Carol and Cliff both tugged at their ear (earlobe) in every single appearance they made on award shows, talk shows, special guest, etc.

Was it a secret message to a family member or something?

BTW-favorite Carol Burnett guest role was on Get Smart
Favorite Cliff role was in the movie "Obsession".

Carol did it to say "hello" to her Grandmother. I'm not sure about Cliff.

Just the other day saw a 1960's program with Cliff's wife Dina Merrill. Didn't know she was married 3 times. Those show business personalities sure get around.

Dina & Cliff were one of 2 celebrity couples to play villains on Batman (Shame & Calamity Jan), the others were Howard Duff & Ida Lupino as Dr. Cassandra & Cabala. Can't nobody say that Dina married for money, she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her father was stockbroker E.F. Hutton & her mother was heiress to the Post cereal Co.

Carol did it to say "hello" to her Grandmother. I'm not sure about Cliff.
yea, I remember haring that once on a biography of her.

Carol and Cliff both tugged at their ear (earlobe) in every single appearance they made on award shows, talk shows, special guest, etc.

Was it a secret message to a family member or something?

BTW-favorite Carol Burnett guest role was on Get Smart
Favorite Cliff role was in the movie "Obsession".
I never knew that about Cliff and I've yet to see that in his movies.

I never knew that about Cliff and I've yet to see that in his movies.

He did it when appearing on talk shows, or award shows
(not in episodes of shows).
Sorry if I was unclear. (I only have seen either do it on talk shows/award shows).

trivia note- Cliff uncovered a major illegal scandal with one of the studio bosses forging names on checks (his), and he reported it, leading to a number of years of his not getting roles having been blacklisted.
Obsession was his first starring role after that scandal.
And before he died, he was in the Toby Maguire Spiderman movies as Uncle Ben.

I always feel bad when an actor finally gets some major money iconic movie role with sequels and dies. (Sort of like Richard Harris dying after the first Harry Potter movie. Always a fan of his, most people didn't much know him, here had a role that was in an immortal type movie, and he died, and was replaced by Michael Gambon from the 3rd one on.

Carol did it to say "hello" to her Grandmother. I'm not sure about Cliff.


He had a mad crush on Carol and wanted to tug at her other ear.

He did it when appearing on talk shows, or award shows
(not in episodes of shows).
Sorry if I was unclear. (I only have seen either do it on talk shows/award shows).

trivia note- Cliff uncovered a major illegal scandal with one of the studio bosses forging names on checks (his), and he reported it, leading to a number of years of his not getting roles having been blacklisted.
Obsession was his first starring role after that scandal.
And before he died, he was in the Toby Maguire Spiderman movies as Uncle Ben.

I always feel bad when an actor finally gets some major money iconic movie role with sequels and dies. (Sort of like Richard Harris dying after the first Harry Potter movie. Always a fan of his, most people didn't much know him, here had a role that was in an immortal type movie, and he died, and was replaced by Michael Gambon from the 3rd one on.Thanks for clearing that up. He was a great actor and I enjoyed him as Uncle Ben. I'm going to rent more of his movies including Charley which he won an Oscar.