This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection, Carol Burnett
The Facts: I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by the author. This is the second memoir Burnett has published, the first was One More Time: A Memoir published in 1986. In One More Time, Burnett focused on her childhood in a poor Hollywood neighborhood, where she was raised by her grandmother after her two alcoholic parents could no longer care for her. Still, it's Carol, so the story is as hilarious a coming-of-age story as it is heartbreaking. This latest memoir is described by Burnett in the introduction as having come from her one woman show where she fielded questions from the audience, an anything goes style that she worked into a narrative flow of childhood stories and life in the biz.
Is it good? Yes, with reservations. It helps to be a huge Carol Burnett fan, and so I knew all the sketches she was referencing from her show. Listening to the memoir was also an advantage, because Burnett has such a distinct voice and style, her spot-on comedy timing adds dimensions to the stories on the page. Her tone and inflection reawaken moments in her life - not just the facts, but the emotions behind her choices, the uncertainty she felt as a young woman alone in a big city trying to "make it". I loved the tales of serendipity, the anonymous donor who gave her the means to get to New York and have a try at Broadway, the kindness of strangers, the Broadway star who suggested she put on her own show to attract the interests of agents. The descriptions of New York City as a place where an artist could learn her craft, and literally walk out onto the street and meet other artists of like mind resonated with Patti Smith's descriptions of the city during the late 60s.
Burnett is pitching soft balls for the whole book, so if you are looking for some good insider dirt, back stage stories about celebrities or shocking affairs, you will be disappointed. The dishy-est she gets is describing how she fired Harvey Korman for being rude to her guests, and then rehired him the next day. That episode ends with Harvey toasting Carol at the local watering hole. This is truly a work ready for the grandkids. She is careful in her wording, side stepping roads that might lead to offending someone, and instead keeps it upbeat with a happy ending. There is a great deal more between the lines, but Burnett steers clear. Still, it makes for great listening, and maybe even better yet, brought me to YouTube to revisit the sketches themselves and laugh at them all over again.
Cringey bit: Once she starts talking about her show, her soft ball style is limiting. There is a part where she goes on at length about a skit, describing it in its entirety, which drains it of all humor and is confusing to boot.
Favorite part: I loved the stories from Burnett's Broadway days. She does a wonderful job of setting the stage - the low rent walk-ups she was living in, the long days of rehearsals and shows, the early struggles and small successes that kept her going. The story of how she combated insomnia by stepping out after midnight to buy the latest newspapers, was followed home by a mugger, and then transformed from victim to I don't even know what the term is - harasser? is fantastic. She turned on her would-be mugger just steps away from her apartment and scared the pants off him with a pure Burnett routine belted out with deep Broadway training: "ding, dong, the witch is dead" she sang, crossing her eyes and Tarzan yelling until the mugger ran for cover. Burnett brings the whole story to life, whooping and screaming until I was laughing so hard I almost drove off the road.
