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Story behind Tim Conway's 'The Carol Burnett Show' Sketch That Got Harvey Korman's Pants Wet

Ksenia Novikova
By Ksenia Novikova
Jul 28, 2021
12:38 P.M.

"The Carol Burnett Show" was one of the most iconic late-night shows in television history. Of all its iconic skits, the most memorable was, of course, the one about the dentist.

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Before his passing in 2019, American actor Tim Conway revealed some behind-the-scenes details of the iconic skit that fans raved about for years. While the scene may have had audiences laughing out loud, the same could be said about Harvey Korman, who actually wet himself during filming.

Conway had never failed to give audiences a good laugh. He was a stress reliever to many with his comedic ways and will likely go down as one of the greatest. The late star was a part of the '70s variety program "The Carol Burnett Show," which lasted eleven seasons from 1967 to 1978.

Tim Conway attends the 2005 TV Land Awards | Source: Getty Images

Tim Conway attends the 2005 TV Land Awards | Source: Getty Images

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HIS TIME ON "THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW"

He co-starred with Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, and Carol Burnett, pulling off incredible comedy skits. The show was a smash hit, mainly because the stars genuinely enjoyed what they were doing.

Although Conway revealed that he had many fond memories on the show, one of his most memorable performances was the scene with Korman. In the skit, they sat down as a dentist and patient for an appointment.

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THE EPIC DENTIST SKIT

It ended with Conway accidentally numbing an entire side of his body. Korman couldn't keep his laughter down as they acted their way through the routine, and he could be seen desperately trying not to laugh out loud.

According to Conway, Korman may have succeeded in containing his laughter, but something had to give, and that ended up being his bladder. Speaking about it in 2013, he revealed Korman's secret.

KORMAN'S BEST-KEPT SECRET

Thanks to his costar sitting down during their skit, the audience failed to notice that he actually wet his pants. As it turns out, it was quite fortuitous for Conway, though, as he had been running a dry cleaning business at the time.

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In the interview, Conway also revealed that there was more to the skit than anyone ever knew. The skit was actually based on something he had really experienced when he had needed a tooth removed while serving in the army.

Tim Conway and Harvey Korman at the 2005 TV Land Awards | Source: Getty Images

Tim Conway and Harvey Korman at the 2005 TV Land Awards | Source: Getty Images

A TRUE STORY

The dentist who was supposed to remove his tooth had stuck the needle, loaded with novocaine, right through Conway's cheek and into his own hand, rendering it completely numb. Thanks to that incident, the world was able to watch an iconic comedy skit that people continue to watch online.

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Conway passed away on May 14, 2019. The 85-year-old died from complications from Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, which is a condition referring to water in the brain.

CONWAY AND KORMAN'S FRIENDSHIP

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Through the years, he had a longstanding friendship and friendly rivalry with Korman, who passed away back in 2008. They began collaborating with each other on "The Carol Burnett Show" in 1968.

They were often paired as improv partners, and years later, Burnett described Conway as the "ultimate prankster." She once even joked that Conway's goal in life was to "destroy Harvey Korman."

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As soon as they first met and began talking to one another, Conway already knew that they both had good chemistry. Ultimately, that ended up being true, and they remained good friends through the decades, being responsible for one of the world's most epic gigs.

The pair won several Emmys for their work, and while they are no longer alive, fans continue to remember them for the good laughs they gave people on "The Caroll Burnett Show." For younger generations, they will remember Conway for voicing Barnacle Boy on "Spongebob Squarepants."

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