The Carol Burnett Show Season 9 Episode 1 with Jim Nabors
- September 13, 1975
The Carol Burnett Show was an iconic variety show that aired from 1967 to 1978. Each episode featured comedy sketches, musical performances, and a star-studded lineup of guest stars. Season 9, Episode 1 was titled "Jim Nabors" and aired on September 27, 1975.
Jim Nabors was a frequent guest on The Carol Burnett Show and this episode was no exception. Nabors, known for his smooth baritone voice and his portrayal of Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show, was a talented entertainer who had a special affinity for comedy.
The episode opened with a sketch called "As the Stomach Turns," a parody of soap operas that had become a classic bit on The Carol Burnett Show. In this particular segment, Nabors played Dr. Kildare, a nod to the popular medical drama of the time. The sketch also featured regulars Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway, and Harvey Korman, each playing over-the-top characters in exaggerated situations.
Next up was a segment called "Carol and Sis" in which Burnett played her famous character Eunice alongside her younger sister Chris, played by Lawrence. Nabors appeared in this sketch as Ed Higgins, the boyfriend of Eunice's widowed mother. The comedy in this particular segment centered around Eunice's jealousy of her mother's new beau and the awkward dynamics between the three characters.
In another sketch, Nabors joined Burnett and Conway in a parody of the game show, "The Newlywed Game." The trio played a hilariously dysfunctional couple and their neighbor, who served as the show's host. The skit was full of absurd answers and off-the-wall moments that typified the show's zany sense of humor.
One of the highlights of the episode was Nabors' musical performances. He sang "Let Me Be There," a country/pop crossover hit that he had recorded in 1973. Nabors' smooth, rich voice was the perfect fit for the earnest love song and his performance earned him a rousing ovation from the studio audience.
The episode also featured appearances from talented character actors like Jack Riley and Irene Tedrow. In one sketch, Riley played a salesman trying to sell a set of encyclopedias to a couple played by Burnett and Nabors. Tedrow appeared in a segment called "The Family" in which she played an eccentric aunt who comes to visit and drives the family crazy with her nonstop talking.
As always, the episode's closing sketch was the beloved "Went with the Wind" parody. Burnett donned an unforgettable, curtain rod-studded green velvet gown and played a melodramatic version of Scarlett O'Hara. Nabors appeared in the sketch as himself, providing the voiceover for the parody film trailer.
Overall, this episode of The Carol Burnett Show was a typical example of the beloved variety series. With its mix of zany comedy, heartfelt musical performances, and star-studded guest appearances, it was a fitting tribute to the show's enduring legacy.
