NBC special ‘Carol Burnett: 90 Year of Laughter + Love’ to pay homage to television legend
Carol Burnett [Courtesy photo]
The two-hour special will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT April 26 and will stream next day on Peacock.
“It’s hard to imagine anyone in television more beloved than Carol Burnett,” said Jen Neal, Executive Vice President of Live Events and Specials for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, in a statement.
“To throw this wonderful birthday celebration is clearly our honor, and we can’t wait to share the love that we all have for her with all her adoring fans.”
Filmed at Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles, the star-studded special will feature an A-list lineup of musical performances and special guests, who will come together to share their love for one of the most cherished comediennes in television history, according to a news release.
The evening will include musical performances from Kristin Chenoweth, Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Jane Lynch, Katy Perry and more. The musical tributes will pay homage to Burnett’s renowned career performances, including: “Old Friends,” dedicated to her 60-year friendship with Julie Andrews; “Only an Octave Apart,” which Burnett sang alongside Beverly Sills in the 1976 television special “Sills and Burnett at the Met”; her memorable songs from the hit film “Annie”; and a tribute to her classic theme song, “I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together,” from “The Carol Burnett Show.”
Special guests attending the once-in-a-lifetime party include Aileen Quinn, Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Bob Mackie, Cher, Ellen DeGeneres, Julie Andrews, Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern, Lily Tomlin, Marisa Tomei, Sofia Vergara, Steve Carell, Susan Lucci, Tracee Ellis Ross and more.
Burnett’s variety show co-star Vicki Lawrence will be in attendance, along with costume designer Bob Mackie.
“I’m so excited NBC decided to throw me a birthday party and invited all of my closest friends,” Burnett said in a statement. “I can’t wait to look back at so many wonderful moments throughout my career, I feel so lucky to share this night with everyone.”
The special will share some of the funniest and most memorable moments of Burnett’s legendary career: from her Broadway debut in “Once Upon a Mattress,” her early appearances on “The Garry Moore Show,” her hit films “The Four Seasons,” “A Wedding,” “Pete ‘n’ Tillie,” her iconic role as Miss Hannigan in “Annie,” to her acclaimed sketch comedy series “The Carol Burnett Show,” which ran for 11 seasons on CBS and played an instrumental role in the evolution of comedy.
“This special is going to be the best party ever,” said Mark Bracco, executive producer and president of Silent House Productions, in a statement. “It will be an evening of music, comedy and dozens of big stars paying tribute to the one and only Carol Burnett. We look forward to everyone at home celebrating right along with us.”
“The Carol Burnett Show” continues to make people laugh more than 40 years later with its incredibly funny sketches, including, most notably, the hysterical “Gone with the Wind” satire. Many publications have listed “The Carol Burnett Show” as one of the greatest TV series of all time.
“Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love” is executive produced by Burnett, Brian Miller, Steve Sauer, Paul Miller and Baz Halpin, plus Bracco and Linda Gierahn of Silent House Productions.
-BAM
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