadway/Hollywood composer - Sondheim got one in 1974.

Look through the linked list, and share some memories!
The Carol Burnett Show

Updated On: 5/28/04 at 01:59 PM

[robbiej]

Posted: 9/11/03 at 2:01pm

That list of names is dizzying. I only really got to know the show in reruns and can only remember the brilliantly funny sketches done by the cast. I would love to catch all those magnificent guest stars!!! Are these on DVD?

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 9/11/03 at 2:04pm

i'd old enough that CBS absolutely WAS a Saturday night...worth not going out, using Friday as date night instead. ALL IN THE FAMILY, then sometimes a lackluster half-sitcom, but sometimes MASH or DA, then MTM, then BOB NEWHART, then Carol's wonderful show. Finally switch channels for SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 9/11/03 at 2:12pm

Robbie, I doubt it (though I hope I'm wrong) . I think copyright problems have kept the musical segments and movie parodies out of circulation - which is a real shame.

The quality of stars does dip a teeny bit in later years, but on the plus side, Bernadette was practically a member of the cast she guested so often.

And I meant "I have NEVER forgotten "Caged Dames"...when Lily (the evil prison matron) is captured by the inmates, the leader of the dame gang (Carol) confronts her: "What about the time you made me clean the floor of my cell with a toothbrush and called me a worthless no-good piece of trash!" "Aw shucks, Kay!" says Lily. "That was just girl-talk!"

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 9/11/03 at 2:26pm

LOL I remember that sketch with Lily Tomlin; too funny. They don't show re-runs anymore, but when they did (and I'm talking just a couple of years ago), they were still showing some movie parodies: Who can forget The Exorcist Parody with Bernadette Peters. LOL
I wish I could actually see the entire programs, and not just bits and pieces.

Someone asked Carol Burnett at her book signing if the show was going to be released on DVD, and I believe she said it would be...though I'm sure not every show will be included

She also said that she and Julie Andrews may being doing a television special and showing old clips from the show they did together.

[Madame X]

Posted: 9/11/03 at 6:17pm

But I think she said that the shows may be on Nick at Night soon - which would be absolutely fabulous!!!!

[golferdg]

Posted: 9/15/03 at 9:34pm

"The Carol Burnett Show" is available on Columbia House video, including the musical numbers. They released 15 videos so far, each with 2 shows on it. They keep stopping and then releasing more.

[StinKer Roadmann]

Posted: 9/15/03 at 10:44pm

Columbia House actually has dvd's out now too. You can only get them through ordering with Columbia House. I saw an infomercial and took down the number. If anyone's interested, let me know, I can post it or whatever :)

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 9/15/03 at 11:19pm

count me among the "oldies but goodies". I lived to see The Carol Burnett Show...Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Llyle Wagner, Vicki Lawrence . "Mrs. Wiggins" skit. "Dirty Old married man".

Also remember loving The Ed Sullivam Show, Red Skelton Show and "Sea Hunt" with Lloyd Bridges. And yes, I was a little, little girl watching them...but good things stay with you!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/16/03 at 7:17pm

One of the better ones although it is hard to qaulify anything as the best ever in anything

[CaTheatreGirl]

Posted: 9/17/03 at 1:26am

I enjoyed attending many tapings of The Carol Burnett Show. It was wonderful and Carol was always a delight with the audience. It doesn't relate to Broadway, but a favorite sketch of mine was the Gone With the Wind spoof. Scarlett's curtain dress complete with curtain rod. "I saw it in the window and just had to have it!"

[Victoria Grant]

Posted: 9/17/03 at 11:42am

Carol Burnett is a wonderful entertainer and I truly have enjoyed the many laughs she has brought into my home. I truly hope that they do come out on dvd.

Her and Julie Andrews are certainly "chums". I hope that they do more specials together even a play together would be great.

The curtain dress was a great scene. Bob Mackie designed that costume for her as well as many other costumes.

[rayoflight104]

Posted: 9/17/03 at 1:36pm

You are so lucky to have been able to attend tapings of the shows!!
I too love the Went with the Wind sketch...

Fortunately they do repeats of CB and Friends here in my city. So i get to see them everyday at 4pm. lol...

I really hope Julie and Carol do a special together again! It would be their fourth!!!

[eunicehiggins67]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 10:29pm

I love Julie and Carol's specials...I just wish I could have been around to see them....Is there a way to see them...I only have the record and I kind of want to see how they acted and what they dressed like.

I love the Carol Burnett Show. I have seen the original sometimes but I live in the syndication era. I think I will order it through Columbia House...I love Carol ... she is a great role model for younger ones like me!

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 5/27/04 at 12:37pm

they are on DVD nowadays - i forget how they split them up...my friend got a copy a few weeks ago!!

[BwayLover]

Posted: 5/27/04 at 1:39pm

Well, you can see the Julie & Carol specials at the museum of TV and Radio in NY - a wonderful place, btw. That's where I saw them, and also some chosen shows from the Carol Burnett Show.
I think one of my favorite sketches was the one with Dame Maggie Smith playing a floozy with a Cockney accent to Carol's Queen of England. Hilarious!!

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 5/27/04 at 1:52pm

Bway Lover: That sketch you referenced with Maggie Smith: I even remember Maggie's character's name: "Gwendolspire Beaugruff". How's that for uncanny?

Ah, yes, the golden days of variety television. We that were exposed to it were mighty lucky, indeed. I don't think we'll ever see the likes of that again. Not because the talent isn't there, but because of the copyright laws that have come into effect since then. I work in Intellectual Property law, so I know of which I speak...

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/27/04 at 2:25pm

I, too was lucky enough to see two tapings of the show, back when I was just a wee one. I didn't find the episodes I saw taped, or they all blur together. Betty White and Steve and Edie were on so many times! I do remember a PASSWORD skit...the rest is all a fog. But we were soooo excited to get there. I have seen them all so many times it is just part of my collective conscience.

[eunicehiggins67]

Posted: 5/28/04 at 10:56am

OH my you saw a taping...if you can think far back enough did Carol talk to the audience after every skit..was there a lot of running around?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/28/04 at 11:27am

No, it was pretty organized. She did the opening Q&A that was much longer live, edited for TV, but as I recall, nobody talked to the audience too much between skits.

[racerchiquita76m]

Posted: 5/28/04 at 7:52pm

Just FYI Carol is now on Nick at Nite. I couldn't sleep, and caught it around 1:30-2 in the morning.

[lensman55]

Posted: 5/28/04 at 8:21pm

>count me among the "oldies but goodies". I lived to see The >Carol Burnett Show...Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Llyle Wagner, >Vicki Lawrence . "Mrs. Wiggins" skit. "Dirty Old married man".

>Also remember loving The Ed Sullivam Show, Red Skelton Show >and "Sea Hunt" with Lloyd Bridges. And yes, I was a little, >little girl watching them...but good things stay with you!

Yes to having seen all of these! (I always wished MST3K had been able to run a Sea Hunt after Mike Nelson took over as host since Lloyd's name on the show was "Mike Nelson!"

I also remember Sonny and Cher would do some good skits on movies, especially the V-A-M-P sequences!

[MegGiry]

Posted: 5/29/04 at 11:32am

I'm so glad that they put in that Jerry Herman number from Mack and Mabel. It's called "Movies Were Movies."

[sabrelady]

Posted: 5/30/04 at 1:25pm

with all the reworking of old TV shows as films I've always wondered why "Seahunt" was never done. It acually has a concept and could really be reworked into something! Instead we get a feature based on the Dukes of Hazard! Updated On: 5/30/04 at 01:25 PM

[junglegirljlt]

Posted: 6/5/04 at 1:04pm

I remember watching The Carol Burnett Show on Saturdays at 9:00 with my Mom...we never missed it!