Carol Burnett’s Legacy at 93: Revisiting TV’s Variety Show Golden Age of Sid Caesar, Dean Martin, More

It’s fitting to be writing about variety show comedy during the month Carol Burnett turns 93 on April 26. There’s a reason the Golden Globes named their annual TV Achievement Award after the iconic comedic star (who had plenty of singing and dancing chops as well). And while her place in the television firmament is legendary, it was through comedy that Burnett truly made her name.

During its classic 1967 to ’78 CBS run, The Carol Burnett Show was always hilarious, from the great question-and-answer audience segments that opened the show (Young woman in the audience: “Have you ever taken acting lessons?” Carol: “Yes, I have.” Young woman: “Do you think it did any good?”) to sketches that remain timeless.