Honestly, if you turn on the TV right now, you’re probably two clicks away from someone trying to do what Carol Burnett mastered fifty years ago. She’s the blueprint. Whether it’s the chaotic energy of a live sketch or that specific way she tugs her ear at the end of a broadcast, the woman is a titan.
But here’s the thing: most people just think of the gown made from curtains. They forget she’s been in everything from gritty legal dramas to Pixar blockbusters. Carol Burnett movies and TV shows aren't just a trip down memory lane; they are a masterclass in how to stay relevant for seven decades without losing your soul.
The Variety Show That Changed Everything
You can't talk about her without the big one. The Carol Burnett Show ran from 1967 to 1978, and it was basically the Saturday Night Live of its era, but arguably funnier because they did it all in front of a live audience with zero safety net.
Think about the "Went with the Wind" sketch. That curtain rod dress? It wasn't just a prop; it was a cultural reset. Bob Mackie designed it, and Carol played it with such straight-faced absurdity that it still ranks as one of the funniest moments in television history.
What made the show work wasn't just Carol, though. It was the chemistry. You had Harvey Korman, the sophisticated straight man who couldn’t help but crack up. You had Tim Conway, the man whose sole mission in life seemed to be making Harvey break character. Then there was Vicki Lawrence, who started as a fan and ended up becoming a legend in her own right as "Mama."
The show didn't just give us laughs; it gave us a family. We watched them mess up. We watched them laugh at their own jokes. It felt human.
Beyond the Ear Tug: The Movie Career
People often overlook her filmography. It’s weird, right? You’d think a massive TV star would just do fluff, but Carol went for it.
🔗 Read more: All I Watch for Christmas: What You’re Missing About the TBS Holiday Tradition
Take Annie (1982). Her Miss Hannigan is terrifying and hilarious. She’s leaning into the "boozy, child-hating warden" vibe so hard that it’s almost Shakespearean. Most actors would play that for cheap laughs, but Carol found the desperation in the character.
Then there’s Pete 'n' Tillie (1972). If you haven't seen it, find it. She stars opposite Walter Matthau, and it’s a surprisingly heavy look at marriage and grief. It proved she wasn't just a "funny lady." She had range.
- The Front Page (1974) – Working with Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon.
- A Wedding (1978) – An ensemble piece directed by Robert Altman.
- The Four Seasons (1981) – A sharp, witty look at adult friendships with Alan Alda.
She wasn't chasing leading-lady status in the traditional sense. She was chasing good scripts.
Why Carol Burnett Movies and TV Shows Are Peaking Again
If you think she’s just a "legacy" act, you haven't been paying attention to her recent work. The woman is 92 and currently killing it on Apple TV+.
In Palm Royale, she plays Norma Dellacorte. For most of the first season, she’s basically in a coma, but she still manages to steal every scene with a flicker of an eyelid or a slight groan. By season 2, which just wrapped up its finale in January 2026, Norma is back in full force. She’s scheming, she’s singing, and she’s showing every young actor on that set exactly how it’s done.
And let’s not forget Better Call Saul. Her arc as Marion was heartbreaking. Seeing the "Queen of Comedy" take down Saul Goodman was the crossover we didn't know we needed. It wasn't a cameo; it was a pivotal, series-defining performance.
💡 You might also like: Al Pacino Angels in America: Why His Roy Cohn Still Terrifies Us
The Guest Spot Legend
She’s the ultimate "I know that person!" guest star.
- Mad About You: She won an Emmy playing Jamie’s mom.
- Glee: She played Sue Sylvester’s Nazi-hunting mother. (Yes, that was a real plot point).
- Law & Order: SVU: She did a dark, dramatic turn that left everyone unsettled.
She’s like a chameleon. One minute she’s voicing "Chairol Burnett" in Toy Story 4, and the next she’s a grieving mother in a TV movie like Friendly Fire.
The Secret Sauce of Her Longevity
Why does she still matter? Honestly, it’s because she never took herself too seriously, but she took the work incredibly seriously.
She grew up in a tiny studio apartment in Hollywood, raised by her grandmother. She knew what it was like to have nothing, and that groundedness never left her. When she got her break on The Garry Moore Show in the late 50s, she wasn't the "pretty girl." She was the one willing to make the ugliest face for a laugh.
That lack of vanity is her superpower.
In a world of highly curated social media personas, Carol Burnett is a reminder of what raw talent looks like. She didn't need filters. She just needed a good wig and a spotlight.
📖 Related: Adam Scott in Step Brothers: Why Derek is Still the Funniest Part of the Movie
How to Dive Into the Burnett Multiverse
If you're looking to catch up, don't just stick to the clips on YouTube. Dig deeper.
- Watch the Carol Burnett Specials with Julie Andrews. Their friendship is the stuff of legend. Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall (1962) is pure gold.
- Track down "The Family" sketches. This is where Mama's Family started. It’s much darker and more biting than the sitcom that followed.
- Check out her voice work. Horton Hears a Who! and The Secret World of Arrietty show she can command a room without even being in it.
- Binge Palm Royale. Seriously. Seeing her at 92, still hitting comedic beats with surgical precision, is inspiring.
Carol Burnett movies and TV shows aren't just entertainment. They are a history of American comedy. From the vaudeville-inspired sketches of the 60s to the prestige drama of the 2020s, she has survived every trend and outlasted every critic.
She’s still the queen. And she’s still tugging that ear.
To truly appreciate the scope of her impact, start by watching her 90th-birthday special, 90 Years of Laughter + Love. It’s a perfect primer on why every comedian you love today owes her a massive debt. After that, find a full episode of her original variety show and watch it without distractions. Notice how she uses her entire body to tell a joke. That's the real magic.
***