Friday, April 9, 2010

Week of April 9: The Other Carol Burnett Shows (Including The Garry Moore Show)

Carol Burnett has published a new book, "This Time Together." Much of it is about her extraordinary television career.

The crowning achievement, of course, was "The Carol Burnett Show," which came into our homes via CBS at 10 p.m. on Saturday nights from 1967-78. Burnett has also had a rich television presence in variety series and specials beyond that.

Burnett speaks fondly of "The Garry Moore Show," which aired on CBS 1958-64. She was a member of the cast from 1959-62 and won an Emmy during her last season. At about 3 minutes into this clip, there is a great sketch spoofing game shows featuring Burnett, Moore, George Gobel and Marion Lorne (who would memorably go on to play Aunt Clara on "Bewitched"):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxNith1q4Nc

Burnett would win another Emmy in 1963 for the first of three specials she's done with good friend Julie Andrews. Here's the intro to their second special, in 1971:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7nn9t952Do

During the run of her variety series, Burnett also made time for a CBS special with another good friend, legendary soprano Beverly Sills. "Sills and Burnett at the Met" got plenty of raves and laughs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evnf7T-nIPI

She also had another variety series, this one for NBC in 1990-91, called "Carol & Company." The young cast she worked with included Jeremy Piven ("Entourage"), Peter Krause ("SportsNight," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Parenthood") and Richard Kind, who later co-starred in NBC's "Mad About You," in which Burnett played the mother of Jamie Buchman (Helen Hunt).

While variety is her forte, Burnett has also guest-starred on plenty of comedy and dramatic series, including "The Lucy Show," "Magnum, P.I." and her favorite soap opera, "All My Children," which also has another famous fan/guest star:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSJGBYvm_Es

We say "So Long" to this tribute by going back to the centerpiece, from the end of the 1969-70 season, which features the full version of the song that inspired the book title - "I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgbYZ3F4DjM&feature=related

So are we, Carol. So are we.

"This Time Together" is on sale online and at bookstores.

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Reluctantly, we say goodbye to another television icon: John Forsythe.

Obviously, most tributes mentioned his work on "Charlie's Angels" and "Dynasty," but he had another hit: "Bachelor Father," from 1957-62. Forsythe played Bentley Gregg, who raised his niece, Kelly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb_1A5Dzukc

Some trivia: Linda Evans, who would be Forsythe's co-star on "Dynasty," also guest-starred on "Bachelor Father," which hopped through all three main networks during its run.

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See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

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