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PASADENA, Calif. (July 24) - Actress-comedian Carol Burnett, whose long-running variety show became a TV classic, received a career achievement award from the Television Critics Association.

"Does this mean I'll never get another bad review?" Burnett joked Sunday as she accepted the honor.

Burnett went on to recount how "The Carol Burnett Show," which aired from 1967-78, got started. A pay-or-play clause in her contract with CBS for 30 hourlong variety shows was about to run out and she decided to exercise it.

The network, she said, wasn't thrilled. A CBS executive told her that variety was the proper domain of male stars like Jackie Gleason , Sid Caesar and Milton Berle and suggested she consider a proposed sitcom titled "Here's Agnes," Burnett said.

"I'm so glad I didn't do 'Here's Agnes,"' she said, dryly.

The variety show represented "the greatest years of my professional life" and the TV critics' honor rightly belongs to the show's cast and crew, she said.

Also honored Sunday were actors Hugh Laurie of Fox's "House" and Steve Carell of NBC's "The Office," who received awards for individual achievement in drama and comedy, respectively.