Once, when I was a freshman in high school, a college band came to perform at our school. This was a big deal; real college musicians in my little town. There were few of us who even expected to make it to college, as most of our parents had never been there. But musicians — people who expected to make a living from music by spending money on it at college — were a novelty.
The band was spending the night; but there was no hotel in our one-horse town. So, the high school band members were asked to offer up our homes. To this day, I don’t know how we managed to bunk four college boys in our tiny house, but we did.
My Mom served them spaghetti, and they loved it. My parents really hit it off with these guys, and I just watched in rapt awe as a “grown-up” conversation flowed between these kids and my parents. Then, they got out their instruments, my Mom played the organ, and they started jamming. These guys LOVED my parents; thought they were cool.
Still, I couldn’t wait for them to wrap up this show and get to the highlight of the evening. It was Saturday night, and it was “tradition” in our family that we got to stay up late to watch the Carol Burnett Show. So, when they all stood up for bed, I said, “Are you guys ready! The Carol Burnett Show is on tonight, and we have a TV!”
The looked at me as if I had just offered them a dog biscuit. Never in my life, until that day, did it occur to me that maybe Carol Burnett wasn’t cool. Or maybe even TV wasn’t cool. Maybe, perhaps, people were so busy living their lives that they didn’t have time to watch TV. After that, I became a “closet fan.”
Still Tim Conway was never funnier than when he was with Harvey Korman. He always messed up his lines, laughed when he wasn’t supposed to, and through those giggles, showed us all how much he loved the cast of that beloved show.
Harvey, it’s time to look up some of your episodes on You Tube to share with my kids. How could I let them grow up without laughing at you? My heart goes out to his family. Which one was your favorite?
Harvey Herschel Korman, Feb. 15, 1927 – May 29, 2008
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Oh, I can’t even remember one specific episode… but how I loved that show too. You’re right, even though they were “acting” they always acted like one big family.
How could you forget Speedo airlines??!! I’m sure it’s on youtube… search harvey korman, speedo, and it’s there.
My favorite was the dentist episode… trying to numb him with novacaine!! it was great!
Godspeed Harvey.
How to pick a favorite? Sheesh! Well, the Gone with the Wind episode is definitely a classic! Love that one.
Great post!
I have SO many happy happy memories of Saturday night TV. The Carol Burnette Show, Love Boat and Fantasy Island..was that at the same time?
I remember watching with mom and dad or Nana.. Laughing, laughing laughing..as a child I didn’t “get” some of the reasons why they were laughing. I just know that they were having fun and it was contagious.
Harvey was great. He really tried to be the straight man, didn’t he? Tim would ALWAYS get him though and they would all break down.
I can’t have a favorite…they are all so dear to my heart. I agree..I have to share them with my stepson… Humor like this is timeless!!
Great post. Korman was amazing…
we didn’t watch this regularly, but now whenever I catch any of it I LOVE it
I cannot make it through the dentist episode without crying from laughing so hard. The duo of Korman and Conway was genius, along the lines of Crosby and Hope.
Love the Carol Burnett show. The best.
Carol Burnett was a favorite at our house, too (what do you mean it wasn’t cool?). Harvey Korman was awesome and probably underrated as a comedian. I thought it was “thunder” yesterday, maybe it was “giggles.”
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.