Vicki Lawrence
Actress
About This Interview
In her nearly three-hour Archive interview, Vicki Lawrence discusses her early experience in a high school musical troupe called Young Americans. She explains how a letter she wrote to Carol Burnett (along with her striking resemblance to the star) wound up jump-starting her career. She outlines her first job, on The Carol Burnett Show, where she played "Little Sis" and was mentored by cast-mates Harvey Korman and Tim Conway. She details her spin-off show, Mama's Family, and the genesis of her character, "Mama", on "The Family" sketches on the Burnett show. She discusses being the first female game-show host on Win, Lose, or Draw, getting her own TV talk show, Vicki!, and chronicles her many guest-roles on The Love Boat, Laverne & Shirley, and Hannah Montana, among others. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview in Long Beach, CA on August 10, 2011.
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Video Clip: Watch Vicki Lawrence and Carol Burnett as "Mama" and "Eunice" on "Password Plus":
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Highlights
Vicki Lawrence on Bob Mackie's costume design for her Mama's Family character
Clip begins at: 02:00, Duration: 01m 00s
Vicky Lawrence on loving doing comedy more than drama
Clip begins at: 19:00, Duration: 00m 45s- Vicki Lawrence on how the writers of Mama's Family did not want "Mama" to be a Southern character
Clip begins at: 04:47, Duration: 02m 03s - Vicki Lawrence on the episode of The Carol Burnett Show which won her an Emmy Award
Clip begins at: 14:35, Duration: 01m 26s - Vicki Lawrence on her early breaks and "hitting the brick wall" much later in her career after her talk show was cancelled
Clip begins at: 09:39
Interview
- Part 1
- On her childhood in Southern California, her family's name change from Axelrod to Lawrence; on her musical background
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On watching television as a young girl; on wanting to be Mary Tyler Moore when she grew up; on the beginnings of her singing career with the Young Americans (a non-profit singing group of high school students); on her first television appearances
Clip begins at: 04:11 - On being told she looked like "a young Carol Burnett" and sending a letter that resulted in her later getting hired on The Carol Burnett Show as Carol's kid "Sis"; on being mentored by Harvey Korman; on leaving college to be on the show; on the process of the show and rehearsing the sketches; on what she learned about comedy from the show
Clip begins at: 11:35 - On specific episodes of The Carol Burnett Show such as "Went with the Wind"; on memorable guest stars; on fame and celebrity
Clip begins at: 50:54 - On the genesis of Mama's Family and the character of Eunice played by Carol Burnett; the Family sketches first premiered on The Carol Burnett Show and later resulted in the spin-off
Clip begins at: 56:42 - Part 2
- On how Mama's Family evolved from "The Family" sketches on The Carol Burnett Show; on the style of the show and costume design; on the cast and writers; on "Mama" and the other characters on the show; on the chemistry in the cast; on special guest stars
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On taping The Carol Burnett Show live to tape; on memorable bloopers on that show; on winning an Emmy Award; on what she learned about comedy from her castmates; on meeting her husband Al Schultz; on the legacy of the show
Clip begins at: 09:57 - On Eunice and Mama's Family; the cast and guest-stars; on the show's cancellation; on what made that show special and the writers
Clip begins at: 32:47 - Part 3
- On hosting game shows; on being nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for hosting Win, Lose, or Draw; on getting her own talk show, Vicki; on lessons learned about show business
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On guest-starring roles on The Love Boat, Laverne & Shirley, Diagnosis: Murder, and a recurring role on Hannah Montana with Miley Cyrus; on fame; on advice to aspiring performers
Clip begins at: 17:37
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Professions
Mrs. Lawrence-Shultz is an amazing actress. When I was little, I used to watch Mama's family reruns. When I got a bit older, she was on Hannah Montana, a show in which all my friends were watching, and I was staying over at a friends house and I remember screaming "ITS MAMA!!!" Lets just say that I don't go over there anymore
when i saw t he archive of american television fornthe first time, this is going to be a wonderful dynamic and great showcase to see the men and women who have made television great for so many years. I want the archive of american television to continue for many years to come. I hope that the archive will interview donald bellisario, mark harmon & pam dawber, kate jackson, lynda carter, malcolm jamal warner, ken olin, lou ferrigno, tony danza, judd hirsch, scott bakula, bob saget, montel willliams, james brown, bryant and greg gumbel.charlotte rae, linda lavin, ken berry, judith light, fred dryer, stephanie kramer, susan harris, avery brooks, reneauberjoinis, lorne michaels, don johnson, kevin dobson, patrick duffy, tom selleck, suzannne sommers, joyce dewitt, richard anderson, lee majors, linda gray, jim lampley, don criqui, don taffner. arne sultan, earl barret, frank gifford, stephanie powers, brent musberger, erik estrada, casey kasem, barbara hale, connie sellecca, william katt, sally jessse raphael, tony brown, martin milner, kent mccord, matt laurer deborah norville, mary hart & burt sugarman, linda gray, peter marshall,tina louise , kim fields, tim reid, lee majors, dave madden howard hessman, dirk benedict.
andy griffith was one of the most gifted, talented, and beloved actors in the history of television. when you saw him on the andy griffith show and matlock, because he gave us two of the most beloved characters that fans will love for many years to come. he will not be forgotten.
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