Less than a year after winning her seventh career Emmy for producing her own birthday special, “90 Years of Laughter + Love,” Carol Burnett is on the verge of making even more TV academy history. Having just secured a Best Comedy Supporting Actress nomination for Apple TV+’s “Palm Royale,” she has a clear shot at not only conquering her fifth unique Emmy category but also becoming the organization’s very first nonagenarian acting champion.
Set in 1969, “Palm Royale” is the first non-sketch series on which Burnett has ever played a regular role. She appears throughout the inaugural season as Norma Dellacorte, an initially comatose Florida socialite who, like all of the women in her circle, harbors some rather heavy secrets. The show is up for a total of 11 Emmys, including Best Comedy Series and Actress (Kristen Wiig).
The current record for oldest acting Emmy winner belongs to Betty White, who was 88 when she achieved her fifth career victory for guest hosting “Saturday Night Live” in 2010. She took the distinction from Beulah Bondi, who was 86 days younger when she prevailed in 1977 for “The Waltons” in the now-defunct category of Best Single Appearance by a Lead Actress in a Series. The continuing series regular record is held by Marion Lorne, who was awarded the 1968 comedy supporting actress prize for “Bewitched” 10 days after her death at 84.
Even if she doesn’t win this time, Burnett has already made history as the oldest person ever nominated for any lead or supporting Emmy. Until now, the only actress who had been recognized past age 90 was Cicely Tyson, who garnered five drama guest bids for “How to Get Away with Murder” between 2015 (90) and 2020 (95). The only two such male nominees are Eli Wallach (91, comedy guest, “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” 2007; 94, drama guest, “Nurse Jackie,” 2010) and Ernest Borgnine (92, drama guest, “ER,” 2009).
Burnett’s latest nomination was preceded by 10 others in six performance categories. She earned her first two wins for the variety program “The Garry Moore Show” (1962) and the 1963 musical specials “An Evening with Carol Burnett” and “Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall” before collecting her most recent acting trophy for her comedic guest appearance on “Mad About You” (1997).
The fact that Burnett is nominated against Meryl Streep (75, “Only Murders in the Building”) and Sheryl Lee Ralph (67, “Abbott Elementary”) makes their lineup the first in their category’s history to include three contenders over 65. Given that her featured dramatic turn on “Better Call Saul” was overlooked just last year, Burnett’s recognition as “Palm Royale’s” top supporting player is all the more special and proves to voters and her challengers that she is still quite a force to be reckoned with.
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