For fans of the Carol Burnett Show that can’t possibly afford the complete series, the “Ultimate Collection” is about as close as you can get to the greatness of a complete boxed set. It’s many of the highlights of the Carol Burnett show and it spotlights the comedy and slapstick as well as the whimsy and variety. There are a ton of celebrity guest spots, some sweet moments involving Ms. Burnett interacting with her audience, and plenty of musical numbers that fans of the series’ entire package will quite enjoy. And just to top off the Collection, there’s even a Christmas DVD filled with many holiday themed sketches from various seasons.
Volume 1 of the Collection is “Carol’s Favorites,” which is six DVD set from various seasons of the series including a slew of segments that are both famous and absurd including “The Oldest Man,” and “Went with the Wind!” There are also “The Family” segments, featuring Vicki Lawrence as Mama, herself. There are some fine guest stars as well, including Roddy McDowall who engages in a Q&A with the audience, and the immortal Betty White. Among the Bonus Features in the set, to name a few is: “Let’s Bump Up the Lights”: Cast reunion with Carol, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway and Lyle Waggoner, “Let’s Bump Up the Lights”: Cast reunion with Carol, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway and Lyle Waggoner, and the very rare (and utterly hysterical) sketch entitled “The Dentist” with Tim Conway and Harvey Korman. “This Time Together” is with seventeen episodes fro various seasons, and some of the more memorable sketches.
Featured is “The Malpractice Policy” with Carol Burnett and Tim Conway, “The Late Late Late Show: The Enchanted Hovel” with Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence, and guest star Dick Van Dyke, and the return of The Oldest Man as a Clock Repairman. Among the Bonus Features there are assorted interviews with Tim Conway, and Steve Lawrence, as well as Q&A’s with Dick Van Dyke, and Vicki Lawrence. “One More Time” is a six DVD set with sketches from various seasons with guest stars like Joel Grey, Vincent Price, Maggie Smith, and Telly Savalas. This includes “Rhoda Dimple,” “The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln” and “The Switchboard” with Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Joel Grey, and Vincent Price, to name a few. On the Bonus Features 4 DVD Set, there are various interviews and guest stars sharing their own anecdotes about being on the show, as well as interviews with the show’s stars and their influence on pop culture with folks like Amy Poehler and Jane Lynch.
There’s the Garry Moore Show episode featuring Carol Burnett’s last appearance as a member of the cast, a slew of bonus sketches, “Harvey Korman & Tim Conway—Together Again” an interview with two of the funniest stars on the series who managed to produce some of the most memorable content, a tribute to the writers of the series, and a tribute to the movie parodies so prominently featured on the series. Finally, there’s the sweet and funny “Christmas with Carol” DVD featuring a compilation of Christmas and holiday themed sketches with various guest stars like Alan Alda, and Helen Reddy along with bonus holiday sketches including “Christmas Night Quarrel,” “Chairwoman: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “The Twelve Days After Christmas.”