Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mark B 
I read that Carol is not fond of the shows taped prior to 1972, and that's why we never see those first seasons represented on the re-cut half hour syndicated show "Carol Burnett and Friends," however season sets of all 11 seasons would be a dream come true.
The first five seasons of The Carol Burnett Show are mired in "dual ownership" rights, with TV producer and packager Bob Banner (whose company co-produced the show in those first five years) claiming co-ownership. From its 1967 premiere up to the 1971-72 season (or, to quote an oft-used phrase associated with commercial breaks, the "second half" of her original 10-year contract with CBS and Mr. Banner that was signed in 1962), the credited production companies were Burngood, Inc. (Ms. Burnett and then-husband Joe Hamilton) and Bob Banner Associates (Mr. Banner), in association with the CBS Television Network. The 1972-73 season was the first to be owned entirely by her; from then until some time in the 1976-77 season*, the credited production company was Punkin, Inc. (a.k.a. Punkin Productions, Inc. as they were listed in the end credits of Carol Burnett & Friends); for the rest of the show's run the production company was Whacko, Inc. I seem to remember the half-hour syndicated (and highly edited) CB&F was first made available to local stations beginning in the 1977-78 season, which may explain why nothing from that final season was edited for syndication. But as far as the DVD's go, it seems to figure that none of the shows from Dick Van Dyke's short-lived run as a regular following Harvey Korman's departure were among those shows selected for release (and those that were released, came from after Mr. Van Dyke left).
But back to the shows co-owned by Mr. Banner: I've been apprised that, forgetting for a moment the issue of music rights, if any other shows from that period were put out on DVD, he and Ms. Burnett would very barely break even on any sales, if at all.
But then, Ms. Burnett has also disavowed any and all knowledge of the 1964-65 series The Entertainers (also produced by Mr. Banner) which was originally co-hosted by her, Bob Newhart (who bowed out midway through its run, but would have a more profitable association with CBS via his 1972-78 and 1982-90 sitcoms) and Caterina Valente; however, some who saw some snippets from that show swear it wasn't all that bad.
And as for where the fabled "Dentist Sketch" originated: It came from the March 3, 1969 edition where, besides Mr. Conway, Ethel Merman was also a guest.
* I say "some time," because the Oct. 30, 1976 edition (guest Roddy McDowall) was a Whacko production, but the Nov. 13, 1976 show (guest Dinah Shore, with the now-famous "Went With the Wind!" sketch) was a Punkin production; I wonder if the latter was made before the former, regardless of airing order.
