For those who seek a moment of pure comedic bliss, look no further than the timeless and iconic skits of Carol Burnett. Her uncanny ability to blend physical comedy, witty wordplay, and infectious laughter has left an indelible mark on the annals of entertainment. From the hilarious chaos of “The Family” to the side-splitting antics of “Went with the Wind,” each sketch is a masterclass in comedic timing and theatrical prowess.
One sketch that consistently leaves audiences in stitches is “The Dentist.” With Carol Burnett donning the white coat and rubber gloves, she embodies the quintessential dentist with an eccentric flair. Her clumsy demeanor and quirky mannerisms as she attempts to extract a tooth from the hapless patient (played by the incomparable Vicki Lawrence) will have you laughing until your sides ache. The sketch culminates in a moment of unforgettable slapstick comedy as the dentist accidentally drills into her own finger, sending both dentist and patient into a fit of giggles.
Another fan favorite is “The Tarzan Sketch.” Carol Burnett, in the role of the iconic jungle hero, swings across the stage on a vine, her signature Tarzan yell echoing through the auditorium. Joined by a cast of equally hilarious characters, including a bumbling Jane (played by Harvey Korman) and a mischievous Cheetah (played by Tim Conway), the sketch is a whirlwind of physical comedy and verbal quips. Whether it’s Tarzan wrestling with an unruly python or Cheetah’s relentless pursuit of bananas, this sketch guarantees a side-splitting experience that will leave you longing for more.
The Tarzan Skit: A Swinging Adventure
Featuring Carol Burnett as “Tarzanita” and Tim Conway as her dim-witted sidekick, “Chimp,” this beloved skit takes viewers on a hilarious adventure through the African jungle. Donning leopard-print leotards and tangled wigs, Burnett’s Tarzanita exudes confidence and athleticism, while Conway’s Chimp stumbles and bumbles his way through every scene.
The skit opens with Tarzanita swinging gracefully through the vines, calling out her iconic “Aa-ooo-ooo!” But her jungle idyll is soon interrupted by Chimp, who manages to get himself tangled in both the vines and Tarzanita’s annoyance. Undeterred, Tarzanita teaches Chimp how to climb and swing like a true jungle dweller, much to the amusement of the audience.
However, their jungle adventure takes a chaotic turn when Tarzanita and Chimp encounter a hungry lion. As Tarzanita valiantly attempts to fight off the beast, Chimp’s misguided antics only add to the confusion. In a moment of desperation, Tarzanita spots a nearby waterhole and uses her Tarzanita-style swim tactics to create a giant splash, startling the lion away.
With their shared bravery, Tarzanita and Chimp conquer their fear and bond over their shared experience. The skit concludes with the iconic duo swinging side-by-side through the jungle, their laughter echoing through the African wilderness.
| Tarzanita | Chimp |
|---|---|
| Confident and athletic | Dim-witted and bumbling |
| Leopard-print leotard, tangled wig | Leopard-print leotard, tangled wig, vine tangles |
| Iconic “Aa-ooo-ooo!” call | Misguided antics add to the confusion |
| Fights off the lion with Tarzanita-style swim tactics | Gets tangled in the vines |
The Gone with the Wind Parody: A Southern Calamity
Rhett Butler vs. Scarlett O’Hara
The skit features a hilariously over-the-top portrayal of Rhett Butler (played by Harvey Korman) and Scarlett O’Hara (played by Carol Burnett). The exaggerated Southern accents and flamboyant costumes add to the absurdity of the situation. Korman’s Rhett is a pompous and arrogant plantation owner, while Burnett’s Scarlett is a spoiled and headstrong woman. The duo engages in a series of comical misadventures, including a heated argument at a party and a disastrous attempt at a kiss.
Supporting Cast Shenanigans
The supporting cast also contributes to the mayhem. Lyle Waggoner appears as Ashley Wilkes, Scarlett’s love interest, who is portrayed as a bumbling and clueless suitor. Vicki Lawrence plays Mammy, Scarlett’s loyal maid, who provides a comedic counterbalance to her mistress’s outrageous behavior. The ensemble cast delivers a series of side-splitting sketches that poke fun at the iconic characters and their relationships.
Table of Characters
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Rhett Butler | Harvey Korman |
| Scarlett O’Hara | Carol Burnett |
| Ashley Wilkes | Lyle Waggoner |
| Mammy | Vicki Lawrence |
The Charades Game: A Comedy of Errors
The Charades Game, a beloved skit from The Carol Burnett Show, showcased the comedic brilliance of the cast through a series of hilarious misinterpretations.
The Rules of the Game
The charades game involved two teams of two players. One player from each team took turns acting out a word or phrase while their partner attempted to guess what it was. The team with the most correct guesses at the end of the round won.
A Series of Mishaps
The skit became memorable for its string of comedic blunders. In one memorable instance, Carol Burnett, as Mrs. Wiggins, receives the prompt "Giant Ham." She enthusiastically gestures towards her table, where a piece of bread awaits. Meanwhile, Harvey Korman, as Mr. Wiggins, assumes the bread is the "giant ham" and feigns salami slicing, much to Burnett’s confusion.
Notable Moments
The following table highlights some of the most memorable moments from the Charades Game skit:
| Character | Prompt | Guess |
|---|---|---|
| Carol Burnett (Mrs. Wiggins) | Giant Ham | Roll |
| Harvey Korman (Mr. Wiggins) | Parachute Jump | Jumping Jack |
| Tim Conway (Mr. Conway) | The Washington Monument | Pretzel |
| Vicki Lawrence (Miss Lawrence) | The Birth of Venus | Naked Lady |
These moments exemplify the playful absurdity that made The Charades Game a fan favorite. The cast’s ability to find humor in the simplest of misunderstandings left audiences in stitches.
The As the Stomach Turns Skit: A Soap Opera Send-Up
A Hilarious Parody
In this classic sketch, Carol Burnett and her cast take aim at the melodramatic world of soap operas. Burnett plays the role of Vera Lou Monahan, the perpetually ill matriarch of a dysfunctional family. With her signature Southern drawl and over-the-top antics, Burnett brilliantly satirizes the genre’s signature tropes.
A Family in Crisis
The skit features a chaotic cast of characters, including Vera Lou’s hypochondriac husband, her scheming daughter-in-law, and her rebellious granddaughter. Each episode of “As the Stomach Turns” is filled with ridiculous storylines, overwrought dialogue, and a healthy dose of physical comedy. Burnett and her cast deliver a pitch-perfect performance, capturing both the absurdity and the emotional resonance of these beloved daytime dramas.
A Skewering of Soap Opera Clichés
Burnett’s parody skewers a wide range of soap opera clichés, from the over-the-top acting to the repetitive plotlines. The sketch includes a running gag involving Vera Lou’s frequent trips to the hospital, where she is miraculously cured of one ailment only to contract another. The cast also has a knack for interrupting each other with nonsensical dialogue, creating a hilarious and disorienting atmosphere.
A Lesson in Laughing at Ourselves
Beyond its comedic value, “As the Stomach Turns” also serves as a valuable reminder to not take ourselves too seriously. The skit shows us that even the most ridiculous and melodramatic aspects of life can be fodder for laughter. By embracing the absurd and poking fun at our own foibles, we can find moments of joy and connection even in the most challenging of times.
Key Characters
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Vera Lou Monahan | Carol Burnett |
| Tom Monahan | Harvey Korman |
| Judy Monahan | Vicki Lawrence |
| Kim Monahan | Tim Conway |
The Dental Floss Commercial: A Toothy Tale
In Name Only
This classic sketch features Burnett as a spokesperson for Purina Dog Chow, a food for dogs. However, Burnett has a lisp, and her attempts to say the name of the product result in hilarious mispronunciations, such as “Purina Dog Chew” and “Purina Dog Chew.”
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
In this sketch, Burnett plays a woman who is terrorized by a group of killer tomatoes. The tomatoes chase her all over the house, and she eventually escapes by climbing onto a refrigerator.
The Dentist’s Office
This sketch features Burnett as a patient in a dentist’s office. The dentist is a quack, and he uses a variety of unusual and painful methods to try to fix her teeth.
The Elevator
This sketch takes place in an elevator, where Burnett is trapped with a group of strangers. The elevator starts to malfunction, and the strangers begin to panic.
The Talent Show
In this sketch, Burnett plays a contestant in a talent show. She performs a song, but she is so bad that the judges stop her and tell her to leave the stage. However, Burnett refuses to give up, and she continues to sing until she is finally forced off the stage by security guards.
| Cast | Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner |
| Writer | Ken Levine, Dennis Holahan, Arnie Kogen, Barry Levinson |
| Director | Dave Wilson, Hal Cooper |
| Air Date | September 11, 1971 |
The Family Feud Parody: A War of Wits
The Carol Burnett Show’s parody of Family Feud, titled “Family Feud,” became a beloved skit that showcased the cast’s quick wit and comedic timing. In this hilarious segment, two families competed for points by providing the most popular answers to survey questions. However, the twist was that the families were made up of cast members, who would often go to ridiculous lengths to win.
Fast Facts
| Air Date | October 26, 1972 |
| Episode | Season 6, Episode 7 |
| Hosts | Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman |
| Families | The Harpers and The Feuds |
The highlight of the skit came in the sixth round, when the question was “Name a part of the body that you might cut.” Both families answered with “finger,” but The Feuds’ answer, hilariously delivered by Vicki Lawrence, was “toe with extra toe jam.” The audience erupted in laughter, and The Feuds ultimately won the game by providing the most popular answers.
The Family Feud parody became such a popular skit that it was later adapted into a full-length television special, which aired in 1978.
The Mother’s Day Surprise: A Touching Homage
This skit is a heartwarming tribute to mothers, as Carol Burnett’s character surprises her mother (played by guest star Vicki Lawrence) with a special Mother’s Day celebration. Burnett’s performance is full of warmth and affection, and the skit’s ending is sure to bring a tear to your eye.
The Mother’s Day Surprise is a perfect example of Burnett’s ability to create characters that are both funny and relatable. Her mother character is a bit of a scatterbrain, but she’s also loving and kind. Burnett’s portrayal of her is so believable that you can’t help but feel like you know her.
The skit’s ending is particularly touching. Burnett’s character realizes that the best Mother’s Day gift she can give her mother is to simply spend time with her. The two of them sit down to talk, and Burnett’s character tells her mother how much she loves her. It’s a simple scene, but it’s full of emotion and it’s sure to make you appreciate your own mother even more.
Seven Reasons Why the Mother’s Day Surprise is a Classic:
| 1. Carol Burnett’s performance is simply brilliant. |
| 2. The skit is full of heart and warmth. |
| 3. The ending is incredibly touching. |
| 4. The skit is a great reminder of how much our mothers mean to us. |
| 5. It’s a perfect Mother’s Day watch for the whole family. |
| 6. It’s one of Carol Burnett’s most memorable skits. |
| 7. It’s a timeless skit that will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come. |
The Restaurant Scene: A Culinary Comedy
8. The Maître D’ From Hell
In this unforgettable sketch, Harvey Korman plays a tyrannical maître d’ named Pierre, who terrorizes an elderly couple dining at his restaurant. Pierre’s relentless insults and absurd demands keep the audience in stitches, while Carol Burnett and Vicki Lawrence play the helpless victims to perfection. Pierre’s most memorable line, “If you don’t like it, you can eat it!” has become a classic. Here’s a breakdown of some of his most outrageous quips:
| Pierre’s Quips | Hilarious Response | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “This table is not for two people. It’s for four people. And I’m not going to seat you at a table for four people when there are two of you. That would be unfair to the other two people.” | “But there are only two of us.” | |||||
| “You want to order now? You’re going to order now? You didn’t even look at the menu.” | “We know what we want.” | |||||
| “Would you like wine? Red or white?” | “Red.” | “Red or white?” | “Red.” | “Red or white?” | “Red!” | “Up yours.” |
The Lucy Ricardo Tribute: A Hollywood Homage
10. The Fragrance Follies
This sketch is a hilarious parody of the perfume industry. Carol Burnett plays a ditzy housewife who is tricked into buying a new perfume called “Eau de Perfume.” The perfume is so strong that it makes her sneeze uncontrollably. The sketch is full of physical comedy and witty dialogue, and it is one of the most popular Carol Burnett skits ever.
| Perfume | Strength |
|---|---|
| Eau de Parfum | Mild |
| Eau de Toilette | Moderate |
| Parfum | Strong |
The Timeless Appeal of Carol Burnett’s Skits
Carol Burnett, the beloved comedienne, graced our screens for years with her exceptional comedic skills and unparalleled humor. Among her many hilarious skits, a few stand out as true gems, showcasing Burnett’s wit, versatility, and ability to evoke laughter at every turn.
The “Went with the Wind” skit, a playful parody of the classic film “Gone with the Wind,” featured Burnett as the iconic Scarlett O’Hara with exaggerated Southern charm and a knack for getting into comical situations. Her interaction with Harvey Korman as Rhett Butler was equally hilarious, creating an unforgettable comedy duo.
Another memorable skit was “The Family,” where Burnett played the part of Eunice, the nagging mother of a dysfunctional family. Her constant nagging, mispronunciation of words, and eccentric behavior made this character an instant classic. The entire family, including Tim Conway as the bumbling son, Lyle Waggoner as the pompous father, and Vicki Lawrence as the exasperated daughter, added to the chaotic and hilarious nature of the skit.
Burnett’s skits continue to resonate with audiences today, proving her enduring legacy as a comedic icon. Her ability to bring laughter to every performance, no matter how absurd or mundane the situation, is a testament to her exceptional talent and the joy she brought to generations of viewers.
People Also Ask
What were Carol Burnett’s most iconic skits?
Some of Carol Burnett’s most iconic skits include “Went with the Wind,” “The Family,” and “The Charwoman.”
Why were Carol Burnett’s skits so funny?
Carol Burnett’s skits were funny because of her wit, versatility, and ability to evoke laughter even in the most mundane situations.
What was Carol Burnett’s most famous character?
Carol Burnett’s most famous character was Eunice, the nagging mother from the “The Family” skit.
