Carol Burnett Talks to Chelsea Handler About Lucille's 'Balls'

@ 2026 Equal Entertainment LLC.
All rights reserved

        Carol Burnett Talks to Chelsea Handler About Lucille's 'Balls'
    In the early days it was difficult to be a female showrunner, but Burnett remembers Lucille Ball did it with panache. 
 Elizabeth Daley
          
          Nov 21, 2016
          
        
Elizabeth Daley
 See Full Bio 
Comedian Carol Burnett recently sat down with Chelsea Handler to dish on her friendship with Lucille Ball, whom she found tremendously inspiring.
There were many challenges to being a female showrunner, as Burnett and Ball both learned. Here Burnett passes the torch to Handler, with a life lesson for the comedian who is today also at the helm of her own production.

        
        FROM OUR SPONSORS
        
    

        
        The Latest
        
    
News
        Transgender woman sues Michigan homeless shelter for workplace harassment
    Devion Morgan claims that staff at the Robert J. Delonis Center in Ann Arbor mistreated her because of her identity.
Gisselle Palomera
States
        ‘God made trans people’ billboards hit Kansas highways after state revokes transgender people’s IDs
    Organizers with Mayday Health say the message is meant to affirm trans Kansans as state policy moves to erase them from public life.
Christopher Wiggins
States
        Republican Ohio House passes drag ban targeting transgender Ohioans
    Conservative lawmakers said they will use the bill to target transgender Ohioans who use public locker rooms
H.L. Comeriato - The Buckeye Flame
Culture
        Karine Jean-Pierre presents Don Lemon with lifetime achievement Truth Award as he faces federal charges
    Karine Jean-Pierre praised the gay journalist's “unwavering” voice after presenting him with the honor at the Truth Awards in Los Angeles.
Christopher Wiggins

The Top 5

SNL sketch Two Guys Dressed as Doctors Share Last Second Halloween Ideas

Here's the Menéndez brothers sketch too controversial for 'SNL'

queer olympians ShaCarri Richardson Gareth Thomas Laurel Hubbard Megan Rapinoe Tom Daley

15 of the gayest Summer Olympic sports

Laverne Cox GOP cracked wall illustration

Laverne Cox mocks the GOP's $65 million anti-trans ad buy: 'Made-up fearmongering'

        
        More For You
        
        Uncanceling Kathy Griffin: The Advocate of the Year on sexiness, censorship, and her love of the gays
    
Ryan Adamczeski
Nov 12, 2025
Kathy Griffin is our 2025 Advocate of the Year.

        Jen Rosenstein
    
        Kathy Griffin knows who her real fans are: The queers. Keep Reading →

        ​'South Park' eviscerates Kristi Noem for killing a puppy and abusing Botox​
    
Ryan Adamczeski
Aug 07, 2025
Kristi Noem's face melts from too much Botox on 'South Park'

        Courtesy of Paramount+
    
        South Park isn't letting up on the Trump Administration as its new season premieres, with the second episode being dedicated to mocking Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Keep Reading →

        'South Park' review: Donald Trump has a 'teeny-tiny penis' and Satan is his boyfriend
    
Ryan Adamczeski
Jul 24, 2025
Donald Trump naked and in bed with Satan on "South Park"

        Courtesy of Paramount+
    
        Satire is dead under Donald Trump — just ask South Park. Keep Reading →

        Jon Lovett and Tim Miller team up to ‘raise hell’ over gay asylum-seeker vanished to El Salvador by Trump
    
Christopher Wiggins
May 22, 2025
Jon Lovett, Tim Miller, Andry Hernandez Romero

        Courtesy Crooked Media; Courtesy University of Southern California; Courtesy Immigrant Defenders Law Center
    
        When Jon Lovett and Tim Miller take the stage alongside Sarah Longwell — a prominent anti-Trump conservative, publisher of The Bulwark, and out lesbian advocate — at Washington, D.C.’s Lincoln Theatre during WorldPride, the tone will be fast, furious, and undeniably funny. Expect jokes. Possibly drag. But beneath the riotous banter and righteous shade, the “Free Andry" event is dead serious. Keep Reading →

        ‘Too strong for sports, too weak to serve?’ Trans troops challenge Trump’s military ban on ‘The Daily Show’
    
Christopher Wiggins
May 09, 2025
These transgender people are ready and willing to serve the country that doesn't want them.

        Comedy Central
    
        On Thursday night’s Daily Show, Jordan Klepper did what the Trump administration won’t: He listened to transgender service members. In a blistering segment, Klepper showcased the strength, commitment, and patriotism of trans troops — qualities the current administration continues to attack with bans, ultimatums, and dehumanizing rhetoric. Keep Reading →

        Most Popular
        
States
        Pennsylvania House approves Malcolm Kenyatta’s marriage equality bill to update outdated state law
    The measure now heads to a Republican-controlled Senate, where similar efforts have stalled before.
Christopher Wiggins
Opinion
        Project 2025 is a massive success with ICE in airports, civil rights eroding & elections in flux
    Across immigration, voting, and LGBTQ+ rights, overlapping systems are quietly redefining identity, access, and belonging in America, writes Joshua Ackley.
Joshua Ackley
Culture
        Calpernia Addams ‘shocked’ by Drag Race’s mention of boyfriend’s 1999 murder
    The trans activist says she was “gobsmacked” to see photos of herself and former boyfriend Barry Winchell appear on the latest episode.
Desiree Guerrero
States
        Arrested for repainting erased Dallas Pride crosswalks, Texas man says he’d do it again
    Mason Whiteside was detained for spray painting the walkways that had been removed by city officials earlier.
Jack Walker
News
        Ohio queer motorcycle club responds to anti-LGBTQ+ laws by teaching how to fire guns
    Queers on Gears offers a safe space for people to learn how to defend themselves with firearms.
Jacob Ogles
States
        Kentucky city pays photographer $800,000 in same-sex wedding case
    The Alliance Defending Freedom represented Chelsey Nelson, who claimed Louisville ordinance required her to provide services for couples whose love she opposed.
Jacob Ogles

Site Navigation

Carol Burnett Talks to Chelsea Handler About Lucille's 'Balls'

In the early days it was difficult to be a female showrunner, but Burnett remembers Lucille Ball did it with panache.

The Latest

Transgender woman sues Michigan homeless shelter for workplace harassment

Devion Morgan claims that staff at the Robert J. Delonis Center in Ann Arbor mistreated her because of her identity.

‘God made trans people’ billboards hit Kansas highways after state revokes transgender people’s IDs

Organizers with Mayday Health say the message is meant to affirm trans Kansans as state policy moves to erase them from public life.

Republican Ohio House passes drag ban targeting transgender Ohioans

Conservative lawmakers said they will use the bill to target transgender Ohioans who use public locker rooms

Karine Jean-Pierre presents Don Lemon with lifetime achievement Truth Award as he faces federal charges

Karine Jean-Pierre praised the gay journalist's “unwavering” voice after presenting him with the honor at the Truth Awards in Los Angeles.

LGBTQ+ stories deserve to betold.

The Top 5

15 Old-Timey Names for 'Gay'

Here's the Menéndez brothers sketch too controversial for 'SNL'

15 of the gayest Summer Olympic sports

Laverne Cox mocks the GOP's $65 million anti-trans ad buy: 'Made-up fearmongering'

#TBT: The Battle for the Bulge

Discover more

More For You

Uncanceling Kathy Griffin: The Advocate of the Year on sexiness, censorship, and her love of the gays

'South Park' eviscerates Kristi Noem for killing a puppy and abusing Botox

'South Park' review: Donald Trump has a 'teeny-tiny penis' and Satan is his boyfriend

Jon Lovett and Tim Miller team up to ‘raise hell’ over gay asylum-seeker vanished to El Salvador by Trump

‘Too strong for sports, too weak to serve?’ Trans troops challenge Trump’s military ban on ‘The Daily Show’

Most Popular

Pennsylvania House approves Malcolm Kenyatta’s marriage equality bill to update outdated state law

The measure now heads to a Republican-controlled Senate, where similar efforts have stalled before.

Project 2025 is a massive success with ICE in airports, civil rights eroding & elections in flux

Across immigration, voting, and LGBTQ+ rights, overlapping systems are quietly redefining identity, access, and belonging in America, writes Joshua Ackley.

Calpernia Addams ‘shocked’ by Drag Race’s mention of boyfriend’s 1999 murder

The trans activist says she was “gobsmacked” to see photos of herself and former boyfriend Barry Winchell appear on the latest episode.

Arrested for repainting erased Dallas Pride crosswalks, Texas man says he’d do it again

Mason Whiteside was detained for spray painting the walkways that had been removed by city officials earlier.

Ohio queer motorcycle club responds to anti-LGBTQ+ laws by teaching how to fire guns

Queers on Gears offers a safe space for people to learn how to defend themselves with firearms.

Kentucky city pays photographer $800,000 in same-sex wedding case

The Alliance Defending Freedom represented Chelsey Nelson, who claimed Louisville ordinance required her to provide services for couples whose love she opposed.

Latest Stories

Stay up to date with the latest in LGBTQ+ news with The Advocate’s email newsletter, in your inbox five days a week.

Carol Burnett Talks to Chelsea Handler About Lucille's 'Balls'

In the early days it was difficult to be a female showrunner, but Burnett remembers Lucille Ball did it with panache.

FROM OUR SPONSORS

The Latest

Devion Morgan claims that staff at the Robert J. Delonis Center in Ann Arbor mistreated her because of her identity.

Organizers with Mayday Health say the message is meant to affirm trans Kansans as state policy moves to erase them from public life.

Conservative lawmakers said they will use the bill to target transgender Ohioans who use public locker rooms

Karine Jean-Pierre praised the gay journalist's “unwavering” voice after presenting him with the honor at the Truth Awards in Los Angeles.

LGBTQ+ stories deserve to betold.

More For You

Most Popular

The measure now heads to a Republican-controlled Senate, where similar efforts have stalled before.

Across immigration, voting, and LGBTQ+ rights, overlapping systems are quietly redefining identity, access, and belonging in America, writes Joshua Ackley.

The trans activist says she was “gobsmacked” to see photos of herself and former boyfriend Barry Winchell appear on the latest episode.

Mason Whiteside was detained for spray painting the walkways that had been removed by city officials earlier.

Queers on Gears offers a safe space for people to learn how to defend themselves with firearms.

The Alliance Defending Freedom represented Chelsey Nelson, who claimed Louisville ordinance required her to provide services for couples whose love she opposed.