“The Carol Burnett Show” was one of the most successful sketch comedy shows of all time when it ran on CBS from 1967 through 1978, and it continues to make fans laugh to this day. Despite this, star Carol Burnett does not feel like the show could ever be on television today.
Burnett Sounds Off
Just before her 90th birthday last year, Burnett reflected on the state of comedy today, saying that there is something missing from modern sketch shows. She went on to say that she misses the classics, saying, “I’d like to see variety come back.”
“But [the networks] could never do what we did because I think the cost would be extravagant now,” she explained to Fox News. “We had a 28-piece orchestra, 12 dancers. We had 60 to 75 costumes a week. Bob Mackie designed for our guest stars.”
“All of that you couldn’t do today,” she continued. “It would be too much. We did kind of a Broadway mini-musical comedy review every week. And that couldn’t be done today. But there could be a hybrid of some way to do a variety show because there are people who could certainly do variety. But I don’t think a network would take a chance. I just wish they would.”
Related: Carol Burnett, 89, Reveals She Fought Hard To Get ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ On TV
Burnett Slams ‘SNL’ – Talks Friendship With Lucille Ball
Though many fans have said that “The Carol Burnett Show” paved the way for “Saturday Night Live,” Burnett has no interest in hosting that program.
“I would not be interested,” she stated. “That’s all I can say.”
Burnett credits the late “I Love Lucy” star Lucille Ball with being her mentor, even giving her a gig when she was out of the job as a young budding comedienne. The two women remained close friends until Ball passed away in 1989 at the age of 77.
“She never tried to give me any advice,” Burnett said. “She was not one to give any kind of advice. She just supported me. And we had fun working together. Having fun was so important to us.”
Related: Carol Burnett Reveals Why She Has No Plans To Retire At 89
Burnett’s Birthday Special
Burnett is preparing to celebrate her birthday with the special “Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love,” which was filmed last month but will air on NBC at 8pm on April 26. The show features performances from Katy Perry, Kristin Chenoweth, Bernadette Peters, and more. Guest stars on the special include Cher, Ellen DeGeneres, Steve Carell, Amy Poehler, and Julie Andrews, who Burnett has been friends with for decades.
“What I love about it was the fact that it wasn’t a roast, and it wasn’t a birthday party with a cake and balloons and stuff,” Burnett said with a laugh. “It was a two-hour variety show. We had a 19-piece orchestra and I had so many friends who were there. And the live entertainment, my gosh… It was really exciting.”
“It was just a party – everybody had a good time,” she added. “It was all incredible. I’m still reeling from it. It was a celebration of everything I’ve done. And it feels wonderful.”
Burnett is a true living legend, and there will never be another one like her. They really don’t make comedy the way she did on “The Carol Burnett Show” anymore, so we can’t help but agree with her that a show of that caliber would not be on the air today!
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