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George Burns Comedy Week

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George Burns Comedy Week
Presented byGeorge Burns
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producers
Running time30 min.
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 18 (1985-09-18) –
December 25, 1985 (1985-12-25)

George Burns Comedy Week is a comedy anthology television series broadcast in the United States by CBS as part of its 1985 fall lineup, hosted by George Burns.

Overview

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As he was age 89 when the show premiered, George Burns was billed as the oldest person ever to "star" in a television series. Burns had been around television in one way or another since shortly after its inception; like many old-time radio stars he had brought his routine over more-or-less intact from the older medium. However, his actual role in this series was rather slight; aside from lending his name, introducing the night's program, and providing an occasional voice-over narration, Burns was not involved in any of the episodes as an actor and those who tuned in expecting to see him as such were disappointed.

Several well-known comedians appeared in episodes of this show, including Joe Piscopo, Robert Klein, Don Rickles, Martin Mull, Don Knotts, and Howard Hesseman. The show is probably best known for two particular segments, one being "Christmas Carol II: The Sequel" in which an adult Tiny Tim has come to exhibit many of the characteristics once defining his father's old boss, Ebenezer Scrooge, and another starring Valerie Perrine and Harvey Korman in what proved to be the pilot for their short lived sitcom, Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills.

Episodes

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Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"The Dynamite Girl"Peter BonerzStory by : Steve Martin & Carl Gottlieb
Teleplay by : Carl Gottlieb
September 18, 1985 (1985-09-18)
2"Home for Dinner"Carl GottliebLarry Levin & Jonathan DaySeptember 25, 1985 (1985-09-25)
3"Death Benefits"Neal IsraelAmy Heckerling & Neal IsraelOctober 2, 1985 (1985-10-02)
4"The Smiths"Phil Alden RobinsonJames Berg & Stan ZimmermanOctober 9, 1985 (1985-10-09)
5"The Couch"Steve MartinStory by : Steve Martin & Carl Gottlieb
Teleplay by : Ed Scharlach
October 16, 1985 (1985-10-16)
6"Disaster at Buzz Creek"John LandisAndy BreckmanOctober 23, 1985 (1985-10-23)
7"The Assignment"Phil Alden RobinsonBruce Jay Friedman (based on his story "The Mission")October 30, 1985 (1985-10-30)
8"Dream, Dream, Dream"John G. FoxDavid SimonNovember 6, 1985 (1985-11-06)
9"Boris and Ivan Visit Las Vegas"Carl GottliebStory by : Carl Gottlieb
Teleplay by : Paul Perlove
November 13, 1985 (1985-11-13)
10"The Honeybunnies"Peter BonerzDavid Cohen & Roger S.H. SchulmanNovember 27, 1985 (1985-11-27)
11"The Funniest Guy in the World"John KortyPamela PettlerDecember 4, 1985 (1985-12-04)
12"Christmas Carol II: The Sequel"Carl GottliebCarl Gottlieb & David AxlerodDecember 11, 1985 (1985-12-11)
13"The Borrowing"Alan MyersonStory by : Merrill Markoe
Teleplay by : Pamela Pettler
December 25, 1985 (1985-12-25)

Reception

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George Burns Comedy Week did poorly in the Nielsen ratings and was last broadcast on Christmas night 1985. It marked Burns' last ongoing role in a television series, although he continued to appear as a guest on programs for the next nine years, until suffering a serious fall at age 98 which ended his active performing career (Burns died at age 100).

References

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