September 17, 2015
The Carol Burnett Show: The Lost Episodes
Karin McKie READ TIME: 2 MIN.
The 6-DVD set of "The Carol Burnett Show: The Lost Episodes" features 16 uncut episodes, including the first five seasons that have never been aired or offered in other formats until now.
The groundbreaking star offers classic sketches from her seminal series, including "Carol and Sis," "The Ham Actors," and "As the Stomach Turns." Guest stars include Lucille Ball, Phyllis Diller, Paul Lynde, Bob Newhart, Bernadette Peters, Burt Reynolds, Don Rickles, Flip Wilson, among many others. Most of these folks from back in the day -- plus newer fans including Tina Fey, Steve Carell, and Kristin Chenoweth -- have written personal notes of congratulations in the enclosed printed "Guest Book."
The set also contains over 11 hours of exclusive bonus features on "The Lost Episodes," "Classic Carol," and "Treasures from the Vault" sections, including Carol and company returning for a backstage tour of CBS Studio 33, outtakes, interviews with Julie Andrews, Carol Channing and others, and the featurettes "Fabulous Firsts" and a Q&A with Carol.
"Classic Carol" contains a writer's roundtable with the show's writers, interviews with show dancer Randy Doney and ballet dancer Edward Villella, and "The Garry Moore Show" episodes that feature the original "Accidents and "Princess of Monrovia" sketches.
Interviews with Tony Bennett, Reynolds, Carell, Chenoweth and Fey are on "Treasures," with bonus sketches and outtakes, and the featurettes "The Song and Dance: Crooners, Hoofers & Balladeers," "Expecting the Unexpected," and "The Making of a Mackie" (check out surprise appearances by Bob Hope and Ronald Reagan in this group's episodes).
Other content features Carol as Princess Winnifred in the 1972 CBS television movie of "Once Upon a Mattress"; the "Carol +2" TV special starring Carol, Ball and Zero Mostel; the origins of Carol's classic charwoman character; the featurettes "The Golden Age of the Variety Show" and "Messages to Carol"; plus interviews with Alan Alda, Bill Hader and others.
For binge-watching Burnett buffs, for those clamoring for Carol, this set will keep you breaking character for days.
Still can't get enough? Fans who missed the earlier Ultimate and VIP collections can order them from Time Life at www.lostcarolepisodes.com.
"The Carol Burnett Show: The Lost Episodes"
DVD Set
$59.95
http://timelife.com/products
Karin McKie is a writer, educator and activist at KarinMcKie.com