Real-life mother and daughter Carol Burnett and Carrie Hamilton appear in this episode, which also features Burnett's former variety-show costar Tim Conway in a pivotal role--not to mention cameo appearances by musical-comedy favorite Carol Channing) and celebrated caricaturist Al Hirschfeld). Thirty years ago, the singing career of Lillian Bennett (Burnett) came to an abrupt end when she suffered a severe case of stage fright on the opening night of her first Broadway play--whereupon her understudy Amanda (Rita Moreno) went on in her place and subsequently rose to superstardom. Now Lillian is determined that her daughter Amanda (Hamilton) give up her own theatrical aspirations lest her heart be broken in the same manner. Meanwhile, Monica (Roma Downey) discovers that Amanda was actually responsible for ruining Lillian's career--meaning that someone is going to have to confess to something, and that someone else is going to have to find forgiveness in her heart before the Show inevitably Goes On. Carol Burnett sings "I'm Still Here", from the 1971 Broadway musical "Follies."
by Hal Erickson
synopsis
