The Carol Burnett Show: The Lost Episodes

The first five seasons of Carol Burnett's landmark variety show were never re-broadcast after their initial presentation from 1967 to 1972. While Burnett is evasive regarding the reasons for their long absence, she has selected 16 episodes from that period for this new DVD anthology. The truly fascinating aspect of this set is seeing how the show evolved. Initially, Burnett was a dominating (even overbearing) star, with Harvey Korman functioning as her straight man in sketches while Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner were barely utilized. Tim Conway turned a single guest shot into recurring appearances that became broader and sillier with each new show. And the early sketches, including the cross-generational “Carol and Sis” and the soap spoof As the Stomach Turns, lacked the comic depth that resonated later in the series with “The Family” and “Mr. Tudball and Mrs. Wiggins.” The initial years also witnessed some misfires—the premiere episode with Jim Nabors was cringingly unfunny—and strange attempts to connect with the era's youth culture (most notably with Burnett, Gwen Verdon, and Bobbie Gentry covering tunes off the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album). But there is much to enjoy here, and Burnett was able to attract talented guests who brought their A-game to the show, including Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby, Chita Rivera, Vikki Carr, a pre-Deliverance Burt Reynolds, and Cass Elliott, among others. Extras include bonus sketches (such as the classic “The Dentist”), new interviews with the cast and memorable guest stars, outtakes, and a backstage tour. Recommended. (P. Hall)