Carol Burnett Show- Merry Christmas Mama, Part 1

[sigourneyweaver90]

Lol: "Here I thought you was a bit of a Nance!" -hand- You gotta love Ed.

[MPL029]

I dont believe I ever saw Mama grin so much as she did when she entered the house....only to frown up again in 10 seconds..haha

[funygirl38]

I love Alan Alda, always have since MASH...and Carol Burnett..double the fun!

[butchboy13]

Remember that Ken Berry played "Phillip" in the T.V. movie 'Eunice' that ran in between the 'Carol Burnette Show' and 'Mama's Family'.

[DarthSideous63]

Eunice's son Bubba was on Mama's Family.

[Graydonpow]

Over the years, Eunice's brother's name has changed many times! Here in this early rendition, it's "Larry" and he's an artist; later on, it's "Phillip," a writer; "on "Mama's Faily," it's "Vinton," a locksmith. Eunice and Ellen kind or remain the same, although early renditions have Eunice's sister as "MARY Ellen."

[hyacinthb]

@Graydonpow - Not exactly. In the Mama's Family sketches on the CB show, Mama always had five children - Eunice, Larry (Alan Alda), Phillip (Roddy McDowell), Jack (Tommy Smothers), and Mary Ellen (Betty White) aka Ellen. So, their names never changed. The Vinton Harper character was introduced in the Mama's Family Series. Mama's children are different on the show than the sketch.

[vampireerik7]

Could it be??? Holy cow! It is. It's Alan Alda. YAAAAAAAAAAA

[twin2ahwoo]

I <3 Mama!

[classicphile]

As a kid in the 1970s, I used to watch syndicated reruns of Carol Burnett and while I LOVED the show, I never really could enjoy these "The Family" sketches because Eunice resembled my own psychotic mother way too much. Like Eunice, her mood swings turned on a dime. When Eunice yells and/or scrunches up her face in anger, I'm seeing & hearing an exact replica of her. Its just too painful. Holidays indeed seemed to bring out the worst in her. I cant recall a Christmas that didnt include yelling.

[mycami2]

NOOOO WAAAAIILLLL NOOOOO WAAAAAIIILLLLLL

[VASINGER]

Alan Aldas nails on the chalkboard NY accent and character are annoying!

[MJLatora]

This is my favorite of the Mama's Family Skits. I love the parts at 5:38 and 7:06 to the end.......

[SilverZeo88]

Larry? What about Vint?

[goeagles25]

Don't wanna be Santa!...Ho Ho Ho...

[DerekBayRoberts1]

@PUTSOUTHINYOURMOUTH

Id like to link you a Youtube video i saw where Ken Berry di play a brother they called Phillip. i think it was called "The Eunice Speciel. I tried to post a link, but apparently you cant post links here. I should warn you, Mama dies in this.

[DerekBayRoberts1]

Thers another brother besides Ken Berry?? I'm confused.

[PUTSOUTHINYOURMOUTH]

@DerekBayRoberts1 Ken Berry only played Unis' brother on "MAMA's FAMILY". Alan Alda was one of Carol Burnett's guests on this episode. Alda could not continue to do this skit into a spinoff from a guest-spot on a weekly variety show.

[rickram1961]

@DerekBayRoberts1

Yep that would be Vinton

[ManTexDal]

actually Eunice had 3 brothers Larry (Alan Alda) Philip (Rody Mc Dowall) and Jack (one of the smothers brothers) I can't recall which one though and one sister Ellen (Betty White)

Ken Berry was Philip in the Eunice special and the Vinton on Mama's family

[ManTexDal]

Well there were a grand total of 5 children that Carl and Thelma had They were Philip (Rody Mc Dowall) Larry (Alan Alda) Jack (Tommy Smothers) Mary Ellen better known simply as Ellen (Betty White) and of course Eunice (Carol Burnett)

[Retsuke1]

Hawk Eye!!!

[ninetiesbaby10]

Larry is too normal and even killed to belong to the family!! LOL

[VASINGER]

@ninetiesbaby10 He doesn't seem "normal" to me.

[ninetiesbaby10]

@VASINGER Compared to his other sibilings...he seems to be able to function in the absence of his family but clearly their dysfunction seems to bring out the worse in him.

[atlasshrugged2u]

OMG I love the opening with her singing her version of Noel it was terrible!

God If I was Alan Alda I wouldn't visit much either lol!! I remember another episode with Rody McDowell as well...God I love this show.

[MaudeGoldenGirlsfan]

well, they changed it, b/c on Mama's Family, there was no Larry, only Vint

[PUTSOUTHINYOURMOUTH]

Carol Burnett is PRICELESS & BRILLIANT!

[roosevelthighschool]

I love hearing Eunice singing Noel in the beginning.

[trooper5930]

is it just me or is Mama not as mean on this show like on Mama's Family?

[Hnil96]

I swore Alan Alda was in the Mama sketches but this wasn't listed at imdb. Thanks for helping me maintain my sanity.

[wmbrown6]

@Hnil96 - He is now . . . this was originally aired Dec. 21, 1974, and that he appeared in this "Family" sketch is now duly noted in the plot synopsis on IMDb.

[roosevelthighschool]

I alsways thought that Mama had 3 children: Ellen, Vinton and Eunice. Who the hell is this Larry? Never mentioned them in the original series.

[MPL029]

@roosevelthighschool there was also Phillip (roddy McDowell) and another one who was played by tommy Smothers..forget his characters name.

[ninetiesbaby10]

@roosevelthighschool the series was based off of the skit "the Family" on th Carol Burnette show....in the original Mama had 5 kids....and I dnt think Vint was one of them...Eunice, Ellen, Larry and two other boys whose names I dont remember

[FelineDanzi]

@ninetiesbaby10 Philip was one too, right?

[ninetiesbaby10]

@FelineDanzi He might have been...I dnt remember

[sethmarsh3]

@ninetiesbaby10 Hi. The other two boys are Phillip and Jack

[ninetiesbaby10]

@sethmarsh3 Thank you!!!

[leftiesrox]

is it sad that this family reminds me of mine? just kinda' very hillbilly white trashish. not my immedate family, but extended

[VASINGER]

@leftiesrox they are not white trash! They are just a dysfunctional family. Not hillbilly either. Hillbillies live in the mountains.

[leftiesrox]

@VASINGER no they don't. i'm from northern kentucky, right outside cincinnati, not really close to any mountains, and let me tell you, honey, there are tons of hillbillies from here. hillbillies are a nicer, countrier version of white trash.

[VASINGER]

@leftiesrox that is not the correct definition of a hillbilly. Hillbillies live in the hills. The Ozarks, The Blue Ridge, The Smokies, etc. Thats why they are called hillbillies. The people you know of that are "hillbillies" are just plain country folk.

[leftiesrox]

@VASINGER honey, in slang usage, it's a nicer way of saying white trash. look it up. plus, some people say that the word wasn't even invented in america. it was invented in ireland to describe followers of king william III.

[VASINGER]

@leftiesrox its may be used that way , buts its incorrect. The Beverly Hillbillies on TV would actually be an accurate portrayl of the American Hillbilly. They are from the mountains, or at least nearby. Innocent, usually church going, naive to a fault, friendly, usually not racist or bigoted, but inquisitive. White trash is like Archie Bunker or Larry The Cable Guy. They are just foul mouthed trash.

[leftiesrox]

@VASINGER archie bunker was not white trash, he was a bigot. big difference.

[VASINGER]

@leftiesrox He was both.

[Pinkstonnaked]

I thought Vint was her son not Alan Alda

[dma124]

Vint was her son only on the syndicated series. Roddy McDowell and Alan Alda were her sons on the original show, and who knows, there could have been more!

[needles1987]

Mama originally had three sons.

[jeffpoet]

Funny stuff . How many kids does mama have?

[needles1987]

Mama originally had five kids.

[Pinkstonnaked]

wow I would have loved to see Jack Phillip and Larry right?

[occles]

LOL! Love this episode! Eunice's psychological meltdowns are hilarious!

[glori9455]

Alan Alda was pretty good looking when he was young. He looks really good here.

[scofieldinasia]

very bold of the writers to stick in the words "helter skelter" just 6 or 7 years after the tragedy, 2 years after the tv movie. that's why this show did so well, it took serious chances. Carol Burnett is the best female comidian ever !

[moodychick83]

alan alda is so brilliant! he keeps a straight face. they mustve rehersed alot of time. carol is so hilarius her character eunice but acts so... and that apron?

anyway he is so cute. and charming.

"are ya suprised? are ya suprised?"

[okydokes]

1:42 is really funny lol

[TRISAND]

killer kelly dolls.....lmbo

[no8do2008]

"will you calm down Eunice! Ya'll are actin' like the Queen of England!" :D

[PatrickLHawkins]

who cares about all the brothers and all the names. it's a tv show, just enjoy it!!!!

[ddbjg]

i enjoy it so much

[librarylover321]

is that the guy from M*A*S*H

[StirrCrazy90]

Alan Alda

[SpiritBear12]

Yes, that's Alan Alda who played Benjamin Pierce aka Hawk eye on M*A*S*H*.

[KittyNessa]

Benjamin Franklin Pierce. Hawkeye.

[mudel942002]

It's funny to see him in "regular" 70's clothes as opposed to his usual apparel on M*A*S*H :>

[KittyNessa]

yesss tis true. What a sexy man

[oldsitcom12]

He was never on Mama's Family Larry become Vinton who was played by Ken Berry

[mastmedia]

OMG! This is just like my family!!

They ask me about my latest project, a book I've written or a speech I just gave they change the subject as soon as I begin. I just stop talking about anything.

[VASINGER]

This is funny- but no offense- Alan Alda just seemed out of place in this skit. His humour and delivery is more dry .

[cynthiacher]

He was meant to seem out of place. He was obviously the only "normal" one in The Family. Notice how his behavior contrasts with the rudeness and ignorance of Mama, Eunice and Ed. Unable to take it anymore, he tells them off and gets the hell out of there. He's the only non-codependent member of the wretched "Family."

[VASINGER]

Um, actually, he seemed out of place because he was cold, distant, and pretentious, while the rest of the gang is down to earth and fun loving. Not to mention his nails on the chalkboard NY city accent didn't fit in either.

[cynthiacher]

I found Larry quite sympathetic. His "family" cuts him off mid-sentence, doesn't listen to a word he says and puts him down at every turn. Imagine being a commercial illustrator and being given a paint by numbers set! Imagine being an adult and being prompted to say "thank you!" I don't consider "the family" down to earth and fun loving. I think they're ignorant, unbearable hicks.

[ForeverAnalog]

You call them hicks- I consider them just good 'ol country folks who are trying their best to be nice. Hes a pretentious yahoo, but more importantly- HES NOT FUNNY! Thats why his character doesnt fit. Maybe its just Alan Alda's poor acting.

[cynthiacher]

They're not "trying their best to be nice!" In fact, they're treating him with total contempt; because he's not married they think he's "strange" and they keep saying he's been "fired" and basically treat him like dirt. Who on earth could stand being around such a group of nasty people who keep sniping at you and each other? No wonder he stayed away for five years.

[birminghamoi]

cynthia i agree with you.. forever was raised by white trash like the family characters and does not know any better either..

[VASINGER]

@birminghamoi they aren't white trash. They are just a little off beat. I can't believe the ignorance of some people.

[TennesseeShelties]

My favorite shows, Carol Burnett and Vicky Lawrence are the best!!

[Patrick724]

OMG!  This is like peeking into MY family Christmas!

[GreenPencil305]

You know what? This is getting confusing. All I know is that Eunice has only one brother, and he's played by 3 different actors. First his name is Phillip, then his name is Jack, then Larry, and then on "Mama's Family", his name is Vinton.

[pocodfe]

Well, you have to consider, whatever guest was on the show that week, they just wrote their character name into the script. There was Larry (Alan Alda), Jack (Tommy Smothers), Phillip (Roddy McDowell, with an English accent...lol), and then on the movie, Ken Barry played Phillip.

[reneen1018]

How many kids did Mama have? At least four by my count.

[luridplanet]

The thing about Alan Alda is that he played the same character in everything he did.

[rippedwrangler]

This was a perfect skit for Alan Alda. The last part was so Hawkeye.

[gunners8487]

How hot does Alan Alda look?

[rightwaycorrigan]

the BEST of television!

[sunfighter86]

"Are you sur-PRIZED? Are you sur-PRIZED?"!!!

[phatton1054]

What a fantastic series. These loons actually

bought their artist brother a Color by Number set. lol. Who could resist a Killer Kelly Doll. When you look up dysfunctional in the Dictionary, this Mama's series is listed.

[Tareltonlives]

"Just because he's not married don't mean he's strange...necessarily."

[ahoystella]

Why doesn't Alan Alda have the same accent as Eunice, Mama and Ed? Alan Alda is so annoying - he's always Alan Alda no matter what his role. Hard to see him as anything but Hawkeye Pierce, AFTER Hawkeye became so annoyingling PC, when Alan Alda was synonymous with wimpy '70s twerps. Just can't like Alan Alda since then.

[reneen1018]

I would guess because he's more "cosmopolitan" than the rest of his family.

[wmbrown6]

@ahoystella - The same was true of Roddy McDowall when he played Phillip in three of the "Family" sketches - not only did his natural British accent stay intact, but while his character was supposed to be Eunice's little brother, in real life he was five years older than Ms. Burnett.

[Wild1995]

Thanks for posting all of these classics. I can never get tired of watching these. You posted almost all of the Carol Burnett Mama episodes. My favorite is still missing from Youtube. Do you have the episode that Mama is at Eunace's place and recovering from some accident. Mama wants Ed to drive home to get her cold cream. I would love to see that one again.

[pocodfe]

That is a good one. I have it on tape, and Mama is such a crab ass!  That's what makes these so funny.

[otherboleyngirl]

Alan Alda was so cute. :)

[autoamerican79]

oh yeah, he was totally hot!!

[08dressageGal]

@otherboleyngirl He's my favorite! :)

[Moonchild60]

Hello: How is it that Eunice had Ellen the sister and brothers, Jack, Vinton, Larry and Philip and it changed over the years from her show to Mama's family?? Anybody have some feedback or comments on this? THANKS Debra

[jph0917]

In the Mama's Family show, Vint was based on Jack. Mama mentions a few times she had four screaming kids at her feet. They were going to bring Phil in later in the series, but never did. There are several web sites on Mama's Family that explain it better. You'll have to Google search for them.

[1DRock37167]

Thanks for posting!

[shawnclub7]

wow lol

[Malfiore1967]

NOEL NOEEELLLLLLL !!!! Hahaha... She is awesome.

[roxxmysocks]

LOL!

[needles1987]

Alan Alda is great in this.

[pracs92]

I love it. Thanks for posting :-)