Get Those VCRs,DVRs and TiVo's Ready, PBS Salutes Carol Burnett This Week,

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I recently got every episode of her show when it aired on a TV Land marathon. As hilarious as it was ever! Gotta love Carol Burnett (and Eunice, and Mrs. Wiggins, and Nora Desmond)!
Bobby in Boston
 
I caught part of this last night. It was very good and gave some great insights into the whole production. Highly recommended. You often don't remember how great this show was until you see clips from it.
 
I had an extensive DVD library of the Carol Burnett Show that I got from one of those Guthy-Renker late-night promos. There were at least 15 DVDs in the set, maybe even two dozen.

I enjoyed them for a while, then sent the lot to my mother in Virginia because I knew she loved the Carol Burnett Show. She acnowledged receipt of them but then never said anymore about it. Some time later, I asked her one day if she had watched any of them and she said, "Oh, I watched one or two of them but then the church asked for donations for their swap meet, so I gave the set to them.

Thanks!
 
Cool!

That stationary is FABULOUS! Wow... And to think someone at CBS actually read your letter and personally responded. That's amazing. Doubt that would happen anymore.

I noticed the special on the cable lineup, and set the DVR to record it. I was up until almost 2am last night watching.. it was fantastic! I would LOVE to get some episodes of her show on tape/DVD. I remember rolling on the floor laughing when I was a kid - watching it in reruns.

~Fred
 
Thirty Years!

Well, twenty-nine, but who's counting?

That's how long it's been since Carol's show went off the air. I only wish something that good was on today.

P.S.: The "curtain rod" costume from the GWTW spoof is in the collection of Planet Hollywood here in Atlanta, if I'm not mistaken.
 
When I Wasn't Laughing, Was Crying

Simply forgot just how good CB was, especially her show. Will tape the thing when PBS repeats it later this week, and when I finally decide on a DVR/DVD recorder the CB show series will be first on my list.

When Carol Burnett's show went off the air, America lost something. It was the last television program the entire family could gather around and watch television together and have some quality time. Yes there were some "blue" joke, but they were tasteful and always layered into the gags so there was something for all ages, young folks just didn't get it; and if we asked our parents the likely response was "none of your business, be quiet and watch the show". *LOL*

Am glad the special covered much of CB's career including her early days, and those fablous specials with Julie Andrews(which never have been rebroadcast nor are on VCR or DVD to my knowledge). Ending with Carol belting out "I'm Still Here" from Sondheim's "Follies" (CB played Caroltta),was a treat and a great way to end the program.

For those who do not know the song, "I'm Still Here" is about a woman cataloging all that she has been through and yet survived. She's had steak and champange days, but also pork and beans out of a can and beer days. Life has thrown her a few curve balls, and she had to do a few things she wasn't exactly proud of to survive, but that is life for most of us, isn't it?

L.
 
The Family skits

The Family skits were my fave on the show, Carol as Eunice and Vicki as Thelma, great combo. I put up a YouTube link to a Family outtake reel and look how Carol tries to keep her composure.

"You got splinters in the windmill of your mind! You're playing hockey with a warped puck!"

 
I think the GWTW skit is probably the most famous from the show. It left an impression on everybody. This is a good example of what great writers can accomplish, a timely topic this week and perhaps for quite a few more.

I liked how the PBS presentation provided a lot of the back story about the show. Interesting how Ms. Burnett was supposed to be "Mama" but opted for Eunice instead, as she could better relate to that character. More of the CB show reflected her life experiences than we realize.
 
I thought the Family skits were funny on the CB show, but I found "Mama's Family" to be largely disappointing. Vicki Lawrence played Mama as a grating one-note caricature of a country mother, which was ok for a five or ten minute skit but for 30 minutes every week, it wore sort of thin. What didn't help was the usual weekly sitcom dumbed down comedy.
 
Totally agreed re: "Mama's Family" series. That got old right away and I never watched it much, rarely if ever an entire episode. I can't believe it can still be found in re-runs, it was indeed so dumbed down. Sad commentary on the make-up and intellect of the viewing public. I did like Mama's early 60's Coldspot bottom freezer model though. I also, unfortunately, can't see Dorothy Lyman as anyone but Opal Gardener and was disappointed to see her wasted on "Mama's Family." BTW, I no longer watch AMC, haven't for years. That was back in the days when I worked nights as a waiter and a friend turned me on to Opal and got me hooked. Once Opal/Ms. Lyman disappeared I lost interest in AMC real fast.
 

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