Carol Burnett Hooks Up with Housewives
Thursday Mar 02, 2006 4:00pm EST
By Todd Peterson
Carol Burnett is getting Desperate. The legendary funnywoman is
joining the cast of Desperate Housewives as Eleanor Mason, the
stepmother of Bree Van De Kamp, played by Marcia Cross, USA Today
reports.
Burnett said she thought the opportunity would be "a hoot." "I'm a
soap opera fan. I've watched All My Children for a hundred years, and
this, too, is a very campy soap," she said.
For Burnett, the role provided a chance to play against character, and
she requested that series creator Marc Cherry make Mason "meaner."
"It's more fun to have those villainous takes – like Miss Hannigan,"
Burnett said, referencing her role in the 1982 film "Annie."
Burnett's character is described a classic evil stepmother, who raised
the young Bree after her mother was killed, says Cherry. "She's a very
tightly wound, proper lady for whom appearances mean everything." The
role will likely shed some light on why Bree has turned out as she
has.
For Cherry, the chance to cast Burnett is a dream come true. "I
learned how to be funny watching Carol Burnett," he said.
Mason's appearance coincides with the unleashing of family secrets by
Bree's son, Andrew, who is trying to gain emancipation from his
mother. "Andrew is bringing up all sorts of family secrets, and they
want it stopped," Cherry told USA Today.
no one has ruled out a return visit for season three.
