A chat with Carol
Carol Burnett talks about her upcoming show and storied career
Carol Burnett talks about her upcoming performance at Jones Hall, her storied career, and reveals the weirdest question she’s been asked.
Carol Burnett turned 85 earlier this year. But the comedy legend still has a lot of living left to do.
Her new Netflix series, “A Little Help With Carol Burnett,” debuted in May. It features a group of precocious kids giving life advice to celebrities like DJ Khaled, Wanda Sykes and Lisa Kudrow.
Burnett says she’d love to do another movie musical like “Annie.” Her 1982 turn as Miss Hannigan entranced many a young viewer.
She’s currently on the road with “Carol Burnett: An Evening of Laughter and Reflection Where the Audience Asks the Questions,” including a Tuesday performance at Jones Hall. The title explains it all. She dishes on her iconic variety show, which ran from 19671978 and can now be seen nightly on MeTV (and those Time Life infomercials).
Between tour stops, Burnett talked about growing up in San Antonio and who makes her laugh today.
Q: You’ve been touring versions of this Q&A format for several years.
Does it change much from year to year, city to city?
A: They’re pretty much the same. And yes, I do get some of the same questions. But everything is off the cuff. I fly without a net. That’s what makes it, I think, more fun for the audience, too — and for me. It’s a good exercise for the brain. I’ve gotta be on my toes because not knowing what’s gonna come out of somebody’s mouth, I can’t be thinking about what I did yesterday or what I might do tomorrow. I’ve gotta really be in the present moment.
Q: Has there been a question that’s really surprised you?
A: It was the weirdest one I ever got. You have to remember it was 10 years ago. That’s important. I was in Texas. It was San Antonio, my hometown, and a lady in the balcony raised her hand and she said, “Carol, if you could be a member of the opposite sex for 24 hours, who would you be and what would you do?” I said a little prayer. “OK, God, I’m gonna open my mouth, and whatever comes out, it’s gonna be your fault.” I literally said that to myself. I said, “I’d be Osama bin
Laden, and I’d kill myself.” The audience went crazy. It was surreal. I had no idea I was gonna say that until it came out.
Q: When was the last time you roller skated?
A: Oh, wow. Actually, I roller skated to work when I was on “The Garry Moore Show” a few times in New York. It was quicker than getting a cab or a bus.
Q: You mentioned San Antonio, where you were born. What are your most vivid memories?
A: I remember we lived in an old house that had seen better days. I used to roller skate in front of the house, and the sidewalk was all cracked and buckled. I would fall down and skin my knee, and my grandmother would chase after me with the iodine. I’d run screaming. So I roller skated in the house. A few years ago, I was in San Antonio, and I went to visit the old house. The skate marks are still there, just grooved into the floor. Recently, (former San Antonio Mayor) Henry Cisneros and his wife turned it into a school for underprivileged Mexican children and their families. I visited the house again. They redid it, it just looked beautiful. And I looked down at the floor, and there were the skate marks.
Q: “The Carol Burnett Show” is a blueprint for all comedians. Is there someone working today who could thrive in that format?
A: I’m so happy about so many women that are in the forefront, which didn’t happen when I was getting my start. It was Lucy (Lucille Ball), mainly. Now you’ve got Tina Fey and Amy Poehler and Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon, Jane Lynch, Maya Rudolph. I would say Maya could do it because she also sings. And she’s funny as hell.
Q: Could a show like yours be successful today?
A: They couldn’t do what we did now because of the cost. We had a 28-piece orchestra. We had 12 dancers. We had two guest stars a week, at least. Bob Mackie designed an average of 65 costumes a week, which amounted to, in 11 years, over 17,000 costumes.
Q: Is there a costume that stands out amid all the rhinestones and feathers?
A: Well, I mean, the one that everybody talks about is the “Gone With the Wind” with the curtain rod. That was Bob’s idea. It was originally written that I would just run up the stairs and come down with the draperies hanging on me. Bob said, “That’s not as funny as it could be.” When I saw that in costume fitting, I fell on the floor. That costume now is in the Smithsonian.
Q: You’ve made appearances on everything from “All My Children” to “Glee.” Is there a current show you’d love to guest on?
A: You’re gonna laugh at this, but “Better Call Saul.” I think (creators) Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould are genius. Another one that I did laugh at out loud is “Schitt’s Creek.” I’d be one of the townspeople. I got such a kick out of it. I’d also love to work with Meryl Streep. I just love her. Not only is she a great actress, but she sings up a storm. And she’s funny. She’s got comedy chops.
Q: You continue to do new things, like the Netflix series “A Little Help With Carol Burnett.” What keeps you motivated?
A: I guess just curiosity and loving the idea of it. I don’t work that hard. I space it out. I just want to do this and do what I enjoy doing as long as I can do it.