Carol Burnett Discusses Her Female-Dominated ‘Palm Royale’ Series

Carol Burnett as Norma Dellacorte in season two of “Palm Royale”

Apple TV

At 92 years young, Carol Burnett continues to make waves within her life-long career. Following the first season of Palm Royale, which revolves around high society socialite women in 1969 Palm Beach, Florida, Burnett received an Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actress.

With season two premiering November 12 on Apple TV, the celebrated comedy actress continues to play Norma Dellacorte, the longtime ringleader of the bustling beach town, who will stop at nothing to hold onto her top social status and family fortune.

Created by Abe Sylvia and co-starring Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, Laura Dern, Leslie Bibb, Ricky Martin and many others in this gifted ensemble cast, Palm Royale brings its consistent biting humor, delicious scandals and extravagant fashions from yesteryear to our screens today.

Sitting down with this Emmy, Tony and Grammy winner for a new interview last week at The London in West Hollywood, California, following a phone conversation between us last year, when I told Burnett that we cannot beat a face-to-face conversation like this, she agreed, saying, “It’s different. It’s better!”

With much of Norma’s Palm Royale storyline at the start of season one being in a coma, Burnett’s character is wide awake for season two, as she jokes now that her love-to-hate TV character now “won’t shut up.”

So, what is it about this evolving fictional television universe that has intrigued Burnett to want to continue playing in and around this world?

“Well, it’s very interesting because I didn’t know what was going to happen with Norma. I knew there was a big secret and that was kind of revealed at the end of the first season. So this second season, there’s a lot that goes on and now she’s talking a whole lot. Norma has a lot to say. I haven’t seen everything. I’ve filmed it, but I haven’t seen the episodes. The first season was very interesting – this [second season] is off-the-wall. I mean, the production value, the music, the numbers – and the secrets. More secrets! I don’t know how much I can reveal, but at the end [of season two], there’s a big surprise when it comes to Norma and I was very excited about that.”

Reminding Burnett that her popular The Carol Burnett Show went on for 11 seasons between 1967 and 1978, she is no stranger to breaking down glass ceilings for women, ever since an early age. So, I wondered what it means to Burnett to now be a part of this Palm Royale all-female starring cast at this stage of her career.

Burnett said, “Well, there are men in this, but the women dominate. Why not? There’s so many shows that are on Netflix and Apple and this one and that, and so forth, that are male-dominated. A lot of them, and this one is not. These ladies rule the roost.”

Being such a well-known public figure for many decades, I was curious – Who is Carol Burnett in 2025? What brings the greatest passion and purpose to your days lately?

“Well, I think it’s one day at a time, really. I just feel so fortunate that at this age, I am working in this Palm Royale and have made so many new friends. Girlfriends! When Abe Sylvia, who’s the creator, called me two years ago and said, ‘I’m going to be doing this and we’d love you to be in it.’ First thing I said was – Who’s in it? They said, ‘Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, Laura Dern, Ricky Martin.’ I said – I’m in! I don’t care what you want me to do.”

She went on to joke about being in a coma for the first few episodes of the series, calling it “not a bad gig” when she would “get up, get dressed, go to the set, get undressed, put on pajamas and go to bed.”

With 10 new episodes of Palm Royale starting November 12 on Apple TV, I concluded my latest conversation with Burnett by asking her my signature interview question, wondering what she would say to Norma, if only she could.

Burnett said, “I think she needs to kick back and calm down! And also, not have so many secrets, because that can cause you a lot of stress.”