Funny Ladies

In this interview outtake from Funny Ladies, Carol Burnett describes meeting Lucille Ball for the first time and Ball’s generous offer to be of help during Burnett’s budding career. The two would become close friends and perform on each other’s … Continue reading →

Actress Mary Tyler Moore describes how she nearly didn’t go to the audition for “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” She wowed the show’s creator and director, Carl Reiner, and got the part of Laura Petrie, the wife of Rob Petrie … Continue reading →

This episode includes the first standup comediennes to appear on television, including Joan Rivers and the late Phyllis Diller. Funny Ladies also looks at Lucille Ball’s breakthrough on “I Love Lucy” and the sitcom stars who followed, including Mary Tyler … Continue reading →

Margaret Cho and Carol Burnett describe the cast’s famous unscripted fits of laughter. Harvey Korman’s crack-ups were usually in response to Tim Conway’s facial expressions and nuances of comic delivery.  According to Burnett, the cast of “The Carol Burnett Show” … Continue reading →

In this interview outtake, Rivers explains why she doesn’t like being called a “pioneer.” Continue reading →

See the first stand-up comediennes to appear on television and the sitcom stars who followed. Funny Ladies includes interviews with Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore, Joan Rivers, Betty White and more. Premieres on PBS on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at … Continue reading →

This excerpt from Funny Ladies follows Carol Burnett’s first big break, when she performed a song feigning affection for U.S. Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, known as “The Most Boring Man in America.” Within a week, she was a … Continue reading →

Comedienne Phyllis Diller describes how she ran into trouble with gags and cue cards on the “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

Actress Betty White describes a favorite late night skit with Johnny Carson and what happens when everything goes wrong on live television.

Actress Betty White remembers the early days of television, and how audiences reacted.

Actress Betty White recalls how the first situation comedy that she starred in, “Life With Elizabeth,” was born.

Actress Betty White describes the pitfalls of live television and how a scene with Del Moore almost went awry when they forgot their lines.