Charlize Theron, Bob Odenkirk and more celebrate Carol Burnett

What started as a panel with key cast members to discuss the breathtaking second season of “Palm Royale” evolved into a surprise star-studded tribute celebrating Carol Burnett’s final appearance on the Apple TV series.

After a special screening of the Season 2 finale on Thursday at the Wolf Theater in North Hollywood, Vince Gilligan, Rhea Seehorn, Bob Odenkirk, Charlize Theron, Jane Lynch and Bob Mackie made surprise appearances while Yvette Nicole Brown, who moderated the event, asked if anyone in the audience had any questions for the cast of “Palm Royale” as the lights came up.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” Burnett said when she saw Gilligan, with whom she worked on “Better Call Saul.” To keep the reunion going, Seehorn stood up and asked Burnett, “How do you become a legend?” (“You’re going to be 93,” laughed Burnett, to loud applause.)

Odenkirk also joked about appearing alongside Burnett on the show: “What was it like working with Carol? Now you should know that I know the answer to this question,” he said. “She’s always on time and I was late. That made me look bad and she doesn’t count her lines. I, what I consider the first job of the actor, is counting your lines. Make sure you have the most of them,” the actor joked.

Jane Lynch, who worked with Burnett on “Glee,” said: “Your sublime performance in what we have just seen on this enormous screen reminds us all of the love we have for you. We couldn’t adore you more.’

After praising Burnett as “so much more than a legend,” Theron said, “You’re just a damn girl.” Theron also shared a fun fact: “Did you know I play Wordle with Carol Burnett? And she’s a fucking cheater.”

“You can’t cheat at Wordle!” Burnett announced. Even Michelle Obama made a virtual appearance to mark the occasion and congratulated the icon.

Bernadette Peters closed the evening with an emotional rendition of “I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together,” fittingly ending her performance with Burnett’s classic ear-pulling.

On “Palm Royale,” Burnett played Norma Dellacorte, a central figure in the lives of the ladies of Palm Beach. But Burnett became a Hollywood fixture long before she stepped into the role — the star is perhaps best known for “The Carol Burnett Show,” which ran for 11 seasons from 1967 to 1978. Burnett previously shared Variety that “Palm Royale” would likely be her last acting job when she retired. “Probably,” she said, before adding, “Unless there’s a cameo or something fun!”

Before the panel became a celebration of Burnett, the legendary actress spoke about playing Norma. “When [Abe Sylvia] called me and he said, ‘We’re going to do this show and we’d like you to be in it.’ I said, ‘Well, who’s in it?’ He said, “Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, Leslie Bibb, Laura Dern, Ricky [Martin].’ I said, ‘Stop it. I’m in. I don’t care what you want me to do. I want to keep an eye on all these people,” she recalls. ‘We had a great time and now I have all these new young friends. It’s great.”

“Palm Royale” creator Sylvia and cast members Wiig, Martin, Bibb, Mindy Cohn, Julia Duffy, Amber Chardae Robinson and Josh Lucas also joined the panel to discuss their experiences with the season.

See more photos from the evening below.