Variety reports that legendary comedian Carol Burnett will make her return to television in a multi-camera comedy in which she will star alongside Amy Poehler. Sources reveal that the project was sold to ABC in a highly competitive situation. Michael Saltzman will write and executive produce the untitled comedy which will follow "a family who can only live in the house of their dreams if they live with the current owner, an actress played by Burnett, until she dies."
Burnett, the recipient of six Emmy Awards, received an Emmy nomination for all 11 seasons of the "Carol Burnett Show," winning three times. Earlier this year, the comic was presented with
the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award. Poehler and fellow SNL alum Tina Fey presented the honor on the live telecast.
Burnett first made her mark as a member of "The Garry Moore Show" ensemble and for her Tony-nominated performance in the original Broadway musical production of "Once Upon a Mattress." Her rise to household name came in 1967, when "The Carol Burnett Show" premiered on
CBS with a talented ensemble featuring Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner. Burnett's portrayal of "Starlet" O'Hara in a "Gone with the Wind" parody is always counted among the top 10 greatest moments in television history. Its famous Bob Mackie-designed "curtain-rod" dress now resides at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
Burnett's film credits include John Huston's version of the musical "Annie"; Peter Bogdanovich's "Noises Off"; Robert Altman's "A Wedding"; and Alan Alda's "Four Seasons." On Broadway she starred in A.R. Gurney's "Love Letters," Stephen Sondheim's musical "review" "Putting It Together," and Ken Ludwig's farce "Moon Over Buffalo." She also starred in the highly acclaimed television movies "Friendly Fire" and "Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice," produced and starred in numerous specials, and guest-starred on such series as "Glee," "Hot in Cleveland," and "Law and Order: SVU."
Burnett has written three New York Times-bestselling memoirs: "One More Time," followed by "This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection" and "Carrie and Me: A Mother-Daughter Love Story," both Grammy® nominees for best spoken word recordings. She added playwright to her credits when she and her daughter, Carrie Hamilton, wrote "Hollywood Arms." Sadly, Carrie passed away four months prior to the play's premiere at the Chicago Goodman Theatre in April 2002. Directed by Hal Prince, "Hollywood Arms" premiered on Broadway later that year.
This year, Burnett already has been seen in the
PBS telecast of "A Celebration of American Creativity: In Performance at the White House" and returned to CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" for a special episode.
Burnett is in active development with
CBS Films on "Sunrise in Memphis," a theatrical project originated by her late daughter Carrie and is writing her fourth book, entitled "In Such Good Company," a poignant love letter to the golden era of television that simultaneously examines what made "The Carol Burnett Show" an iconic success.
