The agent suggests she start her own show, which she does with her roommates, then gets more wealthy people to pony up the $200 needed to rent two nights at the Carl Fischer concert hall on West 57th Street. outside “Pajama Game.” Though she admits she can’t sing or dance, he refers her to his agent anyway. A wealthy benefactor sees her perform at UCLA and gives her $1,000 to move to New York, on the condition that she pay the money back, help others and never reveal his name. Of course, what does Burnett have to be upset about? Though undeniably talented, her career benefited greatly from a series of improbable good fortunes.

He even affixes a plaque on his door: “Mr. But when Burnett threatens to fire him, Korman unwinds the tension by agreeing to whistle while he works (literally). Well, there is a brief moment where Harvey Korman is grumpy with the crew. Divorces are dispatched with a sentence, drunken family members with a “he was good-natured.” No Hollywood legend is surly or untalented. “This Time Together” is less a life story than a series of anecdotes, longer versions of tales she told during the Q&A sessions of “The Carol Burnett Show” and more recent stage tour. Hapless, awkward, hilarious, an ugly ducking (who is actually pretty), Burnett was Tina Fey long before “30 Rock,” starring in a series of successful specials with friends like Julie Andrews and fronting her own variety show for 11 seasons on CBS. “That was almost very nice of him,” Burnett replied. “Carol Burnett is almost very pretty,” comedy writer Larry Gelbart once said. Tugging at her ear as a secret “I love you” to her grandmother (“Later,” she writes, “it also included ‘your check is on the way.’ ”) Twisted into a full-throated Tarzan yell (perfected by scaring off a Manhattan mugger). Has any entertainer had more fun with their face than Carol Burnett? Frozen in mock seriousness as Scarlett O’Hara, descending the staircase in a dress made out of drapes (complete with rod). I just want to call that to your attention.” excuse me, but two months ago, when we shot this scene, I went into the closet with no chin, and now I’m coming out of the closet with a chin. Before a closeup, Burnett nervously approached the director, John Huston. After the surgery, Burnett was called back for reshoots on the big-screen musical “Annie,” in which she played tipsy orphanage director Miss Hannigan.

I could feel the Maui rain without having to look up.” Nothing is impossible, though, so she got one, in 1981, when an oral surgeon in Hawaii added 3 millimeters to her weak spot. “I had always wanted a chin,” admits Carol Burnett, in her latest almost-autobiography.

What do you get for the comedian who has everything?

This Time Together by Carol Burnett