This Time Together by Carol Burnett

For years Carol Burnett filled people's homes with hours of pure down to earth comedy, closing her shows with her signature song, 'I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together.' Now in this book she relives not only many of the humorous moments the public saw on television, but she exposes intimate details about her personal life and her friendships with some top figures in the entertainment world. What makes this audio book so special is that Carol narrates it herself, and after a few moments, it feels like sitting face to face with her as she tells about so many of the incidents that have taken place in her life throughout the years. Her story of living with her grandmother in Texas as an eleven year old is both touching and amusing. After she and her grandmother saw a movie with Jimmy Stewart, Carol told her that she and Jimmy were friends. Throughout the following years she said she felt that way, and later in life she and her husband actually met and became good friends with Jimmy and his wife, Gloria.

Throughout the book Carole discloses hundreds of tidbits about famous people she has come to know. There is nothing mean-spirited about any of her tales, but rather they serve to poke fun of herself and her actions. She tells of the time she and Julie Andrews were playing a joke on someone by pretending to make out on bench in a hotel corridor, dressed in their pajamas. Instead of their intended victim, when the elevator doors opened, out stepped First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson. She also describes her excruciating discomfort and embarrassment when a phone call from Marlon Brando caught her on her way to the bathroom. She was thrilled that he knew of her and her work, but he had no idea that his rambling chat was causing her unbearable pain and she didn't know how to tell him. Many of her real life antics were just as slapstick as the comedy she brought to television. When she met Jimmy Stewart, she was so awestruck that she stepped off the low stage into a bucket of paint and then tried to pretend the bucket wasn't attached to her foot as she dragged it to the stage door.

This book shows the class that Carol always displayed in her TV shows. The stories of her relationships with her family are heartfelt. She truly was a member of a dysfunctional family, but she survived through love, hard work and a sense of humor. As she describes the struggles in her career, it's obvious that she applied those same principles to become a successful entertainer. She talks of working with designer Bob Mackie and how he influenced many of the characters and skits through his genius. The famous Gone With the Wind drapery rod scene is one example. She also tells about the friendships she formed while working with Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway and Lyle Waggoner. This book is a wealth of personal information, told by a trusted friend. Yes, Carol, we're all glad we had this time together, too.

This Time Together by Carol Burnett
Read by Carol Burnett
Random House Audio, unabridged: 5.5 hours on 5 CDs