TrueJoshNight
Truly Dreadful Film
Lidia Draper
Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.
Freeman
This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.
Electron Libre
Being born in France in the early 70's, I wasn't aware of this show called "The Carol Burnett Show". I didn't even know this woman. I saw her for the first time last year in a ceremony where she received an achievement prize. But it is when I saw the 50th Anniversary Special hosted by Stephen Colbert last autumn that I started to really get interested because they showed sketches of the show. You Americans must stop hiding those talents from us! So I gathered so many shows I could find and I have to say that they are a delight to watch! There are some pretty awesome burlesque sketches in it and a lot of humanity too. And if you love the 70's, oh boy, you travel right back to that blessed period of time. And I have to mention the wonderful costumes made by a certain Bob Mackie. This guy is simply a genius! Some costumes look like Gaultier or Lacroix 20 years before!
I love Carol Burnett and I am very happy to now know this great performer!
TRhett
lbliss314 - I just read a short interview with Carol Burnett in which she discussed the unbelievable amount of work that went into this legendary show, and the utter impossibility of doing something like this on a weekly basis today. The cast of 6-ish, the full orchestra (Nelson Riddle, if I'm not mistaken), the 50 fabulous costumes per week (by, of course, Bob Mackie), the 6 - 8 sketches/numbers per week that had to be written, rehearsed, set to music, and performed live - WITH guest stars . . . it just went on and on and on. The bottom line: No, this could NOT be pulled off today - it would be prohibitively expensive, and require a small army of people. But boy, I'm so glad we had this time together. This came along during my childhood, so I had to beg to stay up late, too. When I was a child, I spent most Saturday nights with my grandparents, and I was trying to remember that fantastic Saturday night lineup. I remember Mary Tyler Moore throwing that beret in the air (of course, back then I had no idea the HUGE cultural shift that represented); I remember Bob Newhart walking past the "Picasso horse" in Chicago to work; and I remember Carol, but I couldn't put it all together. I knew this would be the place to come. You're right . . . CBS on Saturday Night was "Must See TV" WAY before NBC thought of it. I always wondered why Carol was never able to reignite that spark . . . it seemed like her "light" was dimmed before its time. I think the loss of Harvey Korman, together with Carol's personal "issues" (I seem to remember big trouble with her daughter, husband, AND parents . . . remember the "National Enquirer" debacle?) sent her into retirement way before her time. Like several others here said, I really wish they would collect the FULL show on DVD, not just edited-for-syndication snippets. But what a ride it was for 11 years . . . of course, everyone remembers "Went With the Wind" and "Mildred Fierce" (I can't even watch the original movies, because I think of Carol Burnett the entire time), "Missus Awhiggins" . . . and my personal favorite, "Mama and Eunice," which was just brilliant at times (esp. with guest stars like Ken Berry, Betty White, and Jim Neighbors). I remember an episode of Mama and Eunice where Eunice tried out for (and was cut from) a "reality TV" show, and it was as moving as anything "serious" on TV. This show worked on so many levels, it truly deserves the moniker "LEGENDARY."
sallydes
I agree. Carol Burnett was one of a kind. I personally like her the best of all the comedians I have ever seen. I don't understand why they keep replaying "I love Lucy", and not "The Carol Burnett Show". There's no contest Carol is best hands down! There was one episode with Tim Conway I really liked. He was at a pulpit, and after each sentence he said, "cause it don't matter". I laughed so hard. I wish I could see it again. The only other comedian (impressionist) that made me laugh so hard,is the up and coming, Gordy Brown, but I still love Carol. I don't however like the show stopper DVD's, because they don't show the whole skits. Neither does the Carol Burnett reunion tape. I hope they bring the shows out on DVD, so I can purchase them. I really want to see the original shows before "Carol Burnett & Friends". The one's with just Carol, Vickie, Harvey, and Lyle. When Tim joined I think the show lost something, as he wouldn't stick to his lines, and it became very unprofessional with them cracking up, and messing up their lines, but I still want to see them again, especially the one with Tim at the pulpit. He was alone, so he played it straight!
Syl
I loved the Carol Burnett show when I was a child. It was in half-hour reruns. After spending the last weekend watching TV Land marathon, I just learned why. It was one of the most entertaining experiences in television history. This was a great cast of highly talented people not just the beloved star, Carol Burnett. Her former husband Joe Hamilton produced the show. Her friends like Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence, and Lyle Waggoner were all uniquely talented and gifted. We can see why this show thrived. Most of the cast were there from beginning to end. After 11 years of superb Emmy winning and golden globe episodes, the show is available on DVD and can be seen on TV Land where it belongs with some of television's classics. It is still a classic. Sometimes Saturday Night Live and MAD TV can embrace the wholesome comedy as a risk in itself.
