Carol Burnett: A life sketch

Posted: 11/1/07 at 9:48am

Carol Burnett: A life sketch

By Kathy Blumenstock , The Washington Post
Wednesday, October 31, 2007

A PBS documentary of comedienne will take viewers back to era of variety shows.

The classic bits from "The Carol Burnett Show" are all here, from Starlet O'Hara clad in green drapes, complete with curtain-rod shoulder pads, to frizzy-haired Eunice, shrilly badmouthing her family, to that unparalleled Tarzan yell.

A new PBS documentary, "Carol Burnett: A Woman of Character," showcases the comedian's signature creations and revisits a prime-time era in which variety shows reigned.

"There's nothing like that on the air now," said Burnett, 74, who rose to comic stardom as a cast member of "The Garry Moore Show," seen in black-and-white film clips during the documentary. "You've got dance shows and singing shows, but the networks don't trust the V word now."

Burnett said she was flattered when "American Masters" producers approached her about doing the documentary.

"It's a living, moving scrapbook, and I thought it would be nice for my grandchildren and, someday, great-grandchildren to see," she said. She had been impressed with the "American Masters" featuring Bob Newhart in 2006, she said, "but I don't know where they found some of that (footage)."

The documentary includes Burnett's reflections on her career, as well as interviews with colleagues and friends. Also featured: vintage film of appearances with Ed Sullivan and on Moore's show, a weekly collection of songs, skits and stand-up that spotlighted Burnett's versatile wit and timing.

The 90-minute program includes one of Burnett's rarely seen performances of a novelty song that brought her national attention: "I Made a Fool of Myself Over John Foster Dulles." Dulles was then secretary of state.

"After I had done that number on the Jack Paar show, he (Dulles) was on "Meet the Press,"' Burnett recalled. "The interviewer asked him, "Mr. Secretary, what is going on between you and this girl who sings that love song about you?' And he got this twinkle in his eye and said, "I never discuss matters of the heart in public.' "

Burnett also has done a significant amount of film and stage work, and the special shows footage of her in the 1964 TV adaptation of her Broadway musical hit "Once Upon a Mattress."

Her longtime friends and comic foils Tim Conway and Harvey Korman are among the interviewees, along with other cast members and writers from her CBS variety series.

Contemporaries Julie Andrews, Betty White, Florence Henderson and Phyllis Diller pay tribute. Also interviewed are performers influenced by Burnett's career, such as Jenna Elfman and Tracy Ullman. Ullman was Burnett's co-star in another TV version of "Once Upon a Mattress."


Burnett's own reminiscences include a look at her childhood. The daughter of divorced, alcoholic parents, Burnett was raised primarily by her maternal grandmother - the beloved "Nanny" who inspired Burnett's familiar ear-tweak tribute. The shy Burnett found an outlet for make-believe in the movies she and her grandmother attended nearly every day.

"The exciting thing is, I grew up watching Betty Grable and Lana Turner, and they ended up being guests on the show," Burnett said.

"The Carol Burnett Show," spanning 11 seasons (from 1967-7 and capturing 25 Emmys, remains one of Burnett's favorite experiences.

"We played for the studio audience, and we'd just go as if it were a live show," she said. "I always believed if the 300 folks in the audience are gonna laugh, so are the ones watching at home. We didn't do many retakes - unless the scenery fell down and hit someone."

Tune in

WHAT: "American Masters"

WHO: Carol Burnett

WHEN: 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5

CHANNEL: Your Local PBS Channel

[madbrian]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 9:54am

Thanks for the heads-up. I MUST remember to set my DVR.

[DG]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 10:29am

This sounds wonderful, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it, but 90 minutes doesn't seem nearly long enough!

[Glebb]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 10:40am

Love her

Can't wait to see the special, sometime.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 10:43am

I agree! A mini-series, please.

My mom lived with Carol at the Rehearsal Club in the 1950s, and she told me lots of great stories about those times. She spoke very highly of Carol and the time they spent together. Back when everyone was broke, young, eager, and pounding the pavements for a job. And completely crazy.

There is actually a photo of my mom in Carol's autobiography doing a flapper revue number with a few of the other girls. They were reviewed by the New York Times, and it was the first time Miss Burnett was "noticed." It wasn't too long after that she landed Once Upon a Mattress.

Good times.

[morosco]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 11:18am

I wish TV Land would rerun the original series. Or better yet...I wish the series was released on DVD.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 12:41pm

I was hoping for another piece of fantastic artwork from Norn, but this is cool as well!

[DG]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 12:46pm

Morosco - the series is available here:
Link.

[mauriposa]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 12:57pm

I'm going to have to remember to watch this. I love her.

[fflagg]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 5:15pm

It's a rights issue.

From what I understand:

1. music clearance can cost a fortune
2. Ms. Burnett is not the sole owner of the rights to the 1967-1972 seasons of the show.

The show was available on DVD [2 shows per DVD] for a spell via Columbia House and on EBay.

It is awful that many classic shows are not on DVD, including the spoofs:

1. Mildred Fierce
2. Flora
3. All of the shows from 1967-1972
4. the final show from 1978 [have Kleenex handy if u see it]
5. Born to Be Rotten
6. Torchy Lady
7. some of the Eunice sketches

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 5:22pm

I want "Rebecky" and "Babes In Barns" too!

Those DVDs are too friggin' expensive!!! $19.95 for each volume.

That's about $9.50 PER EPISODE.


Give me a break.

[fflagg]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 5:29pm

It's worth the purchase.

Xmas is coming.

There is a wonderful sketch with CB and Alan Alda as stressed-out department store workers on Xmas Eve and they sing "Nobody Does it Like Me."

[gettinhep]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 5:36pm

Marvelous! Fingers crossed that it will be broadcast down here at some stage.

Like Diva, I had hoped for another Norn masterpiece. But, this is welcome news.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 9:58pm

Diva- I was thinking the SAME thing when I saw the word sketch. I'm really getting spoiled by Norn. I started to get excited when the screen got larger thinking there would be an illustration. It's okay Norn, you don't have to do a sketch if you don't want to. (okay, so I'm trying to use my Jewish guilt on you). I LOVE Carol Burnett. I saw a special once on CBS and it said how she and Red Skelton were the most beloved stars of all time. B12B- how wonderful that your mother knew her. I thought you were going to post the picture that you spoke of (I'm using the Jewish guilt again- hint). The closest I ever came to Carol was meeting Bob Mackie at a trunk show about 25 years ago. He was a PLEASURE and we talked about the curtain dress in Went with the Wind. Triple love that show and her. I hope I remember to watch. Thanks for the heads up! mom

[gettinhep]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 10:55pm

"I saw it in the window and couldn't resist."

Posted: 11/1/07 at 11:30pm

lets have a Eunice sketch!

[fflagg]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 11:37pm

It was a SEVEN!!

[gettinhep]

Posted: 11/1/07 at 11:46pm

Well, they were good coupons.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 11/2/07 at 9:55pm

I'm still spoiled. When I saw the link for the Eunice sketch- I thought again it was one of Norn's illustrations. I guess my Jewish guilt didn't work! mom

Posted: 11/5/07 at 7:35am

dont forget to set your recording devices!
its tonight on PBS!

[mateo]

Posted: 11/5/07 at 10:40am

I'm excited!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/5/07 at 8:11pm

bump

[Ida Noodleman]

Posted: 11/5/07 at 10:11pm

I'm just watching this now. Such a wonderful tribute to one of the masters of comedy. It's fascinating to get the insight into both the joys and tragedies of the life and career of this marvelous, talented woman.

[fflagg]

Posted: 11/5/07 at 10:29pm

And she is still underappreciated. Remember all of those snotty remarks made by Ken Ludwig and the director of MOON OVER BUFFALO on the documentary?

Hey Ken! You are a second-rate hack who should kiss the ground Carol walks on.

What a shame that all of her variety show is not on DVD.

Bless this woman.

And by the way f**k the critics who slammed HOLLYWOOD ARMS. It is a broken play about broken people that deserved more respect from the critics.

[Ida Noodleman]

Posted: 11/5/07 at 10:34pm

I don't know that it's so much a matter of being underappreciated as it is the same old story that when someone makes it, against the odds, especially a woman, there are always those who feel a need to tear the person down.


Besides, who listens to critics? If they knew what they were doing, they would be creating and not critiquing. A critic is usually just a failed artist.