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The Carol Burnett Show: a Funny Riddle Breaks Hearts

Two individuals in an office setting, one wearing a black double-breasted coat and white turtleneck, holding a disposable cup; the other in a plaid shirt with red, blue, green, and beige patterns, appearing contemplative. Beige walls suggest daytime lighting.

Ready for a laugh that will leave you breathless? Look no further than season 9, episode 17 of The Carol Burnett Show! This epic saga of riddle-induced office relationships stars Vicki Lawrence (Carla) & Carol Burnett (Marge).

Two young adult women in a workplace setting, one wearing a dark-colored, oversized collared jacket and the other in a plaid zip-up sweater with long sleeves, holding coffee mugs. A vending machine is visible in the background.

The two office buddies casually catch up over coffee. Little did they know that a harmless question could spark such chaotic comedy! Picture the scene: Carla, a riddle aficionado, asks Marge if she wants to catch a flick later.

Marge is a game. Midway through their small talk, Carla switches gears to drop a bear of a riddle. She says, "We're in a room with all southern exposure, and a bear walks by. What color is the bear?"

A middle-aged woman wearing a mid-20th century white shirt indoors with neutral-colored walls and even daytime lighting.

Now, Marge is different from your typical riddle enthusiast. She shows apparent disdain for these brain-teasers, but Carla is relentless. Marge, succumbing to the pressure, tries to answer. "Brown?" This made Carla burst into laughter, creating a spectacle.

"You're giving me a headache with your riddles!" Marge exclaims. Then, in a shocking twist of the tale, Carla admits she doesn't even know the answer, making the audience laugh.

As the hilarity grows, another colleague, Steve (Steve Lawrence), joins the riddle brigade. He sets forth a confusing conundrum about a bus driver's name, based entirely on the names of people hopping on and off the bus. Carla, thriving in the mayhem, quickly figures it out. Poor Marge, on the other hand, just can't catch up!

Three adults engaged in a group discussion within an indoor studio or office setting, with neutral-toned walls and professional furniture.

The laughs don't stop there, though. As Marge reaches her wits' end, another friendly colleague, Harvey (Harvey Korman), innocently asks the same infuriating riddle about the bear's color. This is the final straw for our dear Marge, and she lets loose, hilariously pummeling Harvey in a fit of faux rage.

This skit from The Carol Burnett Show is a hilarious reminder that sometimes, it's okay not to know all the answers. We should embrace the mystery, the confusion, and the inevitable laughter that follows.