There was one night on The Carol Burnett Show when laughter completely took over — when Tim Conway and Harvey Korman stopped performing a sketch and simply started living one. The script called it “Undercover Cops,” a straightforward routine about two detectives interrogating a suspect. But when Conway walked onstage, wig askew and eyes twinkling with mischief, everything changed.
Ignoring the written lines entirely, Conway began to improvise — twisting words, pausing for ridiculous effect, and turning ordinary dialogue into unpredictable genius. His partner, Korman, tried valiantly to stay composed, but you could see his resolve crumbling. His lips quivered. His shoulders shook. The man who was supposed to keep order was completely undone.