The Carol Burnett Show - The Lost Episodes

A Couple of Carol's fellow CBS stars pay a visit to the show. At the time, Lucille Ball preceded Carol as part of the network's Monday night line-up, while Eddie Albert enjoyed country life in "Green Acres" on Wednesdays. The soap opera spoof "As the Stomach Turns" finds Lucy and Carol portraying full-time funeral attendees who are booked months in advance, while Eddie's mortician character passing through town proves to be a real stiff. Amid all the craziness, Nancy Wilson arrives in Canoga Falls to integrate the town. The songstress chooses "The Folks Who Live on the Hill" for her solo spot. In an astrology finale celebrating Leo, Nancy and Carol share the stage for "The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener," a top-40 hit for Petula Clark.

A severely hungover Harvey Korman is taken to the cleaners by blackmailing "Fireside Girl Alice Portnoy," played by Carol. She's got pictures - and a few coins donated to the summer camp fund quickly grows into a wad of bills. In a "Carol and Sis" sketch, Harvey is all eyes when his dull tax accountant, Bob Newhart, drops by with his knockout wife. Everyone participates in the salute to MGM Studios finale, Carol and Harvey take "America's Singing Sweethearts" Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy to strange new comedy heights, while Garbo's first laugh, articulated by Carol, is painful.

Fabray, Tormé and Rickles sounds like a law firm, one that specializes in entertainment. Want to see Don Rickles blow a gasket? Have him try to sell a pair of shoes to Nanette Fabray. He becomes so exasperated that he practically speaks in tongues at one point. Mel Tormé does a better job keeping his cool swinging through "Take a Letter Miss Jones." In a cameo as 90-year-old Dr. Zazlo, Harvey breaks out a speed shuffle that rivals the fluidity of future cast member Tim Conway's "The Oldest Man." The whole gang takes part in "The Tin Pan Alley Story" set in New York in the early 1900's. Melvin Potts (Mel) and Phoebe Panz (Carol) seemingly have a bright song-writing future together as Potts and Panz. Life intervenes, hardships abound. Showbiz may not be pretty, but it's pretty darn hilarious.

Carol's good friend Jim Nabors holds the honor of being the first guest star in the CBS network debut of her long-running variety show. He went over so well that he ended up starring in the first episode of all elven seasons. At the time, he was still riding high as the lovable hick in his own CBS comedy, "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." He and Carol play a couple of stumblebums at a ski lodge, then show their musical chops in an array of Broadway tunes. This episode also includes the very first "Carol and Sis" sketch, based on Carol's raising of her kid sister, Chris.

Beloved crooner Bing Crosby and beloved character actor Paul Lynde join the regulars for an unusual evening of song and drama. With a peace symbol on the backdrop, Bing brings a mellow vibe to a '30's/g0's combo platter of "Love Thy Neighbor" and "Put a Little Love in Your Heart." Paul dominates the "As the Stomach Turns" installment, portraying town masochist Mel Torment. He's scalded, smacked, burned and crunched, and relishes the frying-pan spanking he receives from huge Mother Marcus (Harvey).

Eydie Gorme performs a fine version of "A House Is Not a Home." Conway refrains from singing. Instead, he and fellow cop Harvey Korman go undercover to nab a serial mugger. Tim dresses as the blond female bait. Every time he tosses his hair and makes eye contact, Harvey stifles another guffaw.