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TV briefs: CBS readies nostalgic specials for sweeps

"CBS' plans for the May sweeps period include several blasts from the past. The network will offer specials paying tribute to both "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The Carol Burnett Show."

Up first will be "The Carol Burnett Show: Let's Bump Up the Lights" on May 5. The special will reunite variety legend Burnett with Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner for an evening of memories and never-before-seen and frequently-before-seen clips.

Less than a week later, on May 11, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Carl Reiner and Rose Marie will get back together for "The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited," a new episode of the classic series set in 2004. In addition to catching up with Rob and Laura Petrie 40 years later, the episode will feature the usual array of memories and clips."

This is fantastic. Any new retrospective special with Carol Burnett is worth watching, but the Dick Van Dyke show update (something alluded to by Carl Reiner at last year's TVLand Awards) is something I've been looking forward to for years.

The Dick Van Dyke Show is my favorite sit-com, and it's the funniest, classiest, smartest and probably the most sophisticated sit-com that I've ever seen. Can't wait.

Mark Evanier has more.