The Carol Burnett Show

Infobox Television
show_name = The Carol Burnett Show


format = Variety, sketch comedy
camera =
picture_format =
audio_format =
runtime = ~54 mins.
creator =
developer =
executive_producer = Joe Hamilton
company = Punkin' Productions, Inc. (1967-1976)
Whacko, Inc. (1976-1978)
starring = Carol Burnett
Harvey Korman
Vicki Lawrence
Lyle Waggoner
Tim Conway
Dick Van Dyke
opentheme = "Carol's Theme" by
Joe Hamilton [cite web | author= | title=The Carol Burnett Show (sitcom) | url=http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/carolBurnettShow.html | work=ClassicThemes.com | publisher=The Media Management Group | date=2008 | accessdate=2008-04-28]
country = USA
language = English
network = CBS
first_aired = September 11, 1967
last_aired = March 29, 1978
num_seasons = 11
num_episodes = 278
list_episodes =
website =
imdb_id = 0061240
tv_com_id =

"The Carol Burnett Show" is a sketch comedy television show starring Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, and Lyle Waggoner. It originally ran on CBS from September 11, 1967 to March 29, 1978 for 278 episodes, and originated from CBS Television City's Studio 33 (also known as the Bob Barker Studio).

Background

The popular variety show made the stars household names with such sketches as "As the Stomach Turns", "Went with the Wind" (a parody of "Gone with the Wind" featuring a scene with Burnett as Scarlett O'Hara in the dress made from a window curtain, complete with the curtain rod), "Carol & Sis", "Mr. Tudball" and "Mrs. Wiggins", "The Family" (which would later spin off into a show called "Mama's Family"), "Nora Desmond" (Burnett's send-up of Gloria Swanson's character Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard"), and "Stella Toddler." A frequent repeated segment was "Kitchen Commercials", in which cast members parodied TV commercials that drove a woman (Burnett) crazy. It had frequent, high recognition guest stars. The long-running show was frequently nominated for Emmys, and won three times.

A unique feature of the show consisted of a question and answer segment involving the audience in CBS Studio 33 and Carol Burnett. Burnett usually did this for about 3-4 minutes at the start of most shows. Burnett would ask for the lights in the audience to be turned up ("Let's bump up the lights...") and then randomly pick audience members who raised their hand to ask her a question. This informality was possible due to the design of Studio 33; cameras were to the left and right of the stage with one below in the pit and one suspended, so the actors were very close to the audience.

Sample question from young woman in audience: "Have you ever taken acting lessons?"Carol: "Yes, I have."Audience member: "Do you think it did any good?"

The show was rehearsed for three to four hours each day until the Friday tapings, when two recordings were made. As there were only two recordings, if an actor flubbed a line in both takes, the error appeared in the broadcast, giving the show some immediacy. Pick ups were exceptions, and usually only used for musical numbers.

Through this program, Burnett became known for her acting and talent, and for ending each show by tugging her ear, which was a message to the grandmother who had raised her to let her know that she was doing well and that she loved her.

A true variety show in its simplest of forms, "The Carol Burnett Show" struck a harmonious chord with viewers through parodies of films ("Went With the Wind"), television ("As the Stomach Turns") and commercials. Burnett and team struck gold with the original skit "Mama's Family" which eventually spun off into its own television show starring Lawrence.

The show also became known for its closing theme song, with the following lyrics::I'm so glad we had this time together:Just to have a laugh and sing a song:Seems we just got started and before you know it:Comes the time we have to say, 'So long.' [ [http://www.nationalreview.com/bell/bell200511090809.asp http://www.nationalreview.com/bell/bell200511090809.asp] "Nationalreview.com" Retrieved on 05-14-07 ]

Vicki Lawrence was the only cast member, other than Burnett, to remain with the series for its entire run. Tim Conway, though well remembered for his appearances on the show, did not become a full-time cast member until 1975. Harvey Korman left the show prior to its final season; he was temporarily replaced in the fall of 1977 by Dick Van Dyke. Original cast member Lyle Waggoner left the series in 1974 to pursue a dramatic acting career and the next year was cast in "Wonder Woman".

Burnett went on to star in movies, write a Broadway play, and continues to make appearances. Conway and Korman travelled to do comedy routines all over the country. Vicki Lawrence had a U.S. #1 hit record in 1973 ("The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia") and went on to star in several shows of her own ("Mama's Family", the NBC daytime edition of "Win, Lose or Draw", and her short-lived talk show, "Vicki") and continues to perform around America writing and performing comedy sketches.

Continuations and revivals

The comedy sketches of the show were reedited into freestanding programs; the resulting show enjoyed success for many years in syndicated reruns (as "Carol Burnett and Friends"). In the early 2000s, certain full-length episodes of "The Carol Burnett Show" were released on VHS and DVD by Columbia House on a subscription basis (now discontinued). Guthy-Renker released another DVD collection, "The Carol Burnett Show Collector's Edition", which is still being sold to this day.

Following repeats of "The Carol Burnett Show" on CBS from June to August 1978, 4 new shows were aired between August and September 1979 on ABC as "Carol Burnett & Company", just prior to the beginning of the regular fall season and plans were announced for this to become an annual event but it did not. NBC aired a comedy half-hour repertory series called "Carol & Company" between March 1990 and July 1991 with regulars Peter Krause, Jeremy Piven, Terry Kiser, Meagan Fay, Anita Barone, and Richard Kind (and occasional guest stars such as Betty White and Burt Reynolds; each week's show was a different half-hour comedy play.

CBS brought back "The Carol Burnett Show" for another run in the fall of 1991; new regulars included Meagen Fay and Richard Kind (brought over from the NBC show), and Chris Barnes, Roger Kabler and Jessica Lundy. Only nine episodes of this revival were aired.

In January 1993, the cast of "The Carol Burnett Show" got together for a 2-hour reunion special, "The Carol Burnett Show: A Reunion" featuring several clips of the show's best moments from 1967-78 with the gang reminiscing about their time together on the show.

In the fall of 2001, Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman and Vicki Lawrence reunited for a new special broadcast entitled "The Carol Burnett Show: Show Stoppers", which consisted mostly of bloopers and outtakes from the series. The program was a major ratings success; the media credited its timing, being broadcast not long after the September 11, 2001 attacks, with contributing to its success.

In May 2004, Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman and Lyle Waggoner made another reunion special, "The Carol Burnett Show: Let's Bump Up the Lights!", featuring one of Carol's favorite ongoing bits, turning up the house lights and then taking questions from members of the studio audience.

Guest stars

eason 1 (1967–1968)

*Jim Nabors (appeared on the first episode of every season)
*Sid Caesar
*Liza Minnelli
*Jonathan Winters
*Eddie Albert
*Lucille Ball
*Tim Conway
*Gloria Loring
*Imogene Coca
*Lainie Kazan
*Phyllis Diller
*Gwen Verdon
*Bobbie Gentry
*The Smothers Brothers
*Diahann Carroll
*Richard Kiley
*Nanette Fabray
*Sonny & Cher
*Richard Chamberlain
*Juliet Prowse
*Martha Raye
*Don Adams
*Lesley Ann Warren
*Barbara Eden
*Leonard Nimoy
*Mickey Rooney
*John Davidson
*Ella Fitzgerald
*Lynn Redgrave
*Mike Douglas
*Lana Turner
*Frank Gorshin
*Trini Lopez
*Ken Berry
*George Chakiris
*Shirley Jones
*Dionne Warwick
*Jack Palance
*Betty Grable
*Art Carney
*Garry Moore
*Durward Kirby
*John Gary
*Mel Tormé
*Jack Jones
*Soupy Sales
*Peter Lawford
*Minnie Pearl
*Shani Wallis
*Barbara McNair

eason 2 (1968–1969)

*Jim Nabors
*Martin Landau
*Barbara Bain
*Carol Channing
*Nanette Fabray
*Trini Lopez
*George Gobel
*Bobbie Gentry
*Edie Adams
*Tim Conway
*Lucille Ball
*Eddie Albert
*Nancy Wilson
*Mel Tormé
*Don Rickles
*Sid Caesar
*Ella Fitzgerald
*Garry Moore
*Durward Kirby
*Michele Lee
*Flip Wilson
*Imogene Coca
*Vic Damone
*Eileen Farrell
*Marilyn Horne
*Mickey Rooney
*Emmaline Henry
*Roland Winters
*Perry Como
*Martha Raye
*Chita Rivera
*Ken Berry
*Shirley Jones
*Soupy Sales
*Barbara McNair
*Ethel Merman
*Ross Martin
*John Davidson
*Mike Douglas
*Barrie Chase
*Larry Hovis
*Ronnie Schell
*Vikki Carr
*Robert Goulet
*Jimmie Rodgers

eason 3 (1969–1970)

*Jim Nabors
*Nancy Wilson
*Bernadette Peters
*Steve Lawrence
*Edward Villella
*Bobbie Gentry
*Ken Berry
*Tim Conway
*Kay Medford
*Gwen Verdon
*Pat Boone
*Bing Crosby
*Ella Fitzgerald
*Rowan and Martin
*Andy Griffith
*Merv Griffin
*Lucille Ball
*George Carlin
*Martha Raye
*Garry Moore
*Durward Kirby
*Donald O'Connor
*Kaye Stevens
*Audrey Meadows
*Nanette Fabray
*Flip Wilson
*Vikki Carr
*Soupy Sales
*Mel Tormé
*Ronald Reagan
*Barbara Feldon
*Joan Rivers
*Pat Carroll
*Jack Jones
*Jane Connell
*Trini Lopez
*Ronnie Schell
*Peggy Lee
*Michele Lee

eason 4 (1970–1971)

*Jim Nabors
*Cass Elliot
*Pat Paulsen
*Nanette Fabray
*Steve Lawrence
*Eydie Gormé
*Joan Rivers
*Ken Berry
*Lucille Ball
*Mel Tormé
*Donald O'Connor
*Bernadette Peters
*Ricardo Montalban
*Juliet Prowse
*Martha Raye
*Ross Martin
*Dyan Cannon
*Paul Lynde
*Debbie Reynolds
*Don Rickles
*Durward Kirby
*Pat Carroll
*Robert Goulet
*Rich Little
*Art Carney
*Jerry Lewis
*Leslie Uggams
*Michele Lee
*Edward Villella
*Violette Verdy
*Rita Hayworth
*Totie Fields
*Chita Rivera
*Bob Newhart
*Tim Conway
*Mike Douglas
*David Frost
*Eileen Farrell
*Marilyn Horne

eason 5 (1971–1972)

*Jim Nabors
*Tim Conway
*The Carpenters
*Steve Lawrence
*Carol Channing
*Ken Berry
*Cass Elliott
*Peggy Lee
*Dom DeLuise
*Diahann Carroll
*Bing Crosby
*Paul Lynde
*Bernadette Peters
*Nanette Fabray
*Mel Tormé
*Eydie Gormé
*Shecky Greene
*Andy Griffith
*Barbara McNair
*Dionne Warwick
*Dick Martin
*Ray Charles
*Vincent Price
*Kaye Ballard
*Burt Reynolds
*Jack Klugman
*Tony Randall
*Karen Black

eason 6 (1972–1973)

*Jim Nabors
*Carol Channing
*Marty Feldman
*Andy Griffith
*Helen Reddy
*Steve Lawrence
*Paul Sand
*Eydie Gormé
*Jack Gilford
*Joel Grey
*Cass Elliott
*Tim Conway
*Pearl Bailey
*Peggy Lee
*Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara
*Lily Tomlin
*Ruth Buzzi
*John Davidson
*Ray Charles
*Vincent Price
*Carl Reiner
*Melba Moore
*Anthony Newley
*Bernadette Peters
*Jack Cassidy
*Kaye Ballard
*Petula Clark
*John Byner
*Valerie Harper
*Ken Berry
*David Hartman
*Paula Kelly
*William Conrad

eason 7 (1973–1974)

*Jim Nabors
*Tim Conway
*Charo
*Petula Clark
*Gloria Swanson
*Helen Reddy
*John Byner
*Eydie Gormé
*Paul Sand
*Jack Weston
*Ruth Buzzi
*Richard Crenna
*Anthony Newley
*Dick Martin
*Carl Reiner
*Vincent Price
*Joel Grey
*Bernadette Peters
*Roddy McDowall
*The Jackson 5

eason 8 (1974–1975)

*Jim Nabors
*Steve Lawrence
*James Coco
*Jack Weston
*Michele Lee
*Telly Savalas
*The Smothers Brothers
*Eydie Gormé
*Rich Little
*Alan King
*Lena Zavaroni
*John Byner
*Kenneth Mars
*Helen Reddy
*Maggie Smith
*Tim Conway
*Carl Reiner
*Ken Berry
*Alan Alda
*Vincent Price
*Joan Rivers
*William Conrad
*The Jackson 5
*The Pointer Sisters
*Rock Hudson
*Nancy Walker
*Wayne Rogers
*Buddy Ebsen
*Roddy McDowall
*Bernadette Peters
*Sally Struthers
*Jean Stapleton
*Phil Silvers

eason 9 (1975–1976)

*Jim Nabors
*Sammy Davis Jr.
*Cher
*Shirley MacLaine
*Bernadette Peters
*Maggie Smith
*The Pointer Sisters
*Roddy McDowall
*Betty White
*Eydie Gormé
*Jessica Walter
*Steve Lawrence
*Rita Moreno
*Emmett Kelly
*The Jacksons
*Joanne Woodward
*Dick Van Dyke
*Tony Randall
*Jack Klugman

eason 10 (1976–1977)

*Jim Nabors
*Sammy Davis Jr.
*Madeline Kahn
*Steve Lawrence
*Roddy McDowall
*Dinah Shore
*Ken Berry
*The Pointer Sisters
*Alan King
*Betty White
*Dick Van Dyke
*Glen Campbell
*Rock Hudson
*Helen Reddy
*Eydie Gormé
*Ben Vereen
*Hal Linden
*Neil Sedaka

eason 11 (1977–1978)

*Jim Nabors
*Steve Lawrence
*Nancy Dussault
*Ken Berry
*Ben Vereen
*Bernadette Peters
*Rock Hudson
*Helen Reddy
*Roddy McDowall
*Eydie Gormé
*Captain and Tennille
*Natalie Cole
*Betty White
*Steve Martin
*James Garner
*George Carlin
*James Stewart

References

Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows"

External links

*
* [http://www.carolburnettshowvideos.com/index.php?acnt=GHLcarol The Carol Burnett Show]
* [http://www.itsthecarolburnettshow.com/index2.html It's The Carol Burnett Show!]
* [http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/C/htmlC/carolburnett/carolburnett.htm The Museum Of Broadcast Communications: The Carol Burnett Show]
* [http://www.timvp.com/carolb.html Tim's TV Showcase: The Carol Burnett Show]
*
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20030206025546/www.kinescopes.com/c_b_show.html The Carol Burnett Show - 10/2/67] - cached copy from Internet Archives
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20050205083517/http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mcgee/cbsguide.txt "The Carol Burnett Show Episode Guide" by: Ed Slonina] - cached copy from Internet Archives