Ep 12. with Jonathan Winters, Barbara Eden, and Leonard Nimoy
- December 4, 1967
The Carol Burnett Show was a popular variety show in the 1960s and '70s. In season 1, episode 12, Carol is joined by iconic guests Jonathan Winters, Barbara Eden, and Leonard Nimoy.
The episode begins with Carol introducing the night's guests and jumps straight into a sketch featuring Carol and Jonathan as Ma and Pa Kettle, a popular fictional hillbilly couple from the 1940s and '50s. The two bring their own unique comedic style to the sketch, keeping the audience laughing from beginning to end.
Next up is a hilarious parody of the then popular TV show Bonanza, entitled Ponderosa Party Time. The sketch features Carol as the matriarch of the Cartwright family, while Jonathan plays a dim-witted assistant ranch manager. The two work together to keep the party going, despite everyone's best efforts to shut them down.
After the sketch, Carol introduces a musical number featuring Barbara Eden, best known for her role as Jeannie in the hit TV show I Dream of Jeannie. Barbara performs a lively rendition of the song "Big Spender," complete with backup dancers and a vibrant set.
The show takes a more serious turn with a dramatic scene featuring Carol and Leonard Nimoy. In the sketch, Carol plays a woman struggling to come to terms with the fact that her husband, played by Nimoy, is dying. The emotional scene showcases both Carol and Nimoy's acting abilities, and it's a memorable moment in the episode.
The show returns to its comedic roots with a sketch entitled As the Stomach Turns, a spoof on dramatic soap opera scenes. Jonathan Winters joins Carol in a hilarious exchange as two quarreling department store mannequins.
The episode ends on a high note with a lively musical number featuring all the guests. Barbara Eden sings "Too Darn Hot" while Leonard Nimoy and Jonathan Winters join in on the fun, dancing and singing along.
Throughout the episode, Carol's wit and charm are on full display, and her guests bring their own unique contributions to the show. The Carol Burnett Show remains a beloved classic, and this episode is a prime example of why it was such a hit during its run.
