On May 29, 2007, comedian Betty White discussed the groundbreaking work of Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball. She delves into the history of women in comedy in this extended outtake from the American Masters Digital Archive. Interview originally conducted for American Masters – Carol Burnett: A Woman of Character (2007).
Chapters:
00:00 – Women in comedy in the 1950s
01:02 – Being feminine, funny and smart
02:02 – Carol Burnett’s expressive face
03:02 – First sitcoms in the 1950s versus comedy today
05:56 – Differences between Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball
06:43 – The variety show format
07:35 – The secret to being a good host
08:53 – What Betty White admires about funny women like Carol Burnett
The American Masters Digital Archive includes over 1,000 hours of never-before-seen, raw interviews: a treasure trove of the movers and shakers of American culture, including Maya Angelou, Patti Smith, Mel Brooks, Carol Burnett, Matthew Broderick, Carl Reiner, Joan Rivers, Dionne Warwick, Lee Grant, Sidney Lumet, Betty White and many others.