BBC article on Carol Burnett's continuing popularity

[oldbrownhat]

Over a career that spans decades, Carol Burnett continues to surprise fans

In just a few weeks, on April 26, Burnett will turn 91.

From the long-running Carol Burnett Show to the comedian's latest role in Palm Royale, here's a look at Burnett's enduring draw.

"...Burnett's first big break came in August 1957 on The Ed Sullivan Show when she performed a song in which she feigned gushing adoration for John Foster Dulles, a policy wonk and U.S. Secretary of State from 1953 until 1959, who had earned the moniker "The Most Boring Man in America."After Burnett's tongue-in-cheek performance, which was a spoof of the over-the-top affection often expressed by young women at the time for heartthrob Elvis Presley, Burnett became a household name overnight. The hilarious skit landed her on the pages of Life magazine and suddenly, she was officially a known entertainer..."

...She also starred in one of the few episodes of The Twilight Zone that sought to be truly comedic, titled 'Cavender is Coming,'"
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The mention of her in the Gone with the Wind parody had me choking with laughter.

 

[Rudi]

She is a great talent!

 

[Rustyt1953]

During a recent interview she was asked what she would like for her 91st birthday.

She said "Bradley Cooper".

 

[yaktamer]

Interesting non-comedic performance in Better Call Saul. Apparently the reason Saul didn't kill her character in her final scene was because Odenkirk didn't want to be known as "The Actor Who Killed Carol Burnett."

 

[lihpster]

Interesting non-comedic performance in Better Call Saul. Apparently the reason Saul didn't kill her character in her final scene was because Odenkirk didn't want to be known as "The Actor Who Killed Carol Burnett."

Didn't bother Tim Conway. He did it pretty much weekly.

 

[bigmtnman]

Burt Reynolds had said that Carol Burnett is the girl he'd most like to be stranded with on a desert island. While Reynolds was taping Burnett's show at CBS, which also happened to be the actor's birthday, Burnett donned desert island attire and surprised Reynolds with a birthday cake.

 

[Jack Flash]

She had the funniest tv show ever.

No disrespect to Lucielle Ball, but Carol Burnett was the best.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

She was funny funny.

 

[DWalt]

She was a San Antonio native. Carol Burnett’s childhood home | Urban Spotlight San Antonio

 

[mckenney99]

As I was growing up, I watched her show every week. Tremendous talent, who also seemed to bring out the best in those she worked with. That was a golden age of comedy where the humor was funny and there was nothing blatantly vulgar.

 

[DWalt]

Yes. Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Rodney Dangerfield, George Goebel, and many others no longer with us.

 

[swsig]

While just about everyone remembers Carol's hilarious send-up of Gone with the Wind, another I remember with particular glee is her version of the super-maudlin melodrama, Love Story, that had everyone boo-hooing in 1970-71. My girlfriend in those days had seen Love Story before we met, and had become obsessed with Ali McGraw's character, Jenny. She acted like Jenny all the time, even though she was perfectly healthy. (That's one of the reasons she became my ex-girlfriend.) So when Carol did her parody, I laughed myself sick, (cough, cough).

Anyway, here it is. It helps if you have seen the movie.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJCO3hh7bAg[/ame]

 

[RobertJ.]

My whole family loved the Carol Burnett Show. The four of us always watched it together, and it's a fond memory.

My sister and I were reminiscing about TV when we were in high school, and how at the time, the Saturday night TV line-up was fantastic. This was it, circa 1977:

8:00 All in the Family
8:30 The Jeffersons
9:00 Mary Tyler Moore
9:30 Bob Newhart
10:00 Carol Burnett
11:00 Monty Python's Flying Circus (PBS)
11:30 Saturday Night Live
1:00 SCTV

It was the greatest comedic line-up, ever!

 

[dmn57]

Ms. Burnett is a treasure the likes of which we may not see again.

 

[RetCapt]

She stole the film 'Annie". Not only is she an immense talent, but she is, and always has been, a class act. One of the reasons her show was so outstanding was she surrounded herself with equally talented performers. Then she made sure they all shared equally in the spotlight.

One of most enjoyable aspects of her show was all of them breaking each other up during their skits. Carol was an integral part of that, and they were all having a great time.

She is a treasure.

 

[tlawler]

She is an American comedic institution. The quartet of Carol Burnett, Vicky Lawrence, Harvey Korman, and Tim Conway had incredible comedic chemistry. I fondly remember watching Carol’s show with my parents when I was a kid…great memories!

 

[Jack Flash]

She is an American comedic institution. The quartet of Carol Burnett, Vicky Lawrence, Harvey Korman, and Tim Conway had incredible comedic chemistry. I fondly remember watching Carol’s show with my parents when I was a kid…great memories!

I'm not sure if she brought out the best in them or they brought out the best in her. The sum was greater than the individual parts for sure.

Probably some credit has to go to the writers.

The range of characters she could do was astounding. From Mrs. Higgins to Eunice to the Queen of England, she did each one perfectly.

 

[moosedog]

I loved watching her when I was younger. Part of a generation of truly talented entertainers who didn't need the drama and perversion to make people laugh.

 

[robvious]

Just watched Finding Your Roots featuring Carol... her family history is a wild ride as well..