The Twain, she shall meet: Carol Burnett gets a big comedy prize

By Jay Bobbin © Zap2it

One of comedy’s top honors is now among Carol Burnett’s rewards for making countless fans glad they’ve had such time together with her.

The iconic TV variety veteran became the 16th talent to receive the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor last month, joining a list of honorees ranging from Steve Martin, Bill Cosby and Bob Newhart to Ellen DeGeneres, Whoopi Goldberg and Lily Tomlin. PBS televises the event Sunday, Nov. 24 (check local listings), soon after Burnett’s guest appearance as McGarrett’s aunt on CBS’ “Hawaii Five-0” and the home video release of a “Christmas With Carol” compilation from her classic “Carol Burnett Show.”

The six-time Emmy winner clearly is still going strong, and among those saluting her at the Twain Prize ceremony were 2010 recipient Tina Fey, Burnett’s former weekly TV cohorts Tim Conway and Vicki Lawrence, longtime friend Julie Andrews, music legend Tony Bennett, Amy Poehler, Martin Short and Lucie Arnaz ... the daughter of Lucille Ball, whom Burnett credits with having been one of her main supporters early on.

In an interview shortly after that celebratory night in Washington, D.C., the glow — and the glee — obviously lingered for Burnett.

Q: How did you find that evening to be?

A: I knew who was going to be on the show because I read the playbill, but still, I didn’t know what they were going to do or say. And I had no idea which clips they were going to show, so all of that was somewhat a surprise. I can’t single out one person; they were all just wonderful.

Q: What were some of the standout moments for you?

A: Tina opened the show, and she’s just brilliant. Her line was funny; she said, “I love you ... and it’s just shy of being creepy.” And Amy had a whole shtick where she was pretending to be my “abused” assistant. I didn’t even recognize her at first. Supposedly, I was a very mean boss.

I was on the verge of tears a few times, but the time they really flowed was when Tony Bennett sang “Just the Way You Look Tonight,” with just a piano accompaniment. It was so touching. And my chum Julie! We’ve known each other 51 years. She was funny and very loving, and afterwards, we got to be together and have a nice “chin wag.”

A bunch of us went back to the hotel and had a nightcap. I didn’t get a lot of time to spend with anybody, because people were coming and going and rehearsing and this and that, but it was nice.

ACROSS

1. “The Young and __ __”

10. “Yours, Mine and __”; 2005 Rene Russo film

11. “There __ __ atheists in foxholes”

12. “Scarecrow and __ King” (1983-87)

13. “What Kind of Fool __ __?”; 1962 song

14. Record albums, for short

16. Role on “Grey’s Anatomy” (2)

18. “__ of a Certain Age”

20. Shakespearean villain

21. “Dirty __ Money” (2007-09)

22. __ King Cole

23. Poe’s monogram

24. “The __”; Anderson Cooper reality series

25. Greek love deity

27. Beast of burden

28. Connie Britton series

32. “Curly __”; 1991 James Belushi movie

4. Initials for a Beatle

5. “__ Time, Next Year”; 1978 Alan Alda movie

6. Colorful cereal

7. “__ Mans”; 1971 Steve McQueen film

8. Zhou __; late Chinese premier

9. “The __”; 1999-2007 series for Edie Falco

13. Role on “Home Improvement”

15. Actor George’s family

16. “__ Which Way You Can”; 1980 movie

17. “Swing __”; 2008 Kevin Costner film

18. Actress/comedian Anne and her relatives

19. “Northern __”

21. “Has Anybody __ My Gal?”; 1952 Rock Hudson movie

24. West, for one

26. Martin or Charlie

29. 505 and 506

30. Large amount

31. Behold’s partner

34. Peeples or Long

35. __-Wan Kenobi

36. Mr. Caesar

38. Center of the alphabet

39. Initials for actor Underwood