The One That Got Away
Over the 11 seasons, Burnett got pretty much any guest she ever wanted, including Ronald Reagan and Steve Martin. The one guest she really wanted but was never able to get was Bette Davis. She wanted more money than the show budgeted for guests, and the showrunners feared this would set a dangerous precedent.
The One That Got Away
A Protective Figure
The show was Burnett’s baby, and she wasn’t afraid to criticize the writers. Burnett believed Vicki Lawrence needed funnier lines and said this to the writers in no uncertain terms. Lawrence said Burnett’s persistence led to two writers leaving the show in protest, adding that everyone knew who took her under her wing.
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A Protective Figure
