Carol Burnett Show- Eunice on the Gong Show, Part 2

[ManTexDal]

LoL, When Eunice closed her rendtion of "Feelings" she sounded just like Stella Toddler

[Tibbzbbz]

hehe her and those damn white sandals haha :)

[modularhalfpipe]

JP Morgone you 'scule!! Why did you do gong her??

[TheRedTweety]

Why does everyone think this is sad? Does nobody know the character Eunice? She's a hot tempered, no talent, jerk.

[keyofdavid888]

@TheRedTweety She was bipolar when it wasn't even a diagnosis yet, and antagonized constantly by her family, friends, and life in general. Eunice is still a very real character today. We all know one.

[ddog5858]

Poor Eunice, I remember watching this as a kid and crying because she got gonged!

[PeaceFan1]

DYING !!! Literally crying ..xoxo

[pianobillf]

The ending, with the image of eunice shrinking, is similar to the very ending of "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" with Diane Keaton. That movie was out at around the same time as this.

[EmilGalv]

tragi-comic . . .

[shalomboy11]

the ending is scary and sad

[Shakeshack78]

Eunice reminds me of Corabeth Godsey from the Waltons!

[CoolWhiteChick]

That ending, so sad. You laughed at her and her family being so out of touch with reality but then, in the end, you just wanted so badly for her to experience one of her wide-eyed dreams coming true! Everyone deserves a break. Everyone.

[doordangle]

@XX00Ghost00XX Eunice actually as a charictor is quite highly developed, as she says " she forgives the people that have wronged her through her life"

"this is how we evolve and move fwd in life."

I wonder if the Charictor of the boy she forgave ( from down the street ) was indeed a real person in real life that she let go and forgave so she could move fwd...

No one wants to be caught in a wheel of kalma..

Its a shame you don't see the positive side.Guess your just not ready to move fwd

[418sadeyes]

Isn't that Betty White's husband, Allen Ludden? And that first guy, Jamime Farr, is from MASH!!!

[418sadeyes]

@XX00Ghost00XX I totally agree with you on all, except the persecution complex..but everything else, you're darn right. I used to feel so sad for her, I didn't understand all that was wrong, I wouldn't have understood anyway...but I felt sorry for her.

[Zeebo89]

god damn that final scene made me cry;-(

[NormaDesmond1000]

@XX00Ghost00XX

...deep.  LOL

[MissGreenAgain]

3:36 to 3:42 LOL

[reno1uest]

As funny and as bad as her 'singing' was, it broke my heart the way it went black all around her.

[junieclay]

sometimes i feel for eunice , lol

[hyancinth70]

I have looked and looked for this epi. when she makes fun of that quirky song, "Feelings"! I laughed so hard, my stomach was aching! Thanks for posting! :D

[tanquantwal]

Wow! I want to cry so bad for Eunice at the end. She tries so hard and want to be a star so badly. She's like a child that wants to be loved and accepted more than anything.

[ManTexDal]

I wondered how getting gonged affteced Eunice's physic

[tgallemore]

The ending of this skit has always been one of the saddest. I remembered it all these years.

[thatsmr2usir]

NOTHING or NOBODY is better than Carole Burnett playing Eunice & Vicki Lawrence playing mama! This is CLASSIC comedy @ its best! 

[snoops71]

@XX00Ghost00XX She always seemed starved for attention, didn't she?

[wmbrown6]

@InformationOverload4 - May've been from the 1970-72 period. On Carol's very first shows in 1967-68, her hair (which was more short-cut) was a more fiery red.

[jules0611]

The look on Mama's face when Eunice is going through her act...priceless!

So funny!

[corkskrewclubhouse93]

The ending always scared the fuck out of me as a kid.

[AxelQC]

This skit is a lot sadder than I remember. You can really sense the pathos in Eunice's life and her unfulfilled dreams.

[FLEXNPOSE]

there was a tv special after the Carol Burnett show, called Eunice it went deeper into the chacters , was funny but also more depth .

[stp88661]

One of the best segments of the Carol Burnett show was this skit featuring Eunice (Ms. Burnett), Mama (Vicki Lawrence) & Ed (the great Harvey Korman)! I just can't stop laughing! Carol & friends were just comic geniuses.

[dirtyblondny]

there is a fine line between comedy and tragedy, carol burnett was genius at doing both. a true gift to us all.

[gameshowcravr]

OUCH!! Eunice got gang-gonged!!

[rockgor]

Poor Eunice.  An elegant new gown, but those same wretched shoes.

[lasvegasjh]

simply brilliant

[voyager7429]

I was just a child when I first saw this, and most certainly didn't realize the genius of this skit. Absolutely brilliant, comedic, and tragic all at once...

[Yeppr]

"and I'm gonna hire a bodyguard and a lawyer to keep the 2 a' you off my property..I'm ON..did you HEAR THAT I'M ON"....I laughed so hard I am in tears..I don't remember this episode, but that scene I won't forget..LOL

[pjgumby]

I think what made Carol Burnett such a comic genius is that she could both mimic the funny and the sad at the same time. That is one tight rope to walk, kinda like Alan Alda in MASH. There is some truth in all her roles, she just makes reality easier to swallow. Which I believe is the role of most comics, they are just as needed as priests , pastors, or counselors .

[nrk1216]

It's funny. But it's sad. It hurts my heart a little bit when she got gonged.

[gemglass88]

Carol Burnett was brilliant in this role.

[jamesahose]

she never even got 2 the spokn part...

[RUDYNATACHA]

I remember this when it first aired. I was disappointed by Eunice not going off when she got gonged, but this was probably better. It was actually heartbreaking. Great job Carol!

[hotsweetyboy]

i don't care what any body else says, but i do love the song, and i mean. I DO LOVE THAT SONG!!!!

[gelluper]

I think Eunice looks like Tim Curry at 5:15

[MissGreenAgain]

@gelluper Have you seen "Annie"? LOL

[darkcarnivaldesign]

Eunice is quite a tragic character. Sometimes I'm not sure if i should laugh or cry!

[glori9455]

@ darkcarnivaldesign:

Totally, she is always belittled by her mom and everyone is always picking on her. Although, she has a dark side. LMFAO!!!!

[therealrightisleft]

@darkcarnivaldesign

That's the genius of this. She finds comedy in tragedy.

[therealrightisleft]

@darkcarnivaldesign That is exactly the brilliance of it!

[lrwsoreal]

@darkcarnivaldesign lmao i think its better to laugh, because its so sad that you can't help but laugh at her lol, she is just a complete mess

[CapricornDavo]

I think you better stick with the shorter version!

[ddoyle11]

Poor Eunice...such a tragic character. Carol did a great job mixing that with humor. It's what made this skit such a success. That and the wonderful chemistry between all the characters.

[huzzahs4me]

Caterwauling Eunice!!!!

[sxctyguy]

Every Mama's Family show made me laugh & laugh, except THIS ONE! The ending made me feel so sad for Eunice. I can remember yet sitting in silence at the end, feeling Eunice's pain. Today, when I watch American Idol, I think of Eunice with each performer that gets let go, knowing the pain they must be feeling.

[RUDYNATACHA]

@sxctyguy That's why we don't watch the acapella auditions. I don't think it's entertainment seeing people's dreams shattered on nationwide television. Some know they're terrible, but some really don't and it's devastating. We only watch from Hollywood week on.

[mcmlxvi]

@RUDYNATACHA Who's "we"??

[RUDYNATACHA]

@mcmlxvi  My wife and I.

[sanfrancisco89]

Poor Eunice. I always thought her anger should have carried over to a bravora performance and was disspointed by the ending as a kid. Great work by CB et al. though.

[sk8lvrnc]

I always feel so sad for Eunice, but its so funny too.

[SurferJoe1]

She actually gets a little of the Tarzan yell into those "whoa, whoa, whoa"s.

Equal parts hilarious and painful. Uncomfortable to watch. Genius.

[AlbieGray]

Probably not. I will admit.

Albie

[breezeman199]

Thanks for posting this. Great acting and chemistry on the parts of all three of them. Who can't identify with Eunice and even feel pity for her? She's just a sad soul really. Who can't identify with Ed? This is clean, classic TV. They don't make this anymore.

[uglybutterfly1]

:( I want to cry for Eunice. The look on her face was heartbreaking. Was this really the last "Family" sketch? Before the show anyways. . . .

[shelton442]

No, they did one the last season with Eunice going to see a psychologist with Mama. She and Ed divorced. I believe that was the last one.

[markxxx21]

Pretty good quality video. Was this put out onto DVD?

[wmbrown6]

@markxxx21 - From what I could tell, the entire show that originally contained this sketch (from Feb. 12, 1977) has been put out on DVD with another episode, first by Columbia House and then by Guthy-Renker.

[Luezur]

Mama's Family has its funny moments but its actually kind of sad sometimes. Eunice is pitiful :(

[earp1673]

Another case of NPD(narcissistic personality disorder; google it) due to low self esteem; fear, and insecurity. NPD is very pitiful; in this case, it turned out to be somewhat harmless-she'll go home, humbled but bitter. Maybe she'll take it out on her vulnerable and dependent children; since she's the dominant force in her marriage, maybe she will punish Ed... Others could be worse due to the big bubble burst and abuse the kids, or divorce claiming Ed as the "Big Loser"(even though he provides)

[armani11280]

I think we all have a little Eunice in us. The eternal optimist made bitter by a cruel world,

[pianobillf]

@Luezur This wasn't "Mamas Family", but "The Carol Burnette Show".

[Luezur]

@pianobillf Oh sorry, I thought it was still called mommas family even though it was part of the Carol Burnette show.

[Dreambro1]

@pianobillf Mama's Family was born out of the Carol Burnette show. Eunice/Carol, played on the first few episodes, and then dropped out.

[jester99sch]

3:17 is CLASSIC Burnett/Lawrence/Korman

[albol08]

I wish they would put all the Mama's Family from the Carol Show on DVD together.

[ABBAFANUSA]

Was there ever a follow-up to this? It begs for a part 3. I always wanted to know how Mama & Ed reacted when Eunice arrived back home.

[norscio]

In light of the dark and dramatic end of the skit, I highly doubt they had any follow-up.

[pgy002]

I don't think there was, I think this was the last sketch of the 10th season.

[kenh2os]

my favorite clip

[kgmaj]

Eunice was so identifiable. Unfullfilled dreams, a crazy mother. So many people latched on to her stories.

[carmenjones411]

The last scene of her getting gonged literally has tears streaming down my face with laughter! lol

[michael19403]

Carol Burnett was not only a brilliant comedian, but an incredible actress. She brought every facet of the "Eunice" character alive with such realism and raw emotion. They don't write TV like this anymore and it's sorely missed.

[pianowilliam]

You hit it right on the head.

[wmbrown6]

@michael19403 - Carol actually cast herself as "Eunice" - and Vicki Lawrence as "Mama" - when "The Family" was first conceived, against the intentions of the sketch's creators, Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon (who'd actually wanted the casting the reverse); that, plus Carol making the family de facto Southern white trash. The positive audience and viewer reaction to the very first sketch near the end of Season 7, however, ensured Carol's embellishments would be the law of the land.

[ddbjg]

i enjoy it so much

[peopledaddy]

You are very insightful.

[msscott73]

I laughed till I cried. all 3 of them hit the gong. That was way too much.

[GregH249]

I remember watching the re-runs for this show as a kid and laughing. Watching it today, it still makes me laugh, but now I see the true message of Carol Burnett's performance.

[roosevelthighschool]

Hilarious moment where Eunice is singing about her feelings. Thank You.

[Medallion2006]

Right there with you Eunice. That's how my day went today.

[GreenPencil305]

1:37

LOL!

[roosevelthighschool]

I love watching Eunice and Mama fight. Those are the highlights of the show. Thank You.

[FireitupBedford]

Oh yeah...Classic for sure...

[4334surf]

If comedy could be taught Carol Burnett wouldn't be a teacher ,,,She'ed be a Professor with high honers ,Talent is too small a word for Carol Burnett ,She's beyond talented she's one of the wonderful people who can,make you laugh till you cry , then she'll make you cry.

The only thing that feels better than laughter is sex,,, and sometimes Laughter is better .

[louiswendt]

Perfect Surf! You hit the mark there.

[poeticjournalism]

awesome description of one of my biggest idols =)

[LoveKotaForever]

This just broke my heart :(

[snowden67]

A better ending would have been for Eunice to have clung to the wall on the side of the stage and keep singing. Barris and the celebrities would try unsuccessfully to pull her away.

[TIPTON340]

Sad but funny.

[cynthiacher]

The ending is pitiful, but inevitable. Eunice has NO talent. She thinks she does, but it's a delusion. And she acts like a real jerk in the first half, gloating over the fact that she's been asked to perform on The Gong Show, not realizing that show WANTED to get the most untalented people they could find on it. Its "entertainment" was the humiliation of its contestants. And she thinks being on the show will lead to a career in Hollywood! Poor, silly Eunice.

[foxjohnson]

That is a rather off-setting ending. I figured for sure Eunice was going to go on a tirade and attack the judges. But, just the look on her face as we zoom out... that does just make you feel sad for her.

[tedkou]

KILL YOURSELF !

[gta1221]

"I have a Class A Act! And they only gong the bad acts. They only gong the real goofball acts! They do NOT gong a Class A Act!"

Poor Eunice...

"I am never coming home!"

Poor, poor Eunice!

This skit broke my heart.

[fahs]

A true testament to Carol Burnette as an actress.  All extremes of emotions and makes you empathize. They don't make actresses like her anymore.

[kpl1228]

merican idol who are really serious about show business but just don't have the talent. It must hurt so much to get gonged, or slammed by Simon, etc. It's why I don't watch American idol.

[hwaprincess]

Eunice rocks!

[UFOSPACE1999]

It was Betty White's Husband who gonged her first. Betty White played Eunices sister Ellen. WOW!!

[wmbrown6]

@UFOSPACE1999 - It seemed like a little casting in-joke there . . .

[AlbieGray]

Eunice wouldn't stand a chance against Simon Cowell or any of them for that matter! She wouldn't even make it past the first culling!

[cynthiacher]

Actually, "American Idol" is just a variation on the Gong Show. The only difference is that it doesn't have a gong.

[birminghamoi]

cynthia you are completely right i agree with you very much

[Neville6000]

She wouldn't be considered for Idol because of her age (mid to late 30's).

[fahs]

The ending is perfect.  For this not to tuck at your heartstrings.........

[coolspindrift]

Poor dear Eunice.....

[sunfighter86]

That must have been absolutely brilliant!

[thatsmr2usir]

3:37 How Eunie how did it go?  I HAVN'T GONE ON YET U MAROON!! NOW PUT THAT OLD WITCH BACK ON THE PHONE!!!!! WHAT A HOT MESS! LOLOLOLOL

[graphic8189]

oh man i about died when she yelled that. lol.

[FireitupBedford]

R.I.P Harvey Korman you will be missed.

[StuntmanJackR]

You might even get gonged!

[roosevelthighschool]

Is there a DVD with this on it?

[Neville6000]

No.

[tedcantu1]

I havent seen this since it aired as a kid.... THE DVD SET HAS TO COME OUT.. this stuff is TOO CLASSIC !

[cynthiacher]

When I first saw this sketch on the CB show I was stunned by the ending; it really packed a whalop. Another sad ending was the one where The Family goes to a nice restaurant. And a sketch after Harvey Korman left the show where Eunice has taken up with a new man played by Dick Van Dyke. He'w worthless and doesn't give a damn about but but at the end of one sketch she runs after him saying to Mama as she leaves "it's somethin', Mama. It's somethin'".

[pocodfe]

Good point. The restaurant ending is really a sad one. I think the funniest ending is when Mama has a "beau" in her house and Eunice and Ed stop by, and Eunice basically gets jealous and storms out, but not before yelling "I want you to take a good look at this face Mama...cuz it's the last time ur ever gonna set it!" The look on her face is HILARIOUS!

[FunWithStuttering]

I hadn't seen this since it first aired, but remembered the ending so vividly.

[streetcarjay]

GONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[themunificent]

aww man, I was cheering for Eunice. She looked so sad at the end. Which, btw was kinda weird.

[bluesborn]

I think the ending signifies the hopelessness of Eunice's dream.Carol's characters were anything but one dimensional or shallow.How many people like "Eunice" are out there trapped in lives going nowhere?This is Carol's acknowledgment of their sad pathetic lives.True humor is always balanced by tragedy and desperation.Its Eunice's desperation that makes her so funny.

[Jeroen1983]

I think that she also said in a tribute show by PBS that she felt more affiliated with Eunice because of her own mother, who never really supported her.

[wmbrown6]

@Jeroen1983 - That Carol identified more with Eunice was seconded by Vicki Lawrence in her recollections of working on the show. But it did seem like something of a little in-joke among the show that the youngest cast member would be playing the retirement-age mother of the star who was (and is) 16 years older.

[lrwsoreal]

@wmbrown6 lol exactly and in today's terms by Carol being 16 years older than Vicki she would've been old enough to be her mama, and remeber Betty White played the other daughter and she is over 20 years older than Vicki lol

[turbo1964]

The ending is unique.  No other episode ever ended in such a surreal way. Magic clip - funny as hell.

[DirkDarringer]

Carol's actually a fairly good singer, and her daughter Erin is a singer, who's put out a few albums.

[ClarenceFisher]

Are you kidding? Carol sings like a bell.

[kelseyann4]

Aww. I feel so bad for Eunice. Even though she was pretty stubborn about the whole thing I couldn't help but feel bad when they gonged her.

[ephender1]

Perhaps that ending represents the moment where Eunice finally loses her sanity like Mama predicted. "One of these days they're going to come and just lock you up."

[jonthom11702]

The first time I saw this the ending caught me completely off guard. That's the beauty of these Family sketches. Hiliarious and sad all at once.

[tidal46]

My first girlfriend had hair just like Eunice Higgens! Eunice was my favorite character on the show. She just speaks to that little part of us that we all have that is vulneralbe. (sorry for the typo I do not spell well.)

[drewster1118]

One of the best

Family ( Mama's) episode during the Carol Burnett Show. Funny and sad.

[franklanguage]

Amazing piece; I'm surprised I never caught it the first time around. (So happy it's on YouTube!~)

[darkcarnivaldesign]

Brilliant writing, I don't know if I should laugh or cry. Eunice is a really tragic character.

[NickLotay]

Brilliant upload. That was quite sad, seeing Eunice's face at the end of the video...