It’s been 44 years since Alan Alda worked with Carol Burnett on the 1981 romantic comedy The Four Seasons, but it’s an experience that he’s never forgotten. In a new interview, Alda is speaking out to reveal his favorite memory of working with Burnett on this iconic film.
Alda’s Favorite Burnett Memory
Alda, 89, told People Magazine that during a break from filming the movie, he met up with Burnett, 92, at a Chinese restaurant.
“There was a dish of moo shu pork on the table, and it had vegetables wrapped up in a pancake,” Alda recalled. “At one point Carol stood up, held the pancake up and let the whole thing unroll and said: ‘It’s a message from the king.'”
Alda both directed and starred in The Four Seasons. Before actual filming began, he spent three weeks in rehearsals with Burnett and the rest of the cast. Other stars of the movie included Rita Moreno, Len Cariou, and Sandy Dennis.
“Most of that time was spent getting to know each other, having dinner together, having lunch together,” Alda remembered. “There was a lot of laughing and admiring one another’s work. When everybody really engages, the ease of real old friendship comes out [on screen], which is important for that story, because you have to believe that a friendship is being jeopardized. It was a very happy shoot.”
Related: Alan Alda, 89, Gives Sad Update About His Health As Former MASH Star Battles Parkinson’s Disease
Netflix Remakes The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons has gained a massive resurgence in interest as of late. This is largely because Tina Fey just rebooted it as a series for Netflix. Alda even had a cameo in the show.
“I’m so happy for Tina,” he gushed. “The movie meant a lot to me, and people are reacting to her work very much as they did to mine.”
Watch Fey gush about Alda and Burnett in the video below.
Both the original The Four Seasons and the Netflix version are about marriage, something that Alda knows a thing or two about. Indeed, he’s been married to his wife Arlene for 68 years.
“She always says, ‘The secret to marriage is a short memory,’” he explained. “We both try to practice being there when we’re there: listening, answering, taking an interest. You can get used to somebody no matter who it is. I’ve always thought if the Pope and Mother Teresa were a couple, after a few years, they’d have to work it out.”
Related: Alan Alda, 89, Admits He Didn’t Recognize His Own Daughter Amidst Devastating Health Battle
Alda Wants To Work With Burnett Again
In another interview, Alda was asked what he would want the storyline for season two of The Four Seasons to be if he had the chance to make another cameo appearance.
“The story is: I meet this wonderful woman,” Alda told Vanity Fair. “I never thought I’d be interested in anybody else, and it turns out to be Carol Burnett. Everybody’s upset, not because I’ve replaced my wife, but because they noticed her stealing a piece of silverware.”
How fun would that be?! Let’s get on that, Netflix!
Alda and Burnett are two legends, and there have never been anyone else in Hollywood quite like them. We’re glad to see that behind the scenes, they had just as much fun together as their characters did onscreen!
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