Skip to main content

Carol Burnett's Kidnapper Skit Will Have You Gasping for Air From Laughter

A woman with a large, styled wig sits on a couch, looking at a man in a suit who is holding a spoon.

You won’t believe how funny a “kidnapping” can be—Carol Burnett’s favorite skit proves it.

The scene opens with Carol Burnett as a distraught wife, her husband apparently abducted. At first, she pours on the tears for Harvey Korman’s straight-faced newscaster. But then—oh, you have to see this—her despair flips into diva-mode faster than you can say “Hollywood.” The transformation is pure comedic gold, with Burnett preening for the camera, perfectly timing every punchline like the queen of comedy she is.

Carol Burnett’s hysterical skit about a “kidnapping” is comedy perfection.

The brilliance of this skit is in the small moments: Burnett fluffing her hair for her “close-up,” Korman trying not to crack up, and the absurdity of it all escalating as the interview “retake” gets more ridiculous.

Carol Burnett in the kidnapping skit

By the time the cops remind Burnett to keep the phone lines open, you’re already doubled over. And then? She picks up the phone to brag to her neighbor—completely ignoring her husband’s supposed peril.

Harvey Korman and Carol Burnett during the skit

What makes this so timeless isn’t just Burnett’s talent—it’s her ability to make absurdity relatable. You don’t just laugh at her; you laugh with her, and maybe even at yourself.

If you grew up on Carol Burnett, there's plenty waiting on AmazonAd. We earn a small share when you buy through here.