INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO: CAROL BURNETT (TV)
Summary
One in this series of interview programs at New York City's New School for Social Research, in which host James Lipton explores the work of well-known individuals in the performing arts. In this program, recorded at the John L. Tishman Theater, Lipton talks to comedian and actress Carol Burnett. The conversation touches on such topics as: her impoverished childhood in Los Angeles and upbringing by her Christian Scientist grandmother; her parents' struggles with alcohol and memories of her beloved "drunk Jimmy Stewart" father; her frequent trips to the cinema on Hollywood Boulevard; the creation of her famous "Tarzan yell" with the help of a cousin; the mysterious monetary gift from an unknown sender that funded her first year at UCLA; how she "bloomed" and developed sudden popularity at school after performing onstage; a generous loan from a benefactor, whom she has never named at his request, that allowed her to travel to New York City; her first-ever television appearance on "The Paul Winchell Show" and the creation of her trademark "ear-tug" greeting to her grandmother; her appearances at the Blue Angel nightclub and her greatly successful parody song, written by Paul Welch, about her adoration of "dour" Secretary of State John Foster Dulles; her year-long Broadway role in "Once Upon a Mattress" under director George Abbott; her physical comedy on "The Garry Moore Show"; the challenge of analyzing comedy and her hopes that she is a "comedic actor" rather than solely a comedian; her former frequent use of self-deprecation and "mugging" comedy; her ten-year contract with CBS and the debut of "The Carol Burnett Show" in 1967; her praise for co-stars Harvey Korman, Lyle Waggoner, Vicki Lawrence, whom she hired after receiving a fan letter from the funny teen, and Tim Conway; Conway's talent for comedic improvisation; some memorable sketches, including the "curtain rod" scene and her pratfall from the "Went With the Wind"; the "Mildred Pierce" parody in which she appears as Joan Crawford; a scene involving the camera-hogging wife of a kidnapped man; "The Family," partially based on her own relatives and which featured surprisingly "heavy" emotional moments; and the final installment of the sketch in which beleaguered daughter Eunice achieves some closure with the help of a psychologist.
Lipton then conducts the Bernard Pivot questionnaire and prompts Burnett to perform her famous "Tarzan yell." Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the follow topics, among others: inspiration from her children about "being someone else" through costumes and makeup; the importance of visualization in achieving one's goals; Eunice's "layers" and the cathartic experience of playing the frequently-hysterical character; and why even successful artists never feel as though they have "made it." The audience then closes the program by serenading Burnett with her good-night song from "The Carol Burnett Show." Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: Bravo
- DATE: November 30, 1999 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:56
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 120157
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Actors and actresses
- SERIES RUN: Bravo - TV series, 1994-2018; Ovation - 2019-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- James Lipton … Executive Producer, Writer
- Gina M. Angelone … Producer
- Joshua White … Producer, Director
- Tory Street … Associate Producer
- Angelo Badalamenti … Music by
- James Lipton … Host
- Carol Burnett … Guest
- George Abbott
- Tim Conway
- Joan Crawford
- John Foster Dulles
- Harvey Korman
- Vicki Lawrence
- Lyle Waggoner
- Ken Welch