Carol Burnett Looks Back

A recent addition to our New Adult Nonfiction, In Such Good Company, is a memoir by legendary comedienne, Carol Burnett.

To research for her book, she rewatched all 276 episodes of 'The Carol Burnett Show'.  The book covers the show from first concepts (the network was initial opposed to a female led variety show, considering that to be a male-only field and wanted her to star in a situation comedy instead) to pulling together her supporting cast, writers, stage crew and other behind-the-scenes people, such as costume designer Bob Mackie, whose curtain-gown that he created for Carol to wear as Starlett O'Hara is now part of the Smithsonian collection.

Other sections cover recurring characters/sketches such as 'As the Stomach Turns', 'Mrs. Wiggins', the Charwoman, and 'The Old Folks'.  She also covers the many movie parodies, her favorite guest stars and also pays tribute to the unscripted, embarrassing moments that happen when working in front of a live audience.

For anyone that remembers watching the show, this book is a wonderful look back at some of the best comedy moments made for television.

One Funny and Classy Lady

This blog post has been written by Evangeline, the library's Local History Librarian!

When I was a little girl, I remember watching reruns of the Carol Burnett show on television. I may not have gotten every joke, but I knew it was funny (You really don't seem to find that kind of comedic talent these days). In her latest memoir, This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection, Carol Burnett shares some of the most intimate and poignant thoughts about growing up, as well as discusses her time in show business. She has recently been touring in a show that resembles the question and answer segment she used to do at the beginning of her famous variety show; and this book contains the answers to some of the most often asked of those questions. There are stories about famous people: Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant and even Marlon Brando. There are stories about each of the members of the cast from the Carol Burnett Show--Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Wagoner, Harvey Korman, and, of course, Tim Conway. My favorite stories, though, are those personal stories that she includes about her children, her Nanny, her pets and the everyday people she meets. Be on the lookout for the story of the time she had to take her little dog to the vet in New York during a full blown blizzard, or the time that she was on an airplane with a bunch of Japanese businessmen. One of my personal favorites is the time she was "almost" mugged in New York City! All of these stories illustrate the determination and wit Carol Burnett has used throughout her life to achieve her goals and entertain the masses. She is a regular person with a great talent who is loved by millions. This book is a wonderful and uplifting read and I highly recommend it to those who love Carol Burnett or those who just love good stories.