#dave powers

November 4, 1968 ~ S2;E6

Directed by Dave Powers

Written by Bill Angelos, Stan Burns, Mike Marmer, Hal Goldman, Al Gordon, Don Hinkley, Kenny Solms, Gail Parent, Buz Kohan

Cast

Carol Burnett (Herself) got her first big break on “The Paul Winchell Show” in 1955. A years later she was a regular on “The Garry Moore Show.” In 1959 she made her Broadway debut in Once Upon a Mattress, which she also appeared in on television three times. From 1960 to 1965 she did a number of TV specials, and often appeared with Julie Andrews. Her second Broadway musical was Fade Out – Fade In which ran for more than 270 performances. From 1967 to 1978 she hosted her own highly successful variety show, “The Carol Burnett Show.” Lucille Ball made several appearances on “The Carol Burnett Show.” Burnett guest starred in four episodes of “The Lucy Show” and three episodes of “Here’s Lucy,” subsequently playing a character named Carol Krausmeyer. After Lucille Ball’s passing, Burnett was hailed as the natural heir to Lucy’s title of ‘The Queen of TV Comedy.’

Lucille Ball (Herself) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon, which was not a success and was canceled after just 13 episodes.

Supporting Cast

Vicki Lawrence was born Vicki Ann Axelrad in Inglewood, California. She sent Carol Burnett a newspaper clipping showing their uncanny resemblance to her. Burnett called Vicki hoping to find an entertainer who could play her kid sister on her variety show. Lawrence was chosen as the kid sister and in the fall of 1967, she made her debut on the first episode of “The Carol Burnett Show.” She spent 11 years with the show and earned one Emmy Award and five more nominations. She created the role of Mama in the Family Sketches, which was spun off to “Mama's Family.”  An accomplished singer, her recording of "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" was number one and earned a Gold Record. Lawrence attended the tribute shows “All Star Party for Carol Burnett” in 1982 and “All Star Party for Lucille Ball” in 1984.  

Harvey Korman got his first big break as a featured performer on “The Danny Kaye Show” in 1963. After ten successful seasons he left “The Carol Burnett Show” in 1977 to appear in his own series which only lasted six episodes. From 1964 to 1965 Korman appeared in three episodes of “The Lucy Show” as various characters. He found screen success in many of the films of Mel Brooks. Harvey Korman died in 2008 at age 81.

Lyle Waggoner was a handsome leading man who had little success in films but found fame as the announcer and character actor on “The Carol Burnett Show.” He left the show in 1974 in a mutual agreement with the producers to appear in “Wonder Woman.”  

Guest Cast

Eddie Albert (Himself) had appeared with Lucille Ball in the 1950 film The Fuller Brush Girl and would guest-star as himself on “Here's Lucy” in 1973.

Nancy Wilson (Herself) makes the first of her six appearances on “The Carol Burnett Show.”

Don Crichton (Count Orloff, uncredited) was one of the Lester Flatt dancers. He also made three appearances on “Here's Lucy.”  

Dede Ball (Herself, in Audience) is Lucille Ball's mother. She is said to have been in the audience for every show Lucy ever did in front of live audience.

Ernie Anderson (Himself, in Audience) replaced Lyle Waggoner as the show's announcer in 1974. In 1967 he starred with Tim Conway in the short-lived TV series “Rango.”  

Timeline of collaborations between Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett (not including award and talk shows)

September 27, 1960 - “The Garry Moore Show” (S3;E1) Lucille Ball, Guest

March 22, 1966 - “Carol + 2” Lucille Ball, Guest Star

October 31, 1966 - “Lucy Gets a Roommate” (TLS S5;E7) Carol Burnett as Carol Bradford

November 7, 1966 - “Lucy and Carol in Palm Springs” (TLS S5;E8) Carol Burnett as Carol Bradford

October 2, 1967 - “The Carol Burnett Show” (S1;E4) Lucille Ball, Guest Star

December 4, 1967 - “Lucy and Carol Burnett: Part 1” (TLS S6;E14) Carol Burnett as Carol Bradford

December 11, 1967 - “Lucy and Carol Burnett: Part 2” (TLS S6;E15) Carol Burnett as Carol Bradford

November 4, 1968 - “The Carol Burnett Show” (S2;E6) Lucille Ball, Guest

January 27, 1969 - “Lucy and Carol Burnett” (HL S1;E17) Carol Burnett as Herself

November 24, 1969 - “The Carol Burnett Show” (S3;E9) Lucille Ball, Guest

March 2, 1970 - “Lucy Competes With Carol Burnett” (HL S2;E24) Carol Burnett as Carol Krausmeyer

October 19, 1970 - “The Carol Burnett Show” (S4;E6) Lucille Ball, Guest

February 8, 1971 - “Lucy and Carol Burnett” (HL S3;E22) Carol Burnett as Carol Krausmeyer

Like Lucille Ball's sitcoms, “The Carol Burnett Show” was also aired on Monday nights, generally at 10pm. There was no new “Here's Lucy” episode on November 4, 1968 due to it being the eve of a Presidential Election. The next day, Republican challenger Richard M. Nixon defeated Vice President Hubert Humphrey, and Independent Party candidate George Wallace.

In Carol's opening remarks she brings out Lucy, who introduces her mother Dede, who is sitting in the audience. Carol asks Lucy about working with her children, Lucie and Desi Jr., on her new show, “Here's Lucy.”  

Harvey joins Carol for a sketch called "The Old Folks” where they play two senior citizens in rocking chairs.

Carol introduces Nancy Wilson, who sings "The Folks Who Live on the Hill" (1937) by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II.

Carol and Vicki play sisters (as they often did) named Carol and Chrissy, in a sketch where Carol's husband Roger (Harvey Korrman) brings home his new boss, Mr. Bellows (Eddie Arnold), a health fanatic who expects them both to be as fit as he is. In this sketch, Carol and Roger's last name is Bradford, just like Carol's was in her first appearances on “The Lucy Show” in 1966 and 1967.

Sitting alone in an empty bedroom, Eddie Albert sings "Father of Girls" by Ervin M. Drake, although it begins with a verse from “Soliloquy” from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel.

In the soap opera parody “As the Stomach Turns,” Carol (as Marion) and Lucy (as Laura Peterson) are widows and funeral groupies. Vikki plays Carol's unmarried daughter with two infants in her arms. 

Eddie Albert plays a widower named Chester Marfack, a mortician. Nancy Wilson (as Julia) arrives and announces her intentions to integrate Canoga Falls. In the final moments a handsome stranger comes to the door (Lyle Waggoner, naturally).

This sketch was produced at the height of the civil rights movement and satirically reflected how television portrayed race. As in all real soap operas, the dialogue is delivered without irony or expression - almost deadpan. 

Marion (answering the door to Nancy Wilson): “Why, it's a negro. (organ sting) The first negro we've ever had in Canoga Falls.” Julia: “Hello. I've come to integrate your town.” Marion: “Wonderful news.” Julia: “My name is Julia. I graduated from college when I was 15, medical school at 15, phi beta kappa, summa cum laude, and I'm up for the Nobel Prize.” Marion: “Good for you, Julia.” Julia: “Well, I could have gone further, if it hadn't been for discrimination.” Marion: “Tell me, do you have a place to live yet?” Julia: “No, I don't.” Marion: “Would you like to live here?” Julia: “Would I have to pay rent?” Marion: “I'm a liberal, but I'm not a fanatic. Tell me, are you married?” Julia: “I'm a widow.” Marion: “Oh, a black widow.  I want to introduce you to my friends. Julia, this is Chester Marfack, the town mortician.  Chester, this is Julia, the town negro.”

When Julia says her name, the audience laughs with recognition. “Julia” was one of the first weekly series to depict an African American woman in a non-stereotypical role. The show starred actress and singer Diahann Carroll, and ran for 86 episodes on NBC, from September 17, 1968, to March 23, 1971. Like the Julia of “As the Stomach Turns,” the character was in the medical field and a widow. When this sketch first aired, the show had only been on for five weeks, but was hyped in the media for its take on a working woman of color. 

The finale is a tribute to the astrological sign Leo which happens to be Lucy's sign. Nancy teams with Carol for "The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener" by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent which was a 1967 hit for Petula Clark.

Special lyrics about famous Leos are put to the song “Drop That Name” written by Jule Styne for the musical Bells Are Ringing (1956). Names dropped include Henry Ford, Lawrence of Arabia, and Orville Right. The song features quick black-out sketches about the Leos as well as a photo montage of those mentioned.  

As Cleopatra, Nancy Wilson sings “A Good Man is Hard To Find” written in 1919 by Eddie Green and popularized by Bessie Smith. Eddie Albert appears as Julius Caesar. Carol plays Queen Elizabeth I singing the same song (with adapted lyrics). Harvey Korman appears as Lord Essex. Lucy picks up the song as Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, glamorously attired in an all-white costume by Bob Mackie. 

Lucy: “Peter the third, my royal spouse, No longer hangs around the house. I think you're cute Count Orloff, Potemkin, too. There's gotta be one Russian in the joint who'll do. What Catherine wants, she's sure to get. No man would dare to answer 'nyet.'   I'll have a royal ball, with one and all. So you show up at seven, and you fill in at eight.” Boys: “Every Cossack knows the reason Catherine's great.” Lucy: “Because a good man nowadays is hard to find!”

Throughout the medley, Vicki Lawrence plays a troubadour with a lute, introducing each new Leo in song.

Ooops! When playing exercise fanatic Mr. Bellows, Eddie Arnold accidentally trips on the platform leading to the front door. Luckily, he ends in a sitting position.  

Earlier in the same sketch, Carol grabs the bags of groceries from Vicki and several boxes of food fly out, landing with a hollow thud. Vicki retrieves one, but a milk carton is stranded on the set for the entire sketch.

In the finale, Lucy's last solo line “Treat him right!” is obviously not Lucille Ball  singing. 

This Date in Lucy History - November 4th

Rose Kennedy addresses the Brighton Women’s Club in Ward 22.

♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ Artist: Dave Powers Track: Lester Leaps In Album: The House Jazz Concert Series, Vol. 4 featuring Ken Karsh and Michael Cox Year: 2012 Label: Self Produced