An actor doesn't just earn the respect of other actors because of their talent. The best actors are inquisitive, and kind, and use their power for good.

That last part makes it seem as though we're talking about a superhero. But for many people, their favorite actors are superheroes, idols that they aspire to become.

For Vicki Lawrence, her own personal superhero was Carol Burnett. Lawrence was chosen to join the cast of The Carol Burnett Show when she was just a young woman, but Burnett saw something special in her.

Of course, Burnett's assumption was correct; Lawrence became a famed comedian, and while it all started with The Carol Burnett Show, Lawrence's talent was cemented in her very own series, Mama's Family.

While Burnett certainly had a hand in the creation of Mama's Family, Lawrence revealed that Burnett was using the series as a learning opportunity to teach Lawrence how to stand on her own.

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During an interview with the Akron Beacon Journal, Lawrence revealed that Burnett was limiting her appearances in the series. Burnett had become known for playing Eunice Harper Higgins, a recurring character at the beginning of Mama's Family that gradually faded away.

Lawrence revealed that Burnett was limiting her appearances on Mama's Family to make sure that Lawrence understood how to run her series properly.

"She's pushing me out of the nest," said Lawrence. "She wants me to fly."

Luckily, Lawrence had years of comedic training from Burnett during her time on the variety series. "I kind of think of myself as a Harvard graduate," said Lawrence. "After 11 years on The Carol Burnett Show, I've got to be good or people will say I'm no good without Carol."

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