MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: AN AFTERNOON WITH CAROL BURNETT {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. In this seminar, moderated by Museum president Robert M. Batscha, Carol Burnett discusses her television career as a comedienne, actress, and singer.
Batscha begins the seminar with a screening of highlights of Burnett's work, including clips of the following programs, among others: "The Ed Sullivan Show" (1957); "The Garry Moore Show" (1960,1961); "Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall" (1962); "The Carol Burnett Show" (1969, 1974); "Sills and Burnett at the Met" (1976); "ABC Theatre: Friendly Fire" (1979); "All My Children" (1983); "Carol & Company" (1990). After the screening, Burnett joins Batscha on stage for a discussion of the following topics: the origins of the famous "Carol Burnett Show" sketch in which she appears as Scarlett O'Hara, wearing draperies and a curtain rod; "I Made a Fool of Myself Over John Foster Dulles," the song by Ken Welch that helped launch Burnett's career; the creation of her favorite character, "Eunice"; her childhood love of movies, which led to the many film spoofs she has done over the years; her acclaimed dramatic performance in "Friendly Fire," which she says she played a bit "close to the vest" and would do differently now. Questions from the audience lead to her comments on the following topics, among others: the darker elements of the "Eunice" sketches; her tendency to underestimate her own ability as a singer; writers she has worked with over the years; meeting childhood idol James Stewart for the first time; the influence of her unconventional grandmother, who raised her; the support she received from close friend Lucille Ball, whom she calls one of the most honest people she's ever met; the show business careers of her daughters; how she got hooked on, and began appearing in, the serial "All My Children"; the demise of the variety show format; her casting in the Broadway hit, "Once Upon a Mattress"; possible future projects; her friendship with Beverly Sills; working with Walter Matthau in the movie "Pete 'n' Tillie"; a humorous story about doing re-shoots for the film "Annie" after having had cosmetic surgery to alter her chin; the significance of her trademark "ear-tug."
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: January 12, 1995 12:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:33:49
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:35417
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: She Made It Collection (Carol Burnett)
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert M. Batscha … Moderator
- Carol Burnett … Guest