By Michael Lyons
Television in the 1970’s could most definitely be called “The Golden Age of Variety Shows,” a genre that has all but disappeared and is remembered now only by the numerous “rerun channels” on cable services.
And without a doubt, the reigning “Queen of the Variety Show Golden Age” was Carol Burnett. Her CBS show, which aired from 1967-1978 set the standard for comedy skit shows that would follow. In addition to sharp writing, her cast which included Vickie Lawrence, Harvey Korman, Lyle Waggoner and Tim Conway added to making “The Carol Burnett Show,” the classic that it is.
Conway, (who was a recurring Guest and later became a regular on the show) had an innate gift for improvisation and character creation that, more often than not, caused his co-stars to laugh uncontrollable and barely get through a skit. Harvey Korman in particular, was many times the victim of Conway’s comedic gifts and the unscripted laughter that would break-out in their scenes is the stuff of television legend.
Sadly, we lost Tim Conway this past week, when he passed away on May 14th. While he will be missed, he gave the world a gift of laughter that will live-on in repeats forever.
No better time to celebrate this comedy legend and his greatest “Carol Burnett Show” moments:
“The Dentist” (1969) One of the first skits between Conway and Korman, in which Conway plays a bungling dentist who continually, accidentally injects himself with novocaine. The physical comedy that results from this is nothing short of miraculous. Korman, playing the patient, seems to be in pain from trying to stifle his laughter to get through the skit...and we feel his pain.
“Mrs. Wiggins” (1976). Burnett was the main character, a dim-witted, slow paced secretary and Conway, her boss, Mr. Tudball, who talked with an accent that seems like a cross between Porky Pig and the Swedish Chef. The skits were a prime example of Conway’s amazing ability to craft a character.
“The Interrogator” (1974). A send up of World War II propaganda films, in which Conway plays a Nazi officer who uses a Hitler hand puppet to interrogate an American soldier (Waggoner). Conway is relentless in his improv here and Waggoner is eventually helpless at stifling his laughter.
“The Oldest Living Fireman” (1973). Another of Conway’s amazing creations, a slow moving, shuffling “Oldest Living Man” who here, as a fire fighter, attempts to give mouth-to-mouth to Korman, who winds up in hysterical tears by the end of the skit.
“The Elephant Story” (1978). A skit that centered on the recurring characters of “Mama’s Family,” Burnett, Lawerence and then show regular Dick Van Dyke are helpless as Conway regales them with a story that is completely improvised and utterly hysterical. None of the actors are able to keep a straight face and the scene was taped twice and finally ended because of Lawrence’s PG-13 remark that brings down the house. Search for this on You Tube and get ready for a case of non-stop laughter.
Social Media was abuzz after Conway’s passing this week, particularly comedians who discussed the influence that he had on generations that followed.
A legacy of joy and laughter is an admirable one and we can all be thankful to Tim Conway for that. In his life, he could even find laughs when discussing the dark subject of death, as he once said:
“I spend a lot of time thinking of the hereafter - each time I enter a room, I wonder what I am here after.”
We will miss you Tim.
Sources:
IMDb
Wikipedia
As usual very well written ....you captured Conways gift of making us all laugh
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