I’m so glad we’ll have this time together…
In December, CBS will be broadcasting a 50th anniversary reunion special for one of its most beloved series, The Carol Burnett Show. The classic and long-running (11 seasons!) variety sketch show is considered by many critics to be among the best TV shows of all time and was groundbreaking in its star and showrunner Burnett, as well as its mastery of the variety format.
The two-hour anniversary special will reunite Burnett with co-stars Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner and also feature legendary costume designer Bob Mackie. (Co-star Tim Conway has not yet been confirmed as attending, and sadly, Harvey Korman passed away in 2008.) In addition to the former cast members, the reunion will feature appearances by stars including Stephen Colbert, Maya Rudolph, Jim Carrey, and Jane Lynch.
In a statement announcing the anniversary special, Burnett said, “I can’t believe how fast the time went, and what makes me the happiest is that so much of the funny stuff we did still holds up today, and we can share it with generations to come.”
The Carol Burnett Show: Laughs, Legends, and Crazy Costumes
The Carol Burnett Show aired on CBS for 11 seasons, from 1967 to 1978. Week after week, the show featured original and zany comedy sketches, as well as the occasional musical number. There was also a Q&A session, where Burnett would take questions from the audience, often to hilarious effect.
From loopy secretary Mrs. Wiggins to Conway’s irascible old timer and the “Family” sketches (which led to the spinoff show, Mama’s Family), some of the best sketches were too funny even for the performers themselves:
About the fun and challenges of shooting every week, Burnett told PBS in 2008, “Ours was different because each one of our people had to be different people every week. They weren’t playing the same character all the time. We had to be flexible and versatile. And that was always the most challenging and the most fun.”
The Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary Special will air on CBS Sunday, December 3. Fans will be looking forward to Burnett’s signature ear-tug and maybe even a Tarzan yell or two. Personally, I’d love to see a return to Tara: