The Greatest TV Comedies - The Carol Burnett Show (1967 - 1978)

I remember watching The Carol Burnett Show every weeknight at 6:35 pm on the cable channel TBS during the 80's while in my teens. And it was one of the funniest shows I had ever seen. When it originally aired back in the late 60's through the late 70's, it was variety show unlike any variety show before it. Filled with skits, musical interludes and guest stars by the buckets. The crack ensemble cast was led by Carol Burnett, who for my money is the funniest woman on TV. Sorry Lucy and Mary. Carol would come out at the beginning of each show and talk to the live audience directly. She would answer questions and sometime bring guests up on stage with her. One of her most frequent requests was for her to do her famous Tarzan yell. She nailed it everytime, much to the delight of the audience. She also had the lovely habit of always tugging on her ear. Those two things quickly became her trademarks, much like Elizabeth Montgomery's nose twitching as Samantha on Bewitched or Telly Savalas licking a lollipop as Kojak.

Carol was backed by a wonderful supporting cast including Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Lyle Waggoner, and relative newcomer Vicki Lawrence (she was only 18 when cast on the show). The skits were so hilarious, sometimes it was hard for everyone to keep a straight face, especially Korman. He would dang near laugh before the punchline was delivered. One of the more popular recurring skits was Mama's Family, which cast Lawrence as the head of a Southern family who constantly bickered. Carol played Eunice, the daughter who loved being the center of attention and berating her lazy husband Ed (played by Korman). The skits proved so popular that it begat a series of its own for 7 seasons and 130 episodes.

I love this photo, especially with Vicki cracking up

Another popular recurring skit was the office centered one with Tim Conway as the befuddled boss Mr. Tudball and his secretary Ms. Wiggins (Burnett). Carol's slow and inept secretary constantly got on her boss last nerve.

Another popular recurring motif was spoofs of classic movies. Notable send-ups included Gone With The Wind, Pillow Talk, Snow White (with a terrifiic Ruth Buzzi as a demented fairy godmother) and a truly hilarious take off on Norma Desmond (with Carol having a field day taking the star to an even further level of craziness).

The Carol Burnett show ran for an astounding 11 seasons for an impressive 278 episodes. Winning tons of Emmys and Golden Globes and setting a new benchmark for all variety shows that followed. There is a loyal fan following of this amazing series and rightfully so. It was the perfect mix of entertainment for people of all ages. 

Here's a perfect example of a hilarious skit, only one minute long but very funny...

The Greatest TV Comedies - I DREAM OF JEANNIE (1965 - 1970)

A definite product of the 1960's is this entertaining series that had astronaut Tony Nelson (a game Larry Hagman), returning from a space mission, who lands on an uncharted island. He finds a magic lamp and uncorks it to find the irrepressible Jeannie (a wonderful Barbara Eden) a powerful genie, who must obey his every command. Once Tony and Jeannie make it back home to the hip Cocoa Beach, Jeannie constantly is getting herself and Tony into trouble. Much like Lucy did to Ricky on I Love Lucy. Tony has to keep Jeannie a secret, but his best pal Roger Healy (scene stealer Bill Daily) finds out. They were always scrambling to keep Colonel Bellows (the talented Hayden Rorke) a psychiatrist from finding out about Jeannie.

I Dream Of Jeannie was basically NBC's answer to ABC's mega hit Bewitched. The similar themes were there in the form of a woman with magical powers trying to please her husband. Well in Jeannie's case, her master. Samantha had a twin sister named Serena and Jeannie was given a twin too, with the imaginatively titled Jeannie Two (a little sarcasm there). Now I always preferred Bewitched and the awesomeness that is Elizabeth Montgomery, but Jeannie was good, high spirited fun. It's strange to see Larry Hagman in full manic mode doing pratfalls and quick takes like a born comedian. A totally different persona than his legendary evil JR Ewing from the night time soap opera, Dallas. He definitely goes all out for any and all kinds of gags. Eden is a delight too as Jeannie, as she gets ample opportunity to show her comic skills as opposed to just showing off her looks. Daily is supremely funny as Roger,who manages to walk away with several scenes throughout the series 5 year run. And Rorke as Bellows nails the befuddled doctor to perfection.

Look at the snazzy 60's era clothing...very cool

I enjoyed watching Jeannie reruns doing the early 80's on WTBS and it has developed a significant fan base over the decades. While it may not be always recognized as one of the top TV comedies of all time, you can't deny it's place in the annals of TV history. And for the record, I do think it is one of the best TV comedies of all time.

Some pertinent trivia and facts:
Jeannie's groovy bottle which was her home was actually a painted 1964 Jim Bean bottle.
The evil blue Djinn who had imprisoned Jeannie in her bottle for two thousand years was played by Eden's husband at the time, Michael Ansara.
After the pilot was made, Eden discovered she that she was pregnant. So for the first season, the producers used close-ups and always shot Eden from above the waist.
I Dream Of Jeannie ran for 5 years on NBC with 139 episodes.
A reunion movie was made in 1991 with Eden and Daily returning but not Hagman. He was replaced with former M*A*S*H star Wayne Rogers.

The Greatest TV Comedies - Bewitched (1964-1971)

Yes, Bewitched is one of my favorite shows of all time. I remember when TBS would air it alongside I Dream Of Jeannie, and while I also like Jeannie, I thought Bewitched was better. Mainly because of the terrific performance of Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha. Here is the story: Advertising executive Darrin Stephens (played by two different actors-Dick York and Dick Sargent: York was the better of the two) marries Samantha, a witch and they settle down in Westport, Connecticut at 1164 Morning Glory Circle. Samantha promised Darrin she would give up using magic to live the quiet life with him but that was easier said than done. Especially when Sam's mother Endora (played wonderfully by the great Agnes Moorehead) would pop in unannounced to stir things up. Endora and Darrin did not get along at all. She would constantly mispronounce his name and call him Durwood or Darwin. She would frequently turn Darrin into different kinds of animals or send to far away places. Of course Sam would have to do her best to bring these two together and it was never easy, but it provided plenty of laughs. Sam also had to deal with her nosy neighbor Mrs. Kravitz, who would always see Sam perform some magical trick and couldn't convince her husband of what she saw. Sam's mother wasn't the only relative to drop by. There was her dad, Maurice (played by Maurice Evans) who was debonair and doted on his daughter. But he too, despised Darrin. Sam had an uncle named Arthur (played to the hilt by Paul Lynde). Whenever Arthur showed up, it was like comedy night, as he let loose with a barrage of one liners and jokes. Next was Aunt Esmeralda (played by Alice Ghostley) who was very accident prone. Then there was Aunt Clara (Marion Lorne) who had trouble remembering certain spells. Sam even had a doctor at her beck and call named Dr. Bombay (Bernard Fox). Every fan should know the procedure for calling Dr. Bombay. Sam would recite his name several times like this: Calling Dr. Bombay..Calling Dr. Bombay. And he would magically appear right that second. And finally Sam had her wild sister Serena (Montgomery played both roles to great effect)who would constantly try to get Darrin into all kinds of trouble. That is an impressive cast list right there for supporting characters. And lets not forget Darrin's boss Larry Tate (David White) who was often confused at the antics going on at the Stephen's household. The series would eventually introduce a child into the mix as Sam and Darrin had a daughter named Tabitha (who also had magical powers).

Bewitched was a different type of sitcom during the 60's mainly because of the supernatural aspect of, but it was still one of the funniest ones ever to grace the small screen. Elizabeth Montgomery is truly excellent in her role as Samantha. She imbued Sam with smarts, good looks, and self reliance. She was nominated for an Emmy for five consecutive years for her role and don't ask me why or how she never won at least once. Major oversight on the Emmy's behalf. But anyway, Bewitched is a classic comedy series that ran for 8 years and produced a magical 254 episodes. It still airs today on cable and I watch it every now and then. And for the record I Dream Of Jeannie is a classic in it's own right too and I'm not knocking it. I will probably write a blog about it too. But there is something about Bewitched and Elizabeth Montgomery that had me at the very beginning. Her little quirks and sayings made her so adorable. Like before she performed any magic she would have to twinkle her nose or when she would get into trouble, she would draw out the word weeeellllllllllllll! Good stuff.



Check out this video clip of Samantha going through some highs and lows in emotions...

The Greatest TV Comedies -The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)

Here's the story: the classic comedy series that almost didn't happen. When this story was pitched to the studio, it was rejected as being too unbelievable. One year later in 1968, thanks to the success of the Lucille Ball/Henry Fonda movie Yours, Mine, and Ours about a blended family with a total of 18 children, The Brady Bunch was green lit, and the rest is history. The early seasons are the best in my opinion, before things got too weird, like the addition of a cousin named Oliver. But before that happened, hi jinks and hilarity were the order of the day. The cast was first rate and all did very well in their roles, remarkable considering most of the child actors had no experience before appearing in this series. The head of the family Mike Brady was played by Robert Reed, who was perfectly cast. I don't think you can picture any other actor at the time pulling off his Mike Brady character. I will give props to actor Gary Cole for nailing his take on Mike Brady in the big screen Brady movies. He had that same sing song delivery that Robert Reed did so very well. It helped that he had the lovely and engaging Florence Henderson as his wife Carol. The eldest son Greg (Barry Williams), the middle son Peter (Christopher Knight) and the young son Bobby (Mike Lookinland) meshed well with the girls. Leading the way of course was Marcia (Maureen McCormick), middle sister Jan (Eve Plumb) who actually gave the series it's biggest spark as her dislike of Marcia drove her to near insanity. And little Cindy (Susan Olsen). To help shepherd all these kids and the dog Tiger was Alice, the maid (played by TV veteran Ann B. Davis, whose resume includes The Bob Cummings Show, Dobie Gillis, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Bob Newhart Show). Davis brought her considerable experience to The Bradys and it showed in almost every episode.

Most people, even the die hard fans, realize that The Brady Bunch is kinda corny and square if watched today but it's still funny. I know I enjoyed it, when I caught it during reruns of WTBS back in the early 80's. And after a semi-successful 5 year run which logged 117 episodes, you may be surprised to learn that The Brady Bunch was never really a ratings powerhouse. It's highest ranking was number 34 during it's run, but the appeal of this show is timeless. It spun off several other series including The Brady Brides, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, The Bradys, and two Hollywood movies during the 90's that captured a whole new generation of fans. I still enjoy catching a episode every now then. As a matter of fact I just watched one the other day involving Peter being harassed at school by a bully. And having his dad step in to deal with the bully's dad. I laughed quite a bit. Anyway, The Brady Bunch is easily one of the great TV comedies of all time that I would gladly take over some of the comedies that are currently on TV right now. And it was very cool seeing the kids grow up right before your eyes. From precocious youngsters to teen-agers, they still managed to stay together like one big family. And that's how they became The Brady Bunch. Plus, let's not forget that great theme song, one of TV's best ever.

The Greatest TV Comedies - Green Acres (1965-1971)

A perennial fan favorite is the 1960's classic surreal sitcom, Green Acres, that I count as one of my favorites too. When wealthy New York lawyer Oliver Wendell Douglas (film vet Eddie Albert, in probably his best role ever) decides to give up the hustle and bustle of city life, he drags his wife Lisa (the gorgeous and frequently funny Eva Gabor, sister of Zsa Zsa), to a ramshackle farm in Hooterville. And lo and behold, a comedy classic is born. Created by Paul Henning of The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction, Green Acres featured some of the best casting of any comedy series. Eddie Albert gives his best performance as Oliver who tries to make this zany situation of living in Hooterville work despite all the crazy residents and crazy situations. It helps that Albert's performance is benefited by strong support from Eva Gabor (by far the more talented of the Gabor sisters). Her character of Lisa is pretty much perfection. She may not be living in the city, but that doesn't prevent her from still wearing her signature gowns and jewelry. The duo will sometimes remind you of William Powell and Myrna Loy in certain ways, but they end up making Oliver and Lisa their own characters too. Lisa was a killer in the kitchen. And when I say killer, she made some of the most lethal concoctions ever seen. Her hotcakes served the purpose of fixing the gasket on their tractor. And she constantly mangled the English language. It was hilarious just listening to her speak. Now on to the residents of Hooterville which included a roster of equally funny and diverse characters. First up is Pat Buttram as the shuckster Mr. Haney, who was always trying to sell some godforsaken gadget to the Douglases. His yodel like delivery will instantly bring a smile to your face. There was Tom Lester as farmhand Eb, hopelessly incompetent, but still trying his very best. Then there was Mary Grace Canfield and Sid Melton as brother and sister carpenter team Ralph and Alf Monroe...you definitely wouldn't want to hire these two. Also on hand was Alvy Moore as county agent Hank Kimball, who spoke in such a contradictory way, he sometimes confused even himself. And lets not forget Hank Patterson and Barbara Pepper as neighbors Fred and Doris Ziffel and their pig Arnold, who was a natural born scene stealer if there ever was one. Now that is a cast for the ages right there. Green Acres provided hilarious entertainment for 7 years with 170 episodes that rank it as one of the most successful sitcoms ever made. The theme song is a classic unto itself too. And I'm just glad Hollywood never got around to remaking it for the big screen because they would have undoubtedly screwed it up. Green Acres is the place for me, farm living is the life for me.

The Greatest TV Comedies - THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1964 -1966)

*I will be reposting some articles I wrote from a year ago on the blog What We're Watching on TV. The blogger who started that wonderful blog, Tracy aka Gilby 37 has since moved on to her own personal blog and I don't really write on it as much. So I will be posting those articles here and new ones as well. By the way these sitcoms came from this book called Sitcoms - The 101 Greatest TV Comedies Of All Time. I hope you enjoy these articles.

 OK let's start with The Addams Family. This comedy classic that mixed the weird with macabre humor originally premiered back in 1964. Way before I was born, I didn't catch it until the late 70's and early 80's in reruns. I do recall thinking this show was definitely out there. It made a great companion piece to that other comedy of the 60's, The Munsters. The Addams had a very peculiar family, led by Gomez (outstanding performance by John Astin, Patty Duke's real life husband at one point). Gomez was madly in love with his wife, the exotic Morticia (great name, and played by former movie star Carolyn Jones, who enjoyed her biggest success with this show). Gomez always went to great lengths to prove his love for Morticia, sometimes even death defying acts just to show he would be willing to die for her. Morticia always played it cool though, usually giving in with a little kiss or touch to soothe Gomez. They had two kids named Wednesday, who had a weird fascination with decapitation and her brother Pugsley, who loved inventing weird mechanical things. Not your typical kids to be sure. Also on hand was Uncle Fester (played by former child star Jackie Coogan) who had a thing for electricity..always doing the light bulb in his mouth trick, making it glow. Also on hand was Grandmama, Gomez's mother. And Lurch, the family butler, played by the gigantic Ted Cassidy. That would be the entire family not counting visiting cousins like It, which was basically a walking thing hard to describe who spoke in some type of gibberish. It was a full body of long flowing hair that wore sunglasses. Crazy right? And let's not forget Thing, a right hand, that answered the phone, scratched people's unreachable itches, and all around gopher.

Cousin It

You had to have a really good imagination to come up with The Addams Family and creator/cartoonist Charles Addams definitely did. I remember this was one of the coolest shows ever. And I was surprised to learn that it only lasted 3 years for a total of 64 shows. That seems small, especially when you compare it to other long running shows of the 60's. But I guess because like it's sister show, The Munsters, it was a way different type of show. It would become a classic thanks to cable reruns and DVDS and even enjoy a comeback with the big movie remake with Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston in the roles of Gomez and Morticia. Addams Family is remembered today thanks to this original series from the 60's which had a memorable kooky theme song that most people know by hard. Also helping was the fact that it was shot in B&W which gave it a classic horror movie type feel without the horror. It's not broadcast much these days, sometimes on TVLand, but thank heaven for You Tube and DVDS. You can still enjoy these fabulous kooky episodes today.

Gomez and Morticia

I'm trying to recall my favorite episodes but it's been so long since I have seen them. I just remember certain scenes like Gomez fencing like a man possessed, or target practicing with knives on Lurch, or was it vice versa. I remember the gibberish talk of Cousin It who would get depressed over some inane thing and Morticia would have to soothe his feelings. So I have a few good memories but they need to be refreshed. Maybe watch a few classic episodes online somewhere. Well I hope someone took some enjoyment from this blog. I know I enjoyed writing it. Did anyone else like The Addams Family or did you prefer The Munsters? Love to hear your comments. And I hope to write about all the other great sitcoms at least one a week. Maybe more, time permitting but would love to hear what everyone has to say on them too. And thanks team especially Tracy for inviting me here. I know I'm gonna love it being here.