Carol Burnett is one of the most beloved comediennes in the history of American television. Tuesday night, she found herself in the middle of a public spat with Joan Rivers on "Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?" (Tues., 9 p.m. EST on WE) in a moment that had the feel of a scripted scene.
Looking for a celebrity guest to make an appearance at a charity event at her daughter Melissa's son's school, Joan cornered the actress at a restaurant and went over to her table for a quick chat. From the get-go, it was clear that Burnett wasn't too excited to see Rivers. When Rivers hugged her hello, Burnett rolled her eyes and braced for an uncomfortable conversation.
Burnett rebuffed Rivers' attempts to get her to appear at the charity auction, saying that she was busy on the date it was scheduled. She also commented on how Rivers had "done something" to her face, prompting Rivers to beam about all the work she's had done.
The uncomfortable conversation reached a boiling point when Rivers told Burnett she was detecting some animosity from her. At that, Burnett got up from the table and explained why she was holding a grudge. "Hawaii!" she said, and stormed out of the restaurant.
What exactly happened in Hawaii? Earlier in the episode, Melissa revealed that Joan pushed Carol into the ocean on a family vacation there 30 years ago, and she was stung by a jellyfish. Joan never apologized.
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Carol Burnett is one of the most beloved comediennes in the history of American television. Tuesday night, she found herself in the middle of a public spat with Joan Rivers on "Joan & Melissa: Joan Kn...
Carol Burnett is one of the most beloved comediennes in the history of American television. Tuesday night, she found herself in the middle of a public spat with Joan Rivers on "Joan & Melissa: Joan Kn...
Carol Burnett is one of the most beloved comediennes in the history of American television. Tuesday night, she found herself in the middle of a public spat with Joan Rivers on "Joan & Melissa: Joan Kn...
Carol Burnett is one of the most beloved comediennes in the history of American television. Tuesday night, she found herself in the middle of a public spat with Joan Rivers on "Joan & Melissa: Joan Kn...
ALL reality shows are "true reality" in so far as they give us an accurate depiction of just how sick and dysfunctional some people are and what they are willing to do for money. It also accurately depicts just how TV producer's are perfectly happy to serve the viewing public in expensive-slop...if we will eat it. So far we are eating it.
Wellington_Mot: ALL reality shows are "true reality" in so far as
Windy City Times: Hello, Carol. I heard you are going to be on Joan Rivers' reality show. How did you get involved with that?
Carol Burnett: She called me—easy as that. This was through a friend of mine, Kenny Solms. I don't know if you know him but he is a great comedy writer. She is best buds with him and I am, too. I have known Joan forever because she was on our show as a guest three times.
WCT: I didn't realize that.
CB: Oh, yes—way back. She asked me to do it and I said, "Sure, what the heck?' They rented out tables in a restaurant near where I live. We just had a little scene in a restaurant together. It was very easy and we kind of improvised. We knew where we were going with the plot, we shot it a couple of times, and that was it. She sent me the most gorgeous bouquet; there were roses, and I don't know what all—there was a forest! It lived a long time and was just beautiful.
sgreco: Windy City Times: Hello, Carol. I heard you are going
THANK YOU for posting this sgreco... I actually believe this conversation took place... It had to be planned...how else could Carol and and Kenny get their microphones on for the scene? ;-) Unless they just said ""hey we have a surprise person coming in so we can film a clip, so ya'll just go with it!""....which I doubt happened..LOL These celebrities get paid for breathing, so I know these 2 got paid for their time on this AWFUL ""reality"" show! Has anyone noticed that ""REALITY"" television is getting to be a rehearsed thing these days??
SandraSNS: THANK YOU for posting this sgreco... I actually believe this
It's all purely show business, but Ms. Burnetts' television program was one of the very best programs ever on the tube... pure "golden age"of it's own making.
KingKrub: It's all purely show business, but Ms. Burnetts' television program
IMO, Joan is terribly foul in a mean spirited way to lots of people. The trouble is Joan doesn't realize that that sort of mean spirited talk, JUST for it's own sake, comes back to bite her.
blindhog: IMO, Joan is terribly foul in a mean spirited way
Who is the idiot journalist who posted this as news? Not only is it obviously staged and obviously in the style of the two (great) comediennes, but Carol Burnett is on record from weeks go explaining how they got together and how they shot this semi-improvised scene. (http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=35816)
Starman63: Who is the idiot journalist who posted this as news?
Thank you Starman63! - there seem to be no end of gullible people here who have no clue how Carol used to film her skits - OR how they could possibly shoot this without having a few cameras ....good grief. Carol's the MASTER at this kind of stuff - and how anyone could take it seriously is so beyond me - then turning it into an entire blog about a FEUD --- unfreakingbelievable. People - READ THE LINK!!
egs1217: Thank you Starman63! - there seem to be no end
well i dont like joan rivers i find everything about her annoying as heck and i could understand why carol burnette would be angry at the time but thirty years is a LONG time to hold on to a grudge time to let it go
anitafeeney: well i dont like joan rivers i find everything about
not really but i do understand about holding a grudge and in the end the harm it does you i have heald my share of grudges and in the end had nothing to show for it
anitafeeney: not really but i do understand about holding a grudge
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First Posted: 02/29/2012 1:33 pm Updated: 03/ 2/2012 1:12 pm