CAROL BURNETT SHOW, THE (JOHN BYNER, HELEN REDDY) (TV)
Summary
One in this series of comedy/variety programs starring Carol Burnett. This program features special guests John Byner and Helen Reddy.
The episode begins as Burnett takes the stage and chats with the audience, discussing her love of Elvis Presley, the show having run for eight years, and whether she might consider a run for governor. Burnett then introduces a young "scholarship winner" (show writer Kenny Solms), who apparently believes himself to have landed a spot as a new regular cast member; Burnett awkwardly attempts to set him straight.
Reddy sings "Angie Baby," followed by an installment of "The Family," in which Thelma offers her critiques of Eunice's housekeeping and parenting skills, as usual, and Eunice tries to cheer things up by introducing a round of the board game Sorry! Though Ed dismisses it as a "baby game," the trio soon gets overly invested in the competition and begins airing unrelated grievances toward one another; an aggrieved Eunice ends up nearly destroying her own living room in a rage.
Byner performs a stand-up routine about his youth in the 1950s, describing his attempts to emulate Elvis and the somewhat unrealistic qualities of a serene domestic comedy like "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." In the next sketch, two bachelors attempt to talk to a pair of nervous ladies, Tippy and Felicia, at a singles' bar, though Tippy is frightened of appearing "easy." The two pairs repeatedly try and fail to interact with one another, finally giving up shortly after last call.
Finally, Burnett and the other performers honor notable female songwriters and composers with a medley of tunes including Reddy's famous "I Am Woman," "You've Got a Friend," "Where You Lead," "It's a Good Day," "Hey! Look Me Over!", "Leave Me Alone," "You Always Hurt the One You Love," "I'll Never Smile Again," "The Way We Were," "Far Away Places," "Ohio," "Wedding Bell Blues," "You've Lost that Loving Feeling," "Both Sides Now," "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life," "God Bless the Child," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," and "America the Beautiful." Burnett then closes the show by singing her signature good-night song and adding her guests' autographs to her guest book. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: November 9, 1974 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:50
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:58965
- GENRE: Comedy/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Women's Collection - Comedy; Comedy/Variety; Music
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1967-1978
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Joe Hamilton … Executive Producer
- Ed Simmons … Producer
- Robert Wright … Associate Producer
- Dave Powers … Director
- Ernest Flatt … Choreographer
- Cary Belkin … Writer
- Roger Beatty … Writer
- Arnie Kogen … Writer
- Bill Richmond … Writer
- Gene Perret … Writer
- Rudy de Luca … Writer
- Barry Levinson … Writer
- Barry Harman … Writer
- Dick Clair … Writer
- Jenna McMahon … Writer
- Carol Burnett … Host, Performer
- Harvey Korman … Cast
- Vicki Lawrence … Cast
- Helen Reddy … Guest, Performer
- John Byner … Guest, Performer
- Elvis Presley
- Kenny Solms