Publishers Weekly - Audio
10/31/2016
It’s a real treat to listen to comedian Burnett reminisce on her variety show, from its early days, through its height, to its end. As Burnett traces the show’s history, she explains the challenges and issues that the show faced but also the cultural context in which it developed, as well as its legacy. No one could narrate this book better than Burnett, not just because of her professional experience, but because of the enthusiasm, love, and sheer joy that emanates from her performance. Her slightly warbly voice brims with amusement and self-deprecation as she recalls her obstacles, her follies, and her successes. Accompanying her story, Burnett includes the first person accounts of are a handful of firsthand narrations from cast, crew, and friends of Burnett who share their stories in working on the show. Altogether, the production adds depth and meaning to Burnett’s memoir that the prose alone cannot match. A Crown Archetype hardcover. (Sept.)
Publishers Weekly
06/27/2016
From 1967 to 1978, The Carol Burnett Show delighted television viewers of all ages from coast to coast. Now Burnett presents a look at her beloved variety hour. Though it may start with the show’s inauspicious beginnings (a forgotten clause in Burnett’s contract) and end with its star-studded finale, Burnett’s narrative is hardly chronological; instead, it resembles the conversational cadence of a relative reminiscing about the good old days. This is certainly a relatable approach, but it does lead Burnett to repeat details about her favorite stories. Nevertheless, Burnett’s fans will enjoy the wealth of knowledge as she reveals her close relationships with her crew, revisits highlights from audience q&a sessions, and shares anecdotes about the biggest stars of the 1960s and ’70s. Burnett watched every episode afresh to research this book, and that attention to detail shows in her exhaustive accounts of major sketches. However, even nonfans will enjoy the nuggets of intrigue Burnett scatters throughout, in which she shines a light on the sexism she faced during her tenure as a leading lady of the small screen. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
In this light, behind-the-scenes memoir, [Burnett] pays tribute to the many talented individuals responsible for the show's enduring success, [sharing] some of the hilarious impromptu moments on the set and sheds light on the many memorable sketches, including the movie parodies that have become classic TV.” —Kirkus Reviews
"The great comedian [Carol Burnett] filled America’s living rooms with pratfalls and Tarzan yells.... Carol Burnett’s new memoir, In Such Good Company, captures this zaniness with relish. Written in Burnett’s laughing voice, the book chronicles how she prepared her weekly dose of mayhem.... Resonating with Burnett’s lively enthusiasm, In Such Good Company captures the excitement of being there once again, and it’s a joyous addition to her earlier memoirs." —The Washington Post
Library Journal
07/01/2016
From 1967 to 1978, The Carol Burnett Show made television history and is regularly recognized as one of the best shows of all time. Here Burnett (This Time Together) offers a breezy reminiscence of the show's creation, its cast and guests, and much-beloved characters and sketches. While there's some sense of chronology, most of the book is a collection of similarly themed anecdotes so readers can jump straight to the amazing guests (Ray Charles) or movie parodies (Went with the Wind). Burnett delivers hilarious and heartfelt stories that are full of comedy and light on drama. She stays positive even when discussing the frustrations of being a woman in the television industry and refuses to name names when it comes to her least favorite guest. VERDICT Who doesn't love Carol Burnett, and who better to tell the story of the show bearing her name? This quick trip down memory lane and great behind-the-scenes look at a truly one-of-a-kind production will have strong appeal for fans and readers who remember that era.—Terry Bosky, Madison, WI
SEPTEMBER 2016 - AudioFile
Carol Burnett, a beloved figure in television comedy, offers a warm, touching, and playful romp through the part of her career associated with her highly successful CBS-TV musical variety hour, which premiered in 1967. Burnett’s audio performance is stellar and nearly perfect. She has a special skill for the type of conversational presentation so key to success in audiobooks. However, the production, when considered as a whole, has some weaknesses: Some memories are repetitive, introductions to a variety of guests seem boilerplate in structure, and the verbatim reading of several sketch and parody scripts highlights the difficulty of effectively translating material written for the visual medium to the audio experience. Nonetheless, Burnett’s devotees, as well as aficionados of television history, will be delighted they spent this time together. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2016-06-11
The TV legend reflects on her eponymous variety series.When the Carol Burnett Show premiered on CBS in 1967, it was the heyday for variety shows, which mixed sketch comedy with musical performances and were a staple on network TV. Though several shows from that era enjoyed high ratings for a few seasons, such as Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and the Glen Campbell Show, Burnett's (This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection, 2010, etc.) series remained an audience favorite for an unprecedented 11 years, winning multiple Emmy awards along the way and continuing in syndication ever since. In this light, behind-the-scenes memoir, the author pays tribute to the many talented individuals responsible for the show's enduring success, including the writers, musicians, designers, technicians, and, perhaps most significantly, her team of weekly performers and big-name celebrity guest stars. She additionally shares some of the hilarious impromptu moments on the set and sheds light on the many memorable sketches, including the movie parodies that have become classic TV. In brief, occasionally disjointed chapters, Burnett provides fascinating glimpses of the vigorous demands involved with producing her show, eventually summarizing why such shows are regretfully no longer produced on the same scale. "Sadly, variety shows like ours have gone the way of the dodo bird," she writes. "A variety show today can never duplicate what we did. Why? Money. The cost of clearing the songs and music would sink the Titanic. Sixty to seventy costumes a week? No way. A twenty-eight piece orchestra? Twelve dancers? A rep company of five? Six to eight sketches a show? Major guest stars? Block the entire show and rehearse with the orchestra in one day? The following day tape the whole shebang in two hours? Dream on." An entertaining if somewhat overly anecdotal look back at a beloved weekly variety series.
