Carol Burnett

Just about any American watching TV past 10 p.m. between 1967 and 1978 has a favorite moment from The Carol Burnett Show -- "Starlet" descending the Tara staircase, Mrs. Wiggins fiddling with the intercom, Eunice bickering, Mama nagging and any number of Tarzan yells. The woman behind the army of comedic characters is revealed in the American Masters presentation "Carol Burnett: A Woman of Character," airing Monday, Nov. 5 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET1 and Sunday, Nov, 11 at 3/2 p.m. CT on KET2.

By brilliantly playing with stereotypes of glamorous women, dumb broads and goofy girls, Burnett smashed some of the most limiting female images and created an empowering new one: the woman who is as feminine and likable as she is talented and powerful, and whose message isn't any more radical than a simple invitation to laugh. Her on-stage joyfulness and fearlessness remain an inspiration to performers such as Tracey Ullman, Ellen DeGeneres and Jenna Elfman.

The film is framed with one of Burnett's signature devices: the audience Q&A that faithfully opened her weekly show (which won 25 Emmys). The questions, and Burnett's humorous and telling improvised responses, provide the spine for the story of her life and career. Interviews with those who know her best reveal the personal side of the public personae.

Burnett is best known for her long-running comedy variety show on CBS, but she was also a regular attraction on stage, television and, later in her career, films. "A Woman of Character" includes clips from a wide variety of sources that testify to Burnett's breadth as a singer, actor and comedienne.

"Carol Burnett is a comic master," says Tracey Ullman. "I studied her work when I first came to the U.S. She can play anyone. I don't know where it comes from."

American Masters  "Carol Burnett: A Woman of Character" is produced by WNET/New York.