The Carol Burnett Show - The First "Family" Sketch

The one that started it all. Lyle Waggoner introduces and Roddy McDowall guest stars as Phillip Harper, who drops in on his family for a visit, only to be ignored by Eunice, Ed, and of course, Mama.

It's worth noting that Eunice and Mama don't fight as badly as they're known to in the "Family" sketches. It's also worth comparing the Mama character here with the pouty Mama from the rest of the sketches, the more vocal Mama from "Mama's Family"'s NBC years, and the nicer Mama from the show's syndication run, not to mention the character today seen in Vicki Lawrence's "Two Woman" show.

Anyway, hope you all enjoy!

I do not own any of the footage or music featured. All rights are reserved and belong to their respective copyright owners. No copyright infringement intended. For entertainment purposes only.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• the Carol Burnett show
• first
• The Family (sketch)
• Mama's Family
• episode
• sketch
• family
• Vicki Lawrence
• Harvey Korman
• Roddy McDowall
• mama
• Lyle Waggoner
• eunice
• ed
• phillip
• harper
• higgins
• Carol Burnett
• yt:stretch=16:9
• Eunice Harper Higgins

[PatrickLHawkins]

My family treats me the same way. I'm the only one who moved away. And when I would make the rare trip home they would be so self centered. They never ask me anything about myself and when they did they would cut me off and start going on about some idiotic nonsense.

[MissGreenAgain]

@PatrickLHawkins Sorry to hear that. I hope it's not as bad as it is here (especially if you know how much more arguing "The Family" does in following sketches).

[PatrickLHawkins]

@MissGreenAgain My family is pretty bad. LOL But I'm used to it. Nine yrs ago I drove out for a visit almost a year after starting kidney dialysis. One of them would ask me a question about dialysis and I would never be able to finish a sentence or explain anything without being cut off or having them walk out of the room. And they would always refer to my condition as liver disease and not kidney. After a while I gave up correcting them.

[MissGreenAgain]

@PatrickLHawkins LOL but seriously as long as your family loves you enough to want to tell you what's going on in their lives (at least I *hope* that's the case, anyway), the love is there ;) <3

[harryspunkpunk]

OH THANKS SO MUCH! Love it! And where oh where is funny AND touching comedy writing today?

[MissGreenAgain]

@harryspunkpunk Thanks! I uploaded this because it was practically the only "Family" sketch not on YT.

As for your question, such writing's probably confined to cable today.

[littlebit19801]

Mama is much more like she is from the later episodes of Mama's Family here.

[farwayout]

You have to admit, Phil is the smartest and most intelligent- he moved away from all the chaos and MADNESS!!!

[MPL029]

@RememberingLucy If I were Phillip I too would have altered my speech to make myself seem more worldly!

[MPL029]

I wonder why they didnt create a character for Lyle? Could it be that he had no talent>??? hmmm

[RememberingLucy]

Phil was born and raised in Raytown, but he has a British accent. Hmmm.

[Licmycat]

Omgosh, did that show influence most Americans or was it patterned after us??

[gabsylv]

@PatrickLHawkins  Ditto. lol

[enchantedboy66]

Mama's orthopedic shoes are missing. LOL And her glasses are wrong.

[Ziva4260]

atleast they were nice to him leaving........kind of...