Harvey Korman

Actor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About
About this interview

In his three-hour Archive interview, Harvey Korman (1927-2008) speaks about studying under actress Uta Hagen and talks about some of his earliest television roles. He recalls thoughtfully, working with several legendary comics including Danny Kaye, Lucille Ball, and Jack Benny. He and Tim Conway speak in great detail about their years on The Carol Burnett Show, including descriptions of famous characters and sketches. They also talk about their work in recent years touring the country with their two-man stage show.  Korman describes headlining several short-lived series and his thoughts on being better suited as a second banana. Additionally, he speaks about his work as a voice actor, playing "The Great Gazoo" on The Flintstones and his feature film collaborations with Mel Brooks and Blake Edwards. Jennifer Howard conducted the interview in two parts: one-and-a-half hours with Korman and one-and-a-half hours with Korman and comedy partner Tim Conway, in Beverly Hills, CA on April 20, 2004.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I'm getting more mail now than I ever have. That I really have impacted people's lives, that I have made people happier. That I have brought families together. That I have made a difference in their lives. I think that's maybe the most important."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Harvey Korman on the highlight of his career - working with Tim Conway
00:48
Harvey Korman on studying acting with Uta Hagen
02:20
Harvey Korman on how he'd like to be remembered
01:06
Harvey Korman on voicing "The Great Gazoo" on The Flintstones
03:32
Harvey Korman on joining The Danny Kaye Show
04:48
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early influences; on being an introverted child; on his childhood in Chicago; on his early interest in vaudeville performers; on wanting to be an actor; on his recollections of the Chicago School of Television; on moving to New York City; on studying acting with Uta Hagen; on doing a play written by Sherwood Schwartz
On his first time on television; on appearing on The Donna Reed Show and on Dr. Kildare; on The Blacklist; on voicing "The Great Gazoo" on The Flintstones; on joining The Danny Kaye Show; on Carol Burnett; on the format of The Danny Kaye Show;

Chapter 2

On working with Danny Kaye and Red Skelton; on The Jack Benny Program; on working on The Lucy Show, The Munsters, and directing some of The Steve Allen Comedy Hour; on working with Mel Brooks in Blazing Saddles; on Madeline Kahn
On The Love Boat; on The Harvey Korman Show; on the TV Movie Bud and Lou; on The Star Wars Holiday Special; on working on Pink Panthe r films with Blake Edwards

Chapter 3

On playing the White King in Alice in Wonderland; on Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills; on working with Cloris Leachman on The Nutt House; on the Carol Burnett Special Carol, Carl, Whoopi & Robin
On touring with Tim Conway; on the longevity of his career; on the highlight of his career; on his first impression of Tim Conway; on how he'd like to be remembered

Chapter 4

START OF JOINT INTERVIEW with Tim Conway and Harvey Korman: On how the pair first met; on a "Harvey Korman-type" - a straight man; on Korman's first appearance on The Carol Burnett Show; on the atmosphere Carol Burnett created on set; on the evolution of the show
On a production week on The Carol Burnett Show; on out-takes from the show; on a sketch that bombed; on the show's audience; on how Tim Conway became a regular on the show; on Conway writing sketches for Korman; on Conway's improvisations; on audiences loving when Korman breaks up
On a successful detective sketch; on a vasectomy sketch; on Carol Burnett's "Judy Garland sketch;" on their contributions to sketches; on the show's writers; on the importance of music on the show; on Bob Mackie; on Carol Burnett and her husband Joe Hamilton

Chapter 5

On the cast and guest stars of The Carol Burnett Show; on becoming a comedy team; on famous characters they've portrayed - "Mr. Tudball"; on the dentist sketch; on "Carol and Sis," "F. Lee Bunny;" on "The Old Man" and Conway's physical comedy talents
On working with directors on the show; on their spoofs of movies and shows; on the "Went with the Wind!" sketch spoofing Gone with the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show; on The Little Foxes sketch; on the show's writing; on Korman leaving the show; on not being "stars;"

Chapter 6

On the end of The Carol Burnett Show; on the final episode; on Korman returning for the last show; on Carol & Company; on the first reunion special of The Carol Burnett Show; on the legacy of The Carol Burnett Show; on directing Eunice; on Mama's Family; on The Tim Conway Special
On Dorf's Family Stump; on Tim and Harvey in the Great Outdoors; on guest appearances on Golden Palace; on their live comedy show; on their success as a comedy team; on being inducted into the TV Hall of Fame; on winning an Emmy and Conway not being present at the ceremony; on stories about Harvey Korman; on Bloopers and Practical Jokes
Shows

Alice in Wonderland (1985)

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on playing the White King in Alice in Wonderland
01:35

Bud and Lou

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on the TV Movie Bud and Lou
04:18

Carol & Company

View Show Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Carol & Company
00:46

Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)

View Show Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show
00:15
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on their first appearances on The Carol Burnett Show
27:02
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the cast and guest stars on The Carol Burnett Show
04:24
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on some memorable characters they created
09:12
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the end of The Carol Burnett Show
03:51

Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78): "Went with the Wind!" Sketch

View Show Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the "Went with the Wind!" sketch spoofing Gone with the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show
00:55

Carol, Carl, Whoopi, & Robin

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on co-directing the Carol Burnett Special Carol, Carl, Whoopi & Robin
01:47

Danny Kaye Show, The

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on joining The Danny Kaye Show
04:48
Harvey Korman on the format of The Danny Kaye Show
01:14
Harvey Korman on being a "second banana" to Danny Kaye
02:33
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on how they met - on The Danny Kaye Show
01:25

Donna Reed Show, The

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on his first TV appearance, on The Donna Reed Show
01:29

Dr. Kildare

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on appearing on Dr. Kildare
00:41

Eunice

View Show Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on directing Eunice
00:49

Flintstones, The

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on voicing "The Great Gazoo" on The Flintstones
03:32

Golden Palace, The

View Show Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on appearing on The Golden Palace
00:54

Harvey Korman Show, The

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on The Harvey Korman Show
01:37

Jack Benny Program, The

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on working on The Jack Benny Program
02:13

Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills
01:46

Love Boat, The

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on the pilot of The Love Boat
01:36

Lucy Show, The

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on working on The Lucy Show
03:23

Mama's Family

View Show Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Mama's Family
01:38

Munsters, The

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on working on The Munsters
01:28

Muppet Show, The

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on guesting on The Muppet Show
00:16

Star Wars Holiday Special, The

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on The Star Wars Holiday Special
00:38

Steve Allen Comedy Hour, The

View Show Page
Harvey Korman on working on The Steve Allen Comedy Hour
02:01

TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes

View Show Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Korman getting tricked on Bloopers and Practical Jokes
04:41

Tim Conway Special, The

View Show Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Tim Conway Special
03:15
Topics

Characters & Catchphrases

View Topic
Harvey Korman on voicing "The Great Gazoo" on The Flintstones
03:32

Emmy Awards

View Topic
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on being inducted into the TV Hall of Fame and winning Emmys
03:55

Memorable Moments on Television

View Topic
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on "Carol and Sis" on The Carol Burnett Show
00:39

We Laughed

View Topic
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the "Went with the Wind!" sketch spoofing Gone with the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show
00:55
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the dentist sketch on The Carol Burnett Show
03:06
Professions

Actor

View Profession
Harvey Korman on wanting to be an actor
01:14
Genres

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

View Genre
Harvey Korman on joining The Danny Kaye Show
04:48
Harvey Korman on being a "second banana" to Danny Kaye
02:33
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on their first appearances on The Carol Burnett Show
27:02
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show
28:52
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the end of The Carol Burnett Show
03:51

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

View Genre
Harvey Korman on the TV Movie Bud and Lou
04:18
People

Steve Allen

View Interview Page
Harvey Korman on working on The Steve Allen Comedy Hour
02:01
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Steve Allen Show
00:40

Beatrice Arthur

View Interview Page
Harvey Korman on The Star Wars Holiday Special with Bea Arthur
00:38

Lucille Ball

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on working on The Lucy Show
03:23

Jack Benny

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on working with Jack Benny
02:13

Jeff Bridges

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on Cloris Leachman
01:19

Mel Brooks

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on working with Mel Brooks in Blazing Saddles
02:38

Carol Burnett

View Interview Page
Harvey Korman on Carol Burnett wanting Korman for her new show
03:01
Harvey Korman on co-directing the Carol Burnett Special Carol, Carl, Whoopi & Robin
01:47
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on their first appearances on The Carol Burnett Show
27:02
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Carol Burnett and Joe Hamilton
01:34
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on how difficult it was to break up Carol Burnett
01:41
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the end of The Carol Burnett Show
03:51
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Mama's Family
01:38

Richard Chamberlain

View Interview Page
Harvey Korman on appearing on Dr. Kildare
00:41

Dick Clark

View Interview Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Korman getting tricked on Bloopers and Practical Jokes
04:41

Tim Conway

View Interview Page
Harvey Korman on touring with Tim Conway and the joy of working with him
03:54
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on how Tim Conway became a regular on the show
00:43

Jackie Coogan

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on doing a play written by Sherwood Schwartz
02:06

Dick Van Dyke

View Interview Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Dick Van Dyke on The Carol Burnett Show
01:07

Blake Edwards

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on working on Pink Panthe r films with Blake Edwards
03:47

Whoopi Goldberg

View Interview Page
Harvey Korman on co-directing the Carol Burnett Special Carol, Carl, Whoopi & Robin
01:47

Fred Gwynne

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on working on The Munsters
01:28

Buddy Hackett

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on the TV Movie Bud and Lou
04:18

Uta Hagen

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on studying acting with Uta Hagen
02:20

Joe Hamilton

View Person Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on a sketch that bombed on The Carol Burnett Show
00:53
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Carol Burnett and Joe Hamilton
01:34

Rock Hudson

View Person Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on guest stars on The Carol Burnett Show
00:08

Madeline Kahn

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on working with Madeline Kahn
01:48

Danny Kaye

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on joining The Danny Kaye Show
01:47
Harvey Korman on being a "second banana" to Danny Kaye
02:33

Alan King

View Person Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on a sketch that bombed on The Carol Burnett Show
00:53

Harvey Korman

View Interview Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on what is "a Harvey Korman type"
01:25
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Korman leaving the show, and not being a "star"
03:28
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Conway's favorite Korman story - the pair are like Jack Benny and George Burns
02:34

Perry Lafferty

View Interview Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Tim Conway Special
01:42

Vicki Lawrence

View Interview Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show
01:42
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on "Carol and Sis"
00:39
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Mama's Family
01:38

Cloris Leachman

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on working with Cloris Leachman on The Nutt House
02:52

Bob Mackie

View Interview Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on Bob Mackie's amazing clothes he created for The Carol Burnett Show
01:05

Steve Martin

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills
01:46

Roddy McDowall

View Person Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on guest stars on The Carol Burnett Show
00:25

Dave Powers

View Person Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on working with directors on the show
00:53

Carl Reiner

View Interview Page
Harvey Korman on co-directing the Carol Burnett Special Carol, Carl, Whoopi & Robin
01:47

Sherwood Schwartz

View Interview Page
Harvey Korman on doing a play written by Sherwood Schwartz
02:06

Fred Silverman

View Interview Page
Harvey Korman on The Harvey Korman Show
01:37

Red Skelton

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on working with Red Skelton
00:29

Lyle Waggoner

View Person Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the cast of The Carol Burnett Show
00:20

Betty White

View Interview Page
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on guest stars on The Carol Burnett Show
00:41

Robin Williams

View Person Page
Harvey Korman on co-directing the Carol Burnett Special Carol, Carl, Whoopi & Robin
01:47

All Interviews

S