CAROL BURNETT & COMPANY {ALAN ARKIN} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of comedy/variety programs starring Carol Burnett. This episode is one of four new installments that aired in summer 1979 after the finale of "The Carol Burnett Show." This program features special guest Alan Arkin. Burnett takes the stage and chats with the audience, answering their questions. The first sketch features Burnett as the prissy Queen of England, preparing to depart from the African village of Heckarewe after spending three months in the wilderness. She gives a speech to the people and recounts some of her "fond" memories of the place, but then learns that her pilot, a decorated veteran, does not wish to leave. He demands her hat as payment, and she manages to anger the locals as she argues with the man.
Next, Arkin takes the stage and sings "I Could Write A Book" in the style of Frank Sinatra, enjoying a smoke, a drink and a snack as he does so. Burnett joins him and comments on his "cool and relaxed" performance style, and he serenades her with "I Like You." He then explains that he often parents his children through song, and they sing a duet of "instructions" for children's behavior.
In the following sketch, Tim Conway portrays a bumbling burglar who finds himself in the midst of a lovers' quarrel when he attempts to rob a sleeping couple. When the woman is awakened by the phone, she finds herself dumped by her lover, and when the man arrives shortly thereafter, the thief attempts to calm things between them without waking the husband. Eventually, he manages to steal the couple's jewelry, but is "caught" by the husband in the end.
Vicki Lawrence performs "Your Lies" from her new album "Newborn Woman." Next, Arkin portrays the eccentric voice coach Dr. Piccolino, and Burnett is his movie-star pupil who is desperate to develop her voice in order to land a Broadway role. He is horrified by her appalling lack of talent, however, and attempts to teach her, but when he demands payment for the lesson, she refuses until she scores the part. He offers her a gun to scare herself into performing well, but she ends up accidentally shooting him and then herself as she departs.
In the final sketch, Conway portrays an addled symphony conductor in charge of a group of well-dressed artists performing the "Concerto for Finger" on small instruments, and they perform "They're Playing Our Song," "Sing A Song" and "With A Song in My Heart," among others, complete with elaborate dance number. Burnett then closes the show by singing her signature good-night song and adding Arkin's autograph to her guest book. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: August 25, 1979 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:25
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:46266
- GENRE: Comedy/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy/Variety
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1979
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Butcher's Blend dog food
- TV - Commercials - Campbell's Light Ones soups
- TV - Commercials - Coca-Cola soft drinks
- TV - Commercials - Denny's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Extra-strength Tylenol painkillers
- TV - Commercials - Jerry Lewis "Keep the Change" charity program
- TV - Commercials - Kinney shoe stores
- TV - Commercials - Kraft sliced cheese
- TV - Commercials - Life cereal
- TV - Commercials - Lysol air freshener
- TV - Commercials - Milk
- TV - Commercials - Silkience hair conditioner
- TV - Commercials - Sunrise instant coffee
- TV - Promos - "ABC's Wide World of Sports"
- TV - Promos - "ABC World News Tonight"
- TV - Promos - "Hart to Hart"
- TV - Promos - "Mork and Mindy"
- TV - Promos - "Robert F. Kennedy Pro-Celebrity Tennis Tournament"
- TV - Promos - "Stone"
- TV - Promos - "The Ropers"
- TV - Promos - "World Cup Track & Field Championships"
CREDITS
- Joe Hamilton … Producer
- Robert Wright … Associate Producer
- Roger Beatty … Director, Writer
- Kenny Solms … Writer
- Ann Elder … Writer
- Bob Arnott … Writer
- Tim Conway … Writer
- Bill Richmond … Writer
- Gene Perret … Writer
- Don Crichton … Choreographer
- Carol Burnett … Host, Cast
- Alan Arkin … Guest
- Tim Conway … Cast
- Vicki Lawrence … Cast
- Kenneth Mars … Cast
- Craig Richard Nelson … Cast