"I don't feature myself as being the head man. I would much rather stand in the background and make small funny things than be up at the head of the class."

    About This Interview

    In the one-hour solo portion of his interview, Tim Conway (1933-2019) talks about his early years in local television at Cleveland's WJW, where he was discovered by Rose Marie. He discusses his appearances on The New Steve Allen Show and describes his role as "Ensign Charles Parker" on McHale's Navy. He speaks of the notorious variety flop Turn-On, which was canceled after one airing. Conway also talks about his work in feature films such as The Apple Dumpling Gang and The Shaggy D.A

    In the one-and-a-half-hour joint portion of their interview, Harvey Korman (1927-2008) and Tim Conway speak in great detail about their years on The Carol Burnett Show, including descriptions of famous characters and sketches. They also talk about their work in then-recent years touring the country with their two-man stage show. Karen Herman conducted the interviews on April 20, 2004 in Beverly Hills, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Tim Conway

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the cast and guest stars on The Carol Burnett Show

    04:24
    Thumbnail of Tim Conway

    Tim Conway on his 10 year guest appearance on The Carol Burnett Show

    02:20
    Thumbnail of Tim Conway

    Tim Conway on his favorite sketches on The Carol Burnett Show

    00:49
    Thumbnail of Tim Conway

    Tim Conway on coming to Hollywood with almost no experience and working with Ernest Borgnine on McHale's Navy

    03:23
    Thumbnail of Tim Conway

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the "Went with the Wind!" sketch spoofing Gone with the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show

    00:55
    Thumbnail of Tim Conway

    Tim Conway on how he would like to be remembered

    00:33
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his childhood and early influences; on three teachers who had a great impact on him; on wanting to be a jockey; on having dyslexia; on majoring in speech and dramatics in college; on volunteering for the Army after college

    11:45

    On his start in show business doing stand-up comedy at a Seattle club; on his first work as a television director; on early appearances on The Steve Allen Show; on working with Ernest Borgnine on McHale's Navy; on McHale's Navy producer Ed Montagne; on appearing on numerous variety shows

    12:00

    On starring in Rango; on hosting the notoriously short-lived show (it was canceled during its premiere) Turn-On; on doing an after school special

    05:28

    Chapter 2

    On the show Uncle Tim Wants You with Bernadette Peters; on working in variety on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and The Flip Wilson Show; on writing sketches; on Disney films The Apple Dumpling Gang and The Shaggy D.A.; on writing the movie Billion Dollar Hobo; on starring in Ace Crawford, Private Eye

    09:09

    On Dorf; on writing; on Tim Conway's Fun With America; on his guest appearances on Newhart, Married... With Children, Coach, Cosby, Ellen, Clueless, and Mad About You; on acting and writing on The Carol Burnett Show; on his current projects - Yes, Dear; on working with Vicki Lawrence

    12:44

    On entertaining; on how people react when they meet him; on advice to aspiring comedians; on his philosophy of comedy; on the highlight of his career and career regrets; on how he'd like to be remembered

    05:16

    Chapter 3

    START OF JOINT INTERVIEW with Tim Conway and Harvey Korman: On how the pair first met; on a "Harvey Korman-type" - a straight man; on Korman's first appearance on The Carol Burnett Show; on the atmosphere Carol Burnett created on set; on the evolution of the show

    07:32

    On a production week on The Carol Burnett Show; on out-takes from the show; on a sketch that bombed; on the show's audience; on how Tim Conway became a regular on the show; on Conway writing sketches for Korman; on Conway's improvisations; on audiences loving when Korman breaks up

    11:04

    On a successful detective sketch; on a vasectomy sketch; on Carol Burnett's "Judy Garland sketch;" on their contributions to sketches; on the show's writers; on the importance of music on the show; on Bob Mackie; on Carol Burnett and her husband Joe Hamilton

    10:35

    Chapter 4

    On the cast and guest stars of The Carol Burnett Show; on becoming a comedy team; on famous characters they've portrayed - "Mr. Tudball"; on the dentist sketch; on "Carol and Sis," "F. Lee Bunny," on "The Old Man," and Conway's physical comedy talents

    17:14

    On working with directors on the show; on their spoofs of movies and shows; on the "Went with the Wind!" sketch spoofing Gone with the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show; on The Little Foxes sketch; on the show's writing; on Korman leaving the show; on not being "stars;"

    11:38

    Chapter 5

    On the end of The Carol Burnett Show; on the final episode; on Korman returning for the last show; on Carol & Company; on the first reunion special of The Carol Burnett Show; on the legacy of The Carol Burnett Show; on directing Eunice; on Mama's Family; on The Tim Conway Special

    13:07

    On Dorf's Family Stump; on Tim and Harvey in the Great Outdoors; on guest appearances on Golden Palace; on their live comedy show; on their success as a comedy team; on being inducted into the TV Hall of Fame; on winning an Emmy and Conway not being present at the ceremony; on stories about Harvey Korman; on Bloopers and Practical Jokes

    17:07

    Ace Crawford, Private Eye

    Tim Conway on starring in Ace Crawford, Private Eye

    00:53

    Carol & Company

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Carol & Company

    00:46

    Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)

    Tim Conway on his 10 year guest appearance on The Carol Burnett Show

    02:20

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show

    00:15

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on their first appearances on The Carol Burnett Show

    27:02

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the cast and guest stars on The Carol Burnett Show

    04:24

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on some memorable characters they created

    09:12

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the end of The Carol Burnett Show

    03:51

    Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78): "Went with the Wind!" Sketch

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the "Went with the Wind!" sketch spoofing Gone with the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show

    00:55

    Clueless

    Tim Conway on his guest appearances on Clueless

    00:54

    Coach

    Tim Conway on his guest appearances on Coach

    00:33

    Cosby

    Tim Conway on his guest appearances on Cosby

    00:34

    Danny Kaye Show, The

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on how they met - on The Danny Kaye Show

    01:25

    Ellen

    Tim Conway on his guest appearances on Ellen

    00:31

    Eunice

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on directing Eunice

    00:49

    Flip Wilson Show, The

    Tim Conway on appearing on The Flip Wilson Show

    00:27

    Golden Palace, The

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on appearing on The Golden Palace

    00:54

    Hollywood Palace, The

    Actor/comedian Tim Conway on writing his own material for appearances on variety shows, such as The Hollywood Palace

    01:24

    Mad About You

    Tim Conway on his guest appearances on Mad About You

    00:14

    Mama's Family

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Mama's Family

    01:38

    Married… With Children

    Tim Conway on his guest appearances on Married...With Children

    00:40

    McHale's Navy

    Tim Conway on coming to Hollywood with almost no experience and working with Ernest Borgnine on McHale's Navy

    06:29

    Newhart

    Tim Conway on his guest appearances on Newhart

    00:53

    Rango

    Tim Conway on starring in Danny Thomas and Aaron Spelling's Rango

    02:10

    Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

    Tim Conway on working in variety on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In

    00:40

    Tim Conway Special, The

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Tim Conway Special

    03:15

    Turn-On

    Tim Conway on hosting the notoriously short-lived show (it was canceled during its premiere) Turn-On

    02:34

    TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Korman getting tricked on Bloopers and Practical Jokes

    04:41

    Classic TV Series Episodes

    Tim Conway on hosting the notoriously short-lived show (it was canceled during its premiere) Turn-On

    02:34

    Comedy

    Tim Conway on hosting the notoriously short-lived show (it was canceled during its premiere) Turn-On

    02:34

    Emmy Awards

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on being inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame and winning Emmys

    03:45

    Memorable Moments on Television

    Tim Conway on his favorite sketches on The Carol Burnett Show

    00:49

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on "Carol and Sis" on The Carol Burnett Show

    00:39

    Pop Culture

    Tim Conway on hosting the notoriously short-lived show (it was canceled during its premiere) Turn-On

    02:34

    We Laughed

    Tim Conway on his favorite sketches on The Carol Burnett Show

    00:49

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the "Went with the Wind!" sketch spoofing Gone with the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show

    00:55

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the dentist sketch on The Carol Burnett Show

    03:06

    Comedy Series

    Tim Conway on coming to Hollywood with almost no experience and working with Ernest Borgnine on McHale's Navy

    06:29

    Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

    Tim Conway on his 10 year guest appearance on The Carol Burnett Show

    02:20

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on their first appearances on The Carol Burnett Show

    27:02

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show

    28:52

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the end of The Carol Burnett Show

    03:51

    Steve Allen

    Tim Conway on Rose Marie liking his first television effort and showing Conway's work to Steve Allen

    02:21

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Steve Allen Show

    00:40

    Ernest Borgnine

    Tim Conway on coming to Hollywood with almost no experience and working with Ernest Borgnine on McHale's Navy

    03:23

    Carol Burnett

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on their first appearances on The Carol Burnett Show

    27:02

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Carol Burnett and Joe Hamilton

    01:34

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on how difficult it was to break up Carol Burnett

    01:41

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the end of The Carol Burnett Show

    03:51

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Mama's Family

    01:38

    Dick Clark

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Korman getting tricked on Bloopers and Practical Jokes

    04:41

    Tim Conway

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on how Tim Conway became a regular on the show

    00:43

    Joe Flynn

    Tim Conway on Joe Flynn McHale's Navy

    01:06

    Joe Hamilton

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on a sketch that bombed on The Carol Burnett Show

    00:53

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Carol Burnett and Joe Hamilton

    01:34

    Rock Hudson

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on guest stars on The Carol Burnett Show

    00:08

    Alan King

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on a sketch that bombed on The Carol Burnett Show

    00:53

    Don Knotts

    Tim Conway on working with Don Knotts on the Disney film The Apple Dumpling Gang

    01:04

    Harvey Korman

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on what is "a Harvey Korman type"

    01:25

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Korman leaving the show, and not being a "star"

    03:28

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Conway's favorite Korman story - the pair are like Jack Benny and George Burns

    02:34

    Perry Lafferty

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Tim Conway Special

    01:42

    Vicki Lawrence

    Tim Conway on working with Vicki Lawrence

    01:10

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show

    01:42

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on "Carol and Sis"

    00:39

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Mama's Family

    01:38

    Bob Mackie

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Bob Mackie's amazing clothes he created for The Carol Burnett Show

    01:05

    Rose Marie

    Tim Conway on Rose Marie liking his first television effort and showing Conway's work to Steve Allen

    01:00

    Roddy McDowall

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on guest stars on The Carol Burnett Show

    00:25

    Edward Montagne

    Tim Conway on McHale's Navy producer Ed Montagne

    00:46

    Bob Newhart

    Tim Conway on his guest appearances on Newhart

    00:53

    Dave Powers

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on working with directors on the show

    00:53

    George Schlatter

    Tim Conway on hosting the notoriously short-lived show (it was canceled during its premiere) Turn-On

    02:34

    Aaron Spelling

    Tim Conway on starring in Danny Thomas and Aaron Spelling's Rango

    02:10

    Danny Thomas

    Tim Conway on starring in Danny Thomas and Aaron Spelling's Rango

    02:10

    Dick Van Dyke

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Dick Van Dyke on The Carol Burnett Show

    01:07

    Lyle Waggoner

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show

    00:20

    Betty White

    Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on guest stars on The Carol Burnett Show

    00:41

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