Carol Burnett, who celebrated her 93rd birthday at the end of April, is one of the most legendary comediennes of all time. In a new interview, Burnett is speaking out to reveal how she taught herself slapstick comedy when she was getting her start in the entertainment business.
‘I Taught Myself…’
Last week, Burnett sat down with journalist Chris Nicholas for an interview that was published in Los Angeles Magazine. During their conversation, Burnett reflected on the early days of her career.
Nicholas asked Burnett about her appearance in a classic 1962 episode of The Twilight Zone. That episode was titled “Cavender Is Coming.” After pointing out that in the episode, Burnett “took a fall like a real slapstick comedian,” he asked, “Where did you learn that?”
“I taught myself,” Burnett replied. “I just learned that you don’t stiffen up when you’re gonna fall down.
Perhaps most surprisingly, Burnett added, I never broke anything.”
How iconic is that?!
Burnett’s Early Career
Burnett honed her comedy skills on The Garry Moore Show. This was a variety series that she appeared on from 1959 until 1962.
“I remember when I first got on The Garry Moore Show we did a sketch where I had to jump out of a window,” she recalled. “I said, ‘Sure’ because I wanted the job, I landed on a mattress and stupidly said ‘Thanks.’ “
Burnett admitted, “I just thought I was gonna go splat.”
The legendary Jerry Lewis, who died in 2017 at the age of 91, also appeared on The Garry Moore Show. Burnett can remember him being concerned for her, asking her at one point, “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” This concern stemmed from the fact that Lewis “took all those pratfalls” as well.
Thankfully, Burnett managed to come out of The Garry Moore Show unscathed. In fact, she even won an Emmy for her work on the variety series in 1962.
Burnett’s Athleticism Adds To Her Comedy
Looking back, Burnett believes that it was her athleticism that allowed her to excel so much in physical comedy. She grew up in Hollywood, and led an active life as a child.
“I used to fly kites and roller skate up the sidewalks,” she explained. “We would climb the Hollywood Sign with the neighborhood kids. The boards were rickety, and you’d get splinters, but at the top you could lean over and just look at Hollywood. I feel like I’ve lived a charmed life with so many wonderful coincidences that have happened.”
Of course, Burnett is best known for her own series The Carol Burnett Show, which ran from 1967 until 1978. Burnett made history as the first woman to have her own comedy-variety series. It was a massive hit and is still beloved by millions of fans to this day.
On The Carol Burnett Show, Burnett continued to take part in physical comedy sketches. She let herself get punched in the face or play an accident-prone wife who constantly falls over and is in desperate need of insurance.
During its run, The Carol Burnett Show won 25 Primetime Emmy Awards. Burnett herself has won seven Emmy Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards, a Grammy Award and a Tony Award. She’s also received honors like the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Burnett is a true living legend, and there will never be another one like her. The fact that she taught herself slapstick comedy only adds to how impressive the level of comedic genius that she’s brought to the world for decades.
God bless you, Carol Burnett!