The joke lands before anyone even speaks. A single look from Carol Burnett tells the audience everything they need to know. She stands calm and confident, reading the room with the ease of a seasoned professional who already understands exactly where this scene is headed.
Harvey Korman storms in with bluster and bravado, chest puffed out and voice booming. He sounds bold, heroic, and completely convinced of his authority. Yet every line he delivers only tightens the setup, positioning him perfectly for what’s coming next.
Carol responds with razor-sharp precision. “Is that an order… or a suggestion?” she fires back, and the audience instantly leans forward. The laughter begins early, not because of volume or exaggeration, but because the rhythm is flawless.
Then Tim Conway enters, and the energy shifts entirely. He doesn’t raise his voice. He doesn’t hurry. He simply exists in the space, letting silence do the heavy lifting.
With impeccable timing, he delivers the line that changes everything: “I outrank you. I always have.” It’s quiet. It’s final. And it lands like a thunderclap.
The room freezes. Harvey attempts to recover, but his face gives him away before he can even try. His composure crumbles in real time, and the audience erupts as the laughter overwhelms him.
What makes the moment unforgettable isn’t just the joke — it’s the collapse. The audience isn’t watching actors anymore. They’re watching professionals lose control, and that honesty makes the laughter even bigger.
As the sketch drifts into “Before the Parade Passes By,” something unexpected happens. The chaos softens. The comedy relaxes its grip and allows warmth to take over.
“This used to mean something,” Tim says with complete sincerity, and suddenly the moment carries emotional weight. It’s no longer just funny — it’s comforting, familiar, and human.
That’s old-school television at its finest. Sharp without cruelty. Effortless without force. Timeless not because it tries to be remembered, but because it patiently waits for each new generation to discover it.
