In Such Good Company

June 27, 2016
From 1967 to 1978, The Carol Burnett Show delighted television viewers of all ages from coast to coast. Now Burnett presents a look at her beloved variety hour. Though it may start with the show’s inauspicious beginnings (a forgotten clause in Burnett’s contract) and end with its star-studded finale, Burnett’s narrative is hardly chronological; instead, it resembles the conversational cadence of a relative reminiscing about the good old days. This is certainly a relatable approach, but it does lead Burnett to repeat details about her favorite stories. Nevertheless, Burnett’s fans will enjoy the wealth of knowledge as she reveals her close relationships with her crew, revisits highlights from audience q&a sessions, and shares anecdotes about the biggest stars of the 1960s and ’70s. Burnett watched every episode afresh to research this book, and that attention to detail shows in her exhaustive accounts of major sketches. However, even nonfans will enjoy the nuggets of intrigue Burnett scatters throughout, in which she shines a light on the sexism she faced during her tenure as a leading lady of the small screen.

July 1, 2016
The TV legend reflects on her eponymous variety series.When the Carol Burnett Show premiered on CBS in 1967, it was the heyday for variety shows, which mixed sketch comedy with musical performances and were a staple on network TV. Though several shows from that era enjoyed high ratings for a few seasons, such as Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and the Glen Campbell Show, Burnett's (This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection, 2010, etc.) series remained an audience favorite for an unprecedented 11 years, winning multiple Emmy awards along the way and continuing in syndication ever since. In this light, behind-the-scenes memoir, the author pays tribute to the many talented individuals responsible for the show's enduring success, including the writers, musicians, designers, technicians, and, perhaps most significantly, her team of weekly performers and big-name celebrity guest stars. She additionally shares some of the hilarious impromptu moments on the set and sheds light on the many memorable sketches, including the movie parodies that have become classic TV. In brief, occasionally disjointed chapters, Burnett provides fascinating glimpses of the vigorous demands involved with producing her show, eventually summarizing why such shows are regretfully no longer produced on the same scale. "Sadly, variety shows like ours have gone the way of the dodo bird," she writes. "A variety show today can never duplicate what we did. Why? Money. The cost of clearing the songs and music would sink the Titanic. Sixty to seventy costumes a week? No way. A twenty-eight piece orchestra? Twelve dancers? A rep company of five? Six to eight sketches a show? Major guest stars? Block the entire show and rehearse with the orchestra in one day? The following day tape the whole shebang in two hours? Dream on." An entertaining if somewhat overly anecdotal look back at a beloved weekly variety series.

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July 1, 2016

From 1967 to 1978, The Carol Burnett Show made television history and is regularly recognized as one of the best shows of all time. Here Burnett (This Time Together) offers a breezy reminiscence of the show's creation, its cast and guests, and much-beloved characters and sketches. While there's some sense of chronology, most of the book is a collection of similarly themed anecdotes so readers can jump straight to the amazing guests (Ray Charles) or movie parodies (Went with the Wind). Burnett delivers hilarious and heartfelt stories that are full of comedy and light on drama. She stays positive even when discussing the frustrations of being a woman in the television industry and refuses to name names when it comes to her least favorite guest. VERDICT Who doesn't love Carol Burnett, and who better to tell the story of the show bearing her name? This quick trip down memory lane and great behind-the-scenes look at a truly one-of-a-kind production will have strong appeal for fans and readers who remember that era.--Terry Bosky, Madison, WI

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2016
Carol Burnett turned the musical-comedy variety shows of television's Golden Age in the 1950s platinum between 1967 and 1978 with her eponymous hit show, which racked up 25 Emmys. With 267 episodes broadcast during those 11 years, The Carol Burnett Show became the mainstay of must-see TV long before that was even a thing. Burnett tells the story of this high-caliber ensemble show as only she can, sharing all kinds of behind-the-scenes tales as she profiles her rock-star-famous cast of supporting and supportive comedians: look-alike Vicki Lawrence, invaluable sidekick Harvey Korman, ad-libbing genius Tim Conway, and heartthrob announcer Lyle Waggoner. Together, they formed the comedy foundation for appearances by the reigning TV and movie stars of the day as they participated in the show's cutting-edge sketch format. Burnett illuminates the backstories for such unforgettable characters as the Charwoman and Mrs. Wiggins and famous sketches such as Went with the Wind and The Family. Burnett and company are legends in American humor, and die-hard fans and everyone interested in classic TV comedy will enjoy Burnett's keen and funny recollections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)