The Carol Burnett Show Season 6 Episode 17 with Tim Conway, Kaye Ballard
- January 27, 1973
The Carol Burnett Show was an hour-long variety sketch comedy show that ran from 1967 to 1978. Season 6 episode 17, titled "Tim Conway, Kaye Ballard," originally aired on February 5, 1973.
The episode features two beloved comedians, Tim Conway and Kaye Ballard, as guest stars. Conway was a regular cast member on the show at the time, known for his impeccable comedic timing and ability to make his fellow performers break character with his ad-libs and improvisation. Ballard was a frequent guest star on the show, known for her musical theater performances and larger-than-life personality.
The episode opens with a musical number, "The Salesman," featuring Burnett, Conway, and the rest of the cast dressed as door-to-door salespeople. The sketch is filled with physical comedy, as the disguised salespeople struggle to convince the resident (played by guest star Jack Gilford) to buy their products. The segment ends with a big musical finale.
Next up is a sketch titled "Borrowing from Vie," in which Conway plays a hapless bank robber who has to borrow money from his mother-in-law (played by Burnett) to pay off his debts. The sketch is filled with Conway's trademark physical comedy, as he contorts his body into awkward positions while trying to hide from the police.
In the third segment, Burnett performs a parody of the classic film "Now, Voyager" titled "Now, Voracious." The sketch features Burnett in full costume and makeup as the film's protagonist, Charlotte Vale, and Conway as the psychiatrist who helps her overcome her issues with food.
Following "Now, Voracious," the show cuts to a musical number featuring guest star Ballard. She performs a medley of songs from her various shows and musicals, showcasing her impressive range and powerful voice. The audience can be seen clapping and singing along as she belts out tunes such as "Lazy Afternoon" and "Fifty Percent."
The episode's final sketch is titled "The Massage," and features Conway as a massage therapist attempting to relieve his client's (played by Burnett) tension and stress. As with the earlier "Borrowing from Vie" sketch, Conway's physical comedy is on full display, as he contorts and jostles Burnett's body in an attempt to work out her kinks and knots.
The episode's final segment is a closing song and dance number, in which Burnett and the rest of the cast bid the audience farewell and thank them for tuning in.
Overall, season 6 episode 17 of The Carol Burnett Show is a classic example of the program's brand of zany, irreverent humor. The sketches and musical numbers are full of energy and laughs, and the guest stars bring their own unique talents to the stage. Fans of classic television comedy are sure to enjoy this episode.
