Tim Conway didn’t need elaborate props or outrageous costumes to create unforgettable television. Sometimes, all it took was a single line delivered at exactly the right moment to completely unravel Harvey Korman on live TV.
The sketch began in a straightforward way. Harvey played a strict authority figure — confident, composed, and clearly in charge. His instructions were precise, and he expected immediate, efficient responses. The tone was orderly, controlled, and firmly in his hands.
Then Tim entered the scene.
He portrayed a slow-moving, overly polite character who seemed genuinely eager to understand every instruction. He listened carefully, nodded thoughtfully, and gave the impression that he was taking the situation very seriously.
But there was a subtle twist.
Each time Harvey finished speaking, Tim paused just a fraction too long before responding. The silence stretched slightly beyond what felt comfortable. When he finally answered, his replies almost made sense — almost. They hovered just close enough to logic to seem reasonable, yet missed the point by a hair.
Harvey tried to regain control. He clarified his statements and repeated his directions, tightening his tone. The authority figure pushed harder, determined to keep the scene on track.
Tim responded the same way he always did — patiently, politely, and just a little off target.
With every exchange, the tension grew. The audience could feel the balance shifting as Harvey struggled to maintain composure. His facial expressions began to betray him, the corners of his mouth twitching as he fought back laughter.
What unfolded next went beyond scripted comedy. It became a real-time battle between discipline and disruption, with Tim carefully feeding the moment through timing alone. He didn’t raise his voice or exaggerate his movements. He simply waited, delivered his lines with precision, and let the silence do the work.
In the end, Harvey’s composure crumbled, and the audience erupted. Decades later, the moment is still remembered not just as a funny sketch, but as a perfect example of how two comedy legends turned a simple exchange into timeless television magic.
