The Carol Burnett Show: The Lost Episodes Season 4 Episode 18 Michele Lee
- January 18, 1971
- 22 min
The Carol Burnett Show season 4 episode 18 features special guest Michele Lee, best known for her role in the musical production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The episode opens with Carol Burnett performing a medley of songs about love, accompanied by the show's regular dancers. Later in the show, Burnett and Lee perform a hilarious skit about two rival beauty salon owners who engage in a bit of sabotage.
One of the major highlights of this episode is a musical number in which Burnett and Lee recreate the famous "Shop Around" scene from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Lee is in top form, displaying her vocal range and comic timing as she makes a series of exaggerated come-ons to Burnett's Frump. The two women have a great rapport, and their chemistry on stage is infectious.
In another segment, Burnett and Lee poke fun at the fashion industry by appearing in a parody of a fashion show. Lee plays a snooty model who critiques Burnett's looks, while Burnett plays a hapless designer who can't seem to get anything right. The sketch ends with a hilarious twist that will leave viewers laughing out loud.
Throughout the episode, Burnett and the regular cast members perform several musical numbers, including a parody of the classic song "What's My Line?" in which the panelists try to guess the occupations of a group of unusual characters. Another standout moment comes when Burnett and guest star Alan King perform a skit about a bickering couple on a vacation. King's deadpan delivery is the perfect counterpoint to Burnett's over-the-top antics.
One of the most memorable moments of the episode comes during a sketch in which Burnett, Lee, and Vicki Lawrence play three women who have just been released from prison. Lee's character, who has been in prison for embezzlement, delivers a showstopping monologue in which she complains about how hard it is to be a woman in a man's world. The scene is both funny and poignant, and Lee's performance is particularly impressive.
In addition to the usual sketches and musical numbers, this episode of The Carol Burnett Show also features several celebrity cameos. Actor George Hamilton drops in for a brief appearance, as does comedienne Betty White. White and Burnett perform a delightfully silly sketch in which they compete to see who can make the other one laugh first. The result is a hilarious battle of wits that showcases the two women's impeccable comic timing.
Overall, season 4 episode 18 of The Carol Burnett Show featuring Michele Lee is a classic example of the show at its best. The sketches are funny, the musical numbers are entertaining, and the guest stars add an extra touch of star power to the proceedings. Fans of classic TV comedy will love this episode, which offers a great example of what made The Carol Burnett Show such a beloved part of American culture.