This was an excellent teleplay based on the long-running sketch from the Carol Burnett Show. It comprises of four acts representing the various trials and tribulations of Eunice and her family over a 25-year period. The first act (1953) presents Eunice and Ed during their somewhat stormy courtship. Act 2 takes place 10 years later, with Eunice and Ed married and arriving at Mama's house for a rather interesting and somewhat heated Sunday dinner. Act 3 finds Eunice divorced ten years later, living with Mama once again, and finally Act 4 finds Eunice coping with Mama's death five years later. Viewers have come to love these characters over the years, and the actors do not disappoint at all. Some of the one-liners actually appeared in the sketches during the Carol Burnett Show at one time or other (including the hilarious bit where Mama reveals that her late husband actually "died in the bathroom"), but instead of coming off as recycled bits, they fit together nicely and really blast off as Eunice's story unfolds. Definitely a classy production by one of the best comedy ensembles in television history. I don't think this ever aired after its appearance as a 1981 or 1982 CBS special, but here's hoping Eunice will be enjoyed again soon, perhaps as a special-issue DVD.
12 Reviews
Eunice, the consummate loser. Period.
topat30 December 2005
This 1981 teleplay is the absolute end-all for the Eunice character portrayed by Carol Burnett for several years during her reign as television's finest comedian, and with her own variety show to boot... I recall Burnett once saying in an interview that she was glad to put an end to the Eunice character with this special. It was certainly the last word for Eunice, but not for the rest of the cast, who continued the saga of "Mama's Family". The bittersweet ending of "Eunice" is a great finale for the title character and her family story. With the excellent supporting cast, it created one of the all time best TV "specials". Vicki Lawrence, Ken Berry, Harvey Korman and Betty White kept this simple minded family alive for years afterward, and with great success. This should be on DVD for all generations to appreciate. It's television at its best!
Eunice, the movie
Sylviastel3 June 2017
Carol Burnett was at her best in playing Eunice Harper Higgins on her variety show. The Family were always a favorite sketches except in spoofing movies or television. When her variety ended, Eunice never really was finished by Carol Burnett. She had such affection for Eunice. This eighty minute movie is available on the second season of Mama's Family on DVD. Carol returns with Harvey Korman as Ed Higgins. Ken Berry played Phillip (not Vinton) and Betty White as Ellen, her snobby sister. Vicki Lawrence returns as Mama. The movie is like a taped play with the same set starting in 1955 and ending in 1978. Eunice isn't some caricature but played like a human being. Carol played her perfectly. The entire cast was first rate.
Surprising
Chrissie25 December 2010
I'm not sure why this gem has been buried, but I'm glad I discovered it on YouTube.
It takes the form of four slices of Harper family life as we watch the familiar loser Eunice, and her successful brother Phillip, intersect at key points in their lives.
The humor is there, yes, but with a sharp, bitter edge that "The Carol Burnett Show" danced near but never on. "Eunice" slides down that edge and bleeds. The characters are larger than life, with Eunice far more of a bitter failure, and Phillip a far brighter star, than we'd see arising from one family. Still, the dynamics -- and the reality of how our choices make us who we are -- are painfully true to life.
The key interactions aren't between Mama and Eunice. They're between Eunice and Phillip. Carol Burnett brings a depth to the shallow Eunice I'd never seen before, especially in a quiet, dignified standoff with Harvey Korman's opportunistic Ed. Ken Berry's performance is amazing. He makes a sigh or a simple slump of the shoulders hold its own amid the overblown chaos around him. A lot of the credit for that must go to Harvey Korman as director, though, for allowing the camera to capture those small moments.
"Eunice" isn't one to just laugh at and move on. It's one to chew on. This might, really, be why it lay fallow. Nobody quite knew what to make of it, and thought it best, then, to just let it be.
It takes the form of four slices of Harper family life as we watch the familiar loser Eunice, and her successful brother Phillip, intersect at key points in their lives.
The humor is there, yes, but with a sharp, bitter edge that "The Carol Burnett Show" danced near but never on. "Eunice" slides down that edge and bleeds. The characters are larger than life, with Eunice far more of a bitter failure, and Phillip a far brighter star, than we'd see arising from one family. Still, the dynamics -- and the reality of how our choices make us who we are -- are painfully true to life.
The key interactions aren't between Mama and Eunice. They're between Eunice and Phillip. Carol Burnett brings a depth to the shallow Eunice I'd never seen before, especially in a quiet, dignified standoff with Harvey Korman's opportunistic Ed. Ken Berry's performance is amazing. He makes a sigh or a simple slump of the shoulders hold its own amid the overblown chaos around him. A lot of the credit for that must go to Harvey Korman as director, though, for allowing the camera to capture those small moments.
"Eunice" isn't one to just laugh at and move on. It's one to chew on. This might, really, be why it lay fallow. Nobody quite knew what to make of it, and thought it best, then, to just let it be.
I knew I wasn't making this up!
persnickity2711 November 2002
I have been trying to prove for YEARS that there was a live teleplay called Eunice, based on the Momma's Family characters from the Carol Burnett show. I've searched imdb many times before to no avail. Although I was only 10 or 11 when it was aired, being rather sophisticated for my age, I remember the special as being rather bittersweet. And with the genius ensemble of Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman, and Betty White, no less than comic magic can be expected. As the user before me, I hope this gem will soon be available on video.
Great little teleplay
benzing27 November 2001
Sad but sweet little teleplay featuring the "Family" from the Carol Burnett Show. Act 1 tells about Eunice and Ed, Act 2 takes place after Ed has left and Eunice is stuck alone with Momma, and Act 3 deals with Eunice trying to deal with Momma's passing away. Very funny, but also very sad. I have only seen this once, on it's live broadcast in 1981. I hope that it finds it's way to video someday.
Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.
Edith_in_LA11 March 2002
When this was shown in 1981 I taped it and watched it over and over again. (Too bad I used BETA tape!) It is such a poignant story of broken dreams. Eunice wanted to do so much, but life got in the way, then she looks back on all her missed opportunities.
It is sad, but could also be inspiring to others who have dreams they want to accomplish in life - to go for them before it's too late.
It is sad, but could also be inspiring to others who have dreams they want to accomplish in life - to go for them before it's too late.
Wow
dave_hillman16 April 2023
Like another poster here, I caught up with this on YouTube and I am very glad I did.
I loved these characters on the Carol Burnett Show. Here they are presented warts and all from the very beginning to the haunting end, and it may be too much for some viewers.
Eunice is the quintessential perfect teleplay.
Not enough can be said about this brilliant cast. Burnett is heart-breaking, Lawrence at times rivals the most fearsome of movie monsters, Korman and Berry have never been better, and the peerless Betty White will chill you to the bone. If you thought Sue Ann Nivens was acidic, wait till you see Betty devour her last scene with vampiric relish.
True, some of the one liners in this you may recall from the classic Family sketches, but this is not a distraction and actually benefits the project, filling in blanks a 20-minute sketch could never achieve.
All of the cast deserved Emmy recognition, but only Lawrence got one (and it is well deserved). It's kind of amazing to me that Burnett was overlooked for this. It is a career-best performance.
Eunice is unique. It definitely is funny, but tha last half hour is often chilling.
Recommended, highly.
I loved these characters on the Carol Burnett Show. Here they are presented warts and all from the very beginning to the haunting end, and it may be too much for some viewers.
Eunice is the quintessential perfect teleplay.
Not enough can be said about this brilliant cast. Burnett is heart-breaking, Lawrence at times rivals the most fearsome of movie monsters, Korman and Berry have never been better, and the peerless Betty White will chill you to the bone. If you thought Sue Ann Nivens was acidic, wait till you see Betty devour her last scene with vampiric relish.
True, some of the one liners in this you may recall from the classic Family sketches, but this is not a distraction and actually benefits the project, filling in blanks a 20-minute sketch could never achieve.
All of the cast deserved Emmy recognition, but only Lawrence got one (and it is well deserved). It's kind of amazing to me that Burnett was overlooked for this. It is a career-best performance.
Eunice is unique. It definitely is funny, but tha last half hour is often chilling.
Recommended, highly.
Either this or "Mama's Family" were lived in an alternate universe.
mark.waltz30 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
If Eunice had been sensible, she would have run out of town in 1955 when she was old enough, avoiding a bad marriage, a monsterish meddling mother, troubled children and a sister she hated. But she marries Ed, has two sons, and sticks around to take abuse from her mother and on occasion her sister. If we're to believe what this TV special tells us, mama died after the end of the TV series "The Carol Burnett Show" and her marriage to Ed had ended long before the family sketches were introduced.
Of course a lot changed when "Mama's Family" came on the air, especially when it went into syndication and Carol Burnett ceased appearing. Mama was very much alive, another brother, Vinton, was introduced, and Eunice was only around for an occasional visit, at first. Someone named Naomi is mentioned in this, but whether or not that is the Dorothy Lyman character is not confirmed. Ellen only appears in the final segment of this, and the only consistency is that she and Eunice do not get along at all.
So in this alternate world of the Harper family, a lot is different, but several things are consistent. First of all, Eunice is still a dreamer, hoping that by some luck she'll find happiness and mama is still quite a pill. In fact, according to this, she was like that in 1955. This is basically a drama with comic moments and thus a laugh track, and the final is the most dramatic with Eunice finding the ultimate disappointment and realizing that her life has no promise of hope. It's sad, but then again, the family series always did have a bit of pathos and social issues.
The family was presented as one that members could run out on and not feel guilty about. By the time it's over, Eunice realizes that it's too late to run away, and that's the saddest part. She really is like the long-suffering heroine from Carol's soap opera spoof "As the Stomach Turns", and any image of Eunice as a screeching harpy is replaced by her as the one getting all the sympathy while Mama is definitely not the kind, caring matriarch. It really is food for thought over a family you were has had come to get to know a decade before this TV special aired. Not great, and inconsistent with what had passed and what was yet to come, but a great vehicle for Carol to sink her teeth into.
Of course a lot changed when "Mama's Family" came on the air, especially when it went into syndication and Carol Burnett ceased appearing. Mama was very much alive, another brother, Vinton, was introduced, and Eunice was only around for an occasional visit, at first. Someone named Naomi is mentioned in this, but whether or not that is the Dorothy Lyman character is not confirmed. Ellen only appears in the final segment of this, and the only consistency is that she and Eunice do not get along at all.
So in this alternate world of the Harper family, a lot is different, but several things are consistent. First of all, Eunice is still a dreamer, hoping that by some luck she'll find happiness and mama is still quite a pill. In fact, according to this, she was like that in 1955. This is basically a drama with comic moments and thus a laugh track, and the final is the most dramatic with Eunice finding the ultimate disappointment and realizing that her life has no promise of hope. It's sad, but then again, the family series always did have a bit of pathos and social issues.
The family was presented as one that members could run out on and not feel guilty about. By the time it's over, Eunice realizes that it's too late to run away, and that's the saddest part. She really is like the long-suffering heroine from Carol's soap opera spoof "As the Stomach Turns", and any image of Eunice as a screeching harpy is replaced by her as the one getting all the sympathy while Mama is definitely not the kind, caring matriarch. It really is food for thought over a family you were has had come to get to know a decade before this TV special aired. Not great, and inconsistent with what had passed and what was yet to come, but a great vehicle for Carol to sink her teeth into.
Loved it! Didn't know this was done! Brilliant! Heartfelt!
mrsklemzak18 February 2020
I saw it. I cried. I loved the characters, and I even loved the Mama's Family sitcom. Eunice is so relatable. Her mom and husband seem very hard on her. But, i dont think she would want it any other way. She loves them both very much.
Bittersweet Carol Burnett
drednm9 March 2017
The "family" skits from THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW morphed into this TV movie, which then became the series MAMA'S FAMILY.
Carol Burnett as Eunice is center stage in four episodes covering events from 1955 to 1978. As the unhappy daughter in a dysfunctional family, Burnett gets to veer from high comedy to pathos as he dreams and aspirations are constantly squashed by her domineering mother (Vicki Lawrence) and her doltish husband (Harvey Korman). She evens plays second fiddle to her more successful siblings (Betty White, Ken Berry).
As her brother goes off to New York and her sister marries a successful businessman, Eunice is stuck is a lousy marriage and has two hellions of sons. Her husband then runs off with another woman, leaving her with the kids and her job in a local dime store. She's also still under the thumb of mama.
Entire cast is good with Burnett and Lawrence as the standouts.
Carol Burnett as Eunice is center stage in four episodes covering events from 1955 to 1978. As the unhappy daughter in a dysfunctional family, Burnett gets to veer from high comedy to pathos as he dreams and aspirations are constantly squashed by her domineering mother (Vicki Lawrence) and her doltish husband (Harvey Korman). She evens plays second fiddle to her more successful siblings (Betty White, Ken Berry).
As her brother goes off to New York and her sister marries a successful businessman, Eunice is stuck is a lousy marriage and has two hellions of sons. Her husband then runs off with another woman, leaving her with the kids and her job in a local dime store. She's also still under the thumb of mama.
Entire cast is good with Burnett and Lawrence as the standouts.
Last act of Eunice very hard to watch
frontrowkid200212 June 2021
My mom always watched Carol Burnette when she was on Monday nights...I caught up with the Eunice/ Mama's family on Youtube.... The humor was sardonic but after a while, the bickering got to me. I realize it was supposed to be funny and maybe even taken from Carol Burnette's personal life, but it was like Archie Bunker..After a while, it got to you...I watched the Eunice movie through the three acts and then we came to the funeral...Of course. Even with their mother gone and buried, the two sisters were not able to reconcile their differences after so many years. Eunice even blames Philip for not doing enough to help her in her family situation. Then comes the scene where Eunice realizes that her mother is now gone and she has to go on living her own life. She breaks down in true agony and even Philip has to say "Your mother is gone now...she can no longer influence your life...You have to make it your own." Ken Barry's dramatic outburst even brings applause from the audience. But even then, you cant help feeling sorry for Eunice because she feels she has lost her dreams forever.... Carol Burnette shows her dramatic side in this episode, creating antipathy for the character. She also played the mother of a soldier killed in friendly fire who has to reconcile herself to the fact that he is gone and apparently no one is at fault. That last segment is so powerful that I cannot bear to watch it, and have often caught it off in mid scene.
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