Carol Burnett Stole the Show on ‘Magnum, P.I.’—Inside Her Iconic Guest Role and Friendship With Tom Selleck
The comedy legend appeared twice on the hit '80s show—and her friendship with Selleck was real
Key Takeaways
- Carol Burnett made two appearances on 'Magnum, P.I.' over the years.
- Fans loved her role of Susan Johnson and celebrated her chemistry with Tom Selleck.
- Off screen, Tom Selleck and Carol Burnett shared a sweet friendship.
When it comes to surprise guest stars, some shows do it on a different level, and as if Magnum, P.I. wasn’t already legendary thanks to Tom Selleck, every once in a while, it’d get an extra boost with the addition of a famous face. Musicians like Frank Sinatra left their mark on the show and actresses like Angela Lansbury gave viewers at home the ultimate treat—but when Carol Burnett appeared on the hit 80s crime drama, her character became instantly iconic. Here, take a look back on Carol Burnett’s Magnum, P.I. guest stint and her surprising friendship with Tom Selleck.
Carol Burnett stole the show on ‘Magnum, P.I.’
Carol Burnett shined not once but twice on Magnum, P.I., but she didn’t need the guest role to prove her talent—By that time, she was already a star! In 1984, Burnett made her first appearance on the show as Susan Johnson, a bank employee who seeks out the help of Tom Selleck’s character. The daughter of an ex-con, her character hoped Thomas Magnum could pin her father down, as she had anticipated he had a heist planned. When the duo end up trapped in a bank vault with one another, they come to learn that it was Susan’s boyfriend behind the anticipated heist.
Years later, in 1988, Carol Burnett appeared once again in the episode titled “A Girl Named Sue.” Four years after the events of her first appearance, Susan Johnson was back—only this time, she said goodbye to life at the bank and became a private investigator herself!
Tom Selleck and Carol Burnett’s friendship went beyond ‘Magnum’
Tom Selleck and Carol Burnett enjoyed a working relationship, but when the cameras weren’t rolling, there was a friendship and respect between them. So close were the duo that in 1984, Selleck took over Emmy hosting duties for the funny lady when she fell ill and could not take the lead herself. Ironically, he ended up winning his first Emmy that night!
“Carol Burnett was to host the Emmys, but she got sick,” Selleck shared in an article in Emmy Magazine back in 2013. “She’s a pal, so when she asked if I’d step in as host, I said yes. I was backstage when my category was called. I’d already been nominated several times and hadn’t won. I think the audience could tell how shocked I was,” he remembered of that night. The duo also worked together in other capacities, having appeared alongside one another in promotional videos for the Space Foundation.
Carol Burnett’s appearances on Magnum, P.I. remain fan favorites to this day—proof that when talented, genuine people come together, the magic they create lasts forever.
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