The Carol Burnett Show “Gone with the Wind” sketch.
I used to love to watch The Carol Burnett show when I was younger. I realize I’m showing my age when I say that. 
I’m sure many of my blog readers either have never seen an episode of the Carol Burnett Show (later known as Carol Burnett and Friends), or they don’t even know who she is.
The Carol Burnett Show starred comedians Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner and Tim Conway. The show started on CBS on September 11, 1967 and ran through March 29, 1978. There are a total of 278 episodes.
The Carol Burnett Show won 25 Emmy Awards and is considered one of the Best TV Shows of All Time.
Available just in time for the holiday season are two great collections that is sure to delight any Carol Burnett show fans. I received both sets to review. Since I was already a fan of the show (and I haven’t seen an episode in probably 20+ years) I was super excited to pop them into my DVD player. My husband is a fan of the show too so he was equally as anxious to watch the DVDs. My teenagers on the other hand were not that interested in them at first.
My husband and I watched a couple of DVDs and were laughing our heads off. Out of curiosity our kids finally sat down with us to see what was so funny. At first they grumbled and rolled their eyes thinking what we were watching was “stupid” and “boring” (got to love teenagers). That is until they started to laugh too. It started out as a few chuckles here and there. Before you knew it they were laughing right along side me and my husband. That’s right – teenagers laughing at a show their parents like. How rare is that? Ha Ha.
Now when ever we pop in a Carol Burnett DVD our kids will willingly sit along side us and watch it. We never have to ask him – they just willingly join us.
The two DVD collections I received was The Carol Burnett Show: Christmas with Carol and The Carol Burnett Show: The Ultimate Collection.
I love watching holiday programming, so I was excited to check out the holiday episodes from the Carol Burnett Show. The DVD features two episodes, plus some bonus skits. I would have thought during the show’s run that there would have been more holiday episodes. Perhaps there were and they will show up in future DVDs.
Here are the two episodes featured on the DVD.
Show #813 Original Air Date: December 21, 1974
Looking for a Norman Rockwell-style Christmas, merry and stress-free? Then avoid the Higgins residence. Santa would. Despite Eunice’s “Merry Xmas” apron and Ed’s mile-wide red tie, there’s no joy in the house once Eunice’s younger brother Larry (Alan Alda) and Mama arrive. They all act like they sat on a bough of holly. Ed’s ready and eager to capture every Kodak-Christmas moment for posterity. On a happier note, Carol and Alan Alda find peace amid the commercial holiday hustle and bustle. He’s a soon-to-be unemployed department store Santa, while she’s all thumbs over in the gift-wrapping section. Their Nobody Does It Like Me duet fits like a warm Christmas sweater.
Show #1113
Original Air Date: December 18, 1977
Mr. Tudball and Mrs. Wiggins aren’t known for their rapport or business smarts. She moves about a mile an hour, and he talks with a bizarre hybrid accent. They awkwardly observe the “mistletoe” tradition. Once he breaks out some champagne, the boss and his secretary finally communicate-sort of. Tudball’s wife, played by Vicki Lawrence, pays a surprise visit to the office and catches them with their guards down, so to speak. Vicki and Tim Conway carefully measure Carol for a Christmas present, a dress and hat combo that looks like the handiwork of a true idiot. The smart money’s on Tim. Carol’s concluding song celebrates Christmas and all holidays of the year, large and small.
In addition to these episodes there are plenty of bonus skits
Christmas Night Quarrel w/ Carol and Sid Caesar
Charwoman: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Q&A w/Jonathan Winters (Show #017, December 25, 1967)
The Twelve Days after Christmas (Show #114, December 30, 1968)
These holiday episodes are pure, clean fun. They are “safe” for even the youngest family member.
These days a lot of the newer holiday shows have humor that is not necessarily “family friendly”, or humor that is about farting, cursing or sexual innuendos – none of which should be included in HOLIDAY programming. This is just pure, clean fun!
I know that my family is going to request that we watch this DVD again and again during the holiday season, year after year. Even my teens found it funny.
If you are a huge Carol Burnett fan, or you just want some DVDs that will have you crying with laughter, consider The Carol Burnett Show: The Ultimate Collection. This beautifully boxed set comes with 22 DVDs (that is A LOT of DVDS!) and a whopping 50 episodes of this classic, beloved television series.
Inside the box you’ll find several collections divided up into individual sets like Carol’s Favorites, One More Time and This Time Together.
Technically you could give each collection as a gift, but chances are you won’t want to split up this amazing set.
My family and I have not watched all the DVDs in this collection – yet. We have been popping in a new DVD here and there (a couple of times we watched two DVDs in a row). When it’s bitterly cold outside there is nothing better than to sit on the couch, snuggle up in a warm blanket, enjoy some tea or hot cocoa and laugh your head off watching The Carol Burnett Show. Even my hard to impress teens are happy to do that with us.
I think one of our favorite things about watching The Carol Burnett Show is when the actors start cracking up and trying to hide their laughter from the rest of their cast mates. Harvey Korman especially has a hard time keeping a straight face, especially when working with Tim Conway.
MANY famous celebrities make appearances throughout the episodes. Some people might not be familiar with, but if you are around my age I’m sure you’ll know who I am talking about – Steve Martin, Jerry Lewis, Vincent Price, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Roddy McDowall, Carl Reiner, Phil Silvers, Maggie Smith and a very young looking Betty White. There are others whose names I can’t think of, but maybe you’ll recognize them.
There are plenty of bonus features in this set including interviews with celebrities – even “current” celebrities like Amy Poehler.
There are HOURS of BONUS features and episodes too (including 12+ featurettes), rare sketches and a look at Carol’s start on The Garry Moore Show (I have never heard of that show until now) where Carol first did her infamous Tarzan yell. There is a look at some of the costumes, which I didn’t know where created by designer Bob Mackie.
The set also comes with a special collector’s book.
It’s going to take a while to go through all the DVDs and bonus features. I have a feeling we’ll get through them all before the end of Winter. I would rather be in my home – safe, sound and warm – watching a Carol Burnett Show DVD then outside dealing with the cold, wind, snow and ice.
The set is from Star Vista Entertainment (formerly Time Life). It’s available at many retail locations, as well as the holiday collection. Visit www.TimeLife.com for more information on these and other classic television sets (such as Get Smart, The Andy Williams Show, Mama’s Family and the Smothers Brothers).
Are you a fan of the Carol Burnett Show? Do you have a favorite character or skit? Feel free to share your thoughts.
Kimberly
*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.