‘I Swear He’s Trying to K.I.L.L Me!’ — Tim Conway’s slow-motion masterpiece that sent Harvey Korman and the entire studio into absolute hysterics
Some comedy moments are crafted with precision, rehearsed endlessly, and polished until every beat lands — yet the moments that stay etched in our memories tend to be the ones where everything unravels in the most delightful way. A perfect example comes from The Carol Burnett Show, when Tim Conway unexpectedly launched into a bizarre, unscripted dog routine that completely shattered Harvey Korman’s composure and turned an ordinary sketch into a legendary eruption of laughter.
The Sketch That Became a Classic
What began as a standard setup — the cameras rolling, the cast in place, and the script ready to flow — quickly shifted the moment Tim Conway decided to take things in a wildly different direction. Known for his love of derailing scenes just to make his co-stars break, Conway seized that opportunity with full force, steering the sketch into unexpected territory. 
He drifted into a long, meandering tale about a circus elephant, its unlucky trainer, and a hilariously strange dog impression that he stretched out with exaggerated slowness. Each new detail grew sillier than the last, sending ripples of laughter through the audience. Carol Burnett struggled to maintain composure, but Harvey Korman was instantly doomed — his attempts to hold it together dissolved almost as soon as Conway began.
Harvey’s Breakdown Made It Even Funnier
Korman tried everything he could to stay in character as Conway escalated the madness. He bit his lips, buried his face in his hands, twisted away from the camera, and trembled with silent laughter, doing anything to keep himself from completely collapsing. But the more he fought it, the more Conway leaned into the absurdity — adding vocal effects, peculiar movements, and pitch-perfect pauses that made Harvey’s breakdown all the more spectacular.
Every comedic beat Conway added felt designed specifically to push Korman beyond recovery. The tension between the slow-building silliness and Harvey’s crumbling discipline created a moment of pure comedic gold, the kind of magic that can’t be duplicated no matter how many times a scene is rehearsed. Even viewers at home still find themselves laughing simply by watching Harvey lose the battle against Conway’s improvisation.
This wasn’t something the writers scripted. It wasn’t a moment planned during rehearsal. It was the spark of spontaneous creativity that made Conway so unforgettable — an unpredictable whirlwind that left everyone on stage unable to resist its pull.
Why This Moment Still Resonates
Viewers continue to cherish this sketch not just because it is uproariously funny, but because the laughter feels completely genuine. You can see the cast losing control, the audience joining them, and the joy spreading naturally as Conway pushes the moment further and further. It embodies a kind of comedy that feels warm, human, and wonderfully unrestrained in ways that modern television rarely captures anymore.
The laughter was real, the camaraderie unmistakable, and the silliness infectious. During an era when television relied on wit, charm, and genuine performer chemistry rather than shock or spectacle, moments like this became part of the show’s enduring legacy. Many fans say this sketch captures exactly why The Carol Burnett Show remains iconic: it embodies the simple pleasure of laughing freely and watching others laugh with you.
Tim Conway: A Master of Controlled Chaos
Conway built a reputation for saving his most outrageous material for live tapings, intentionally surprising the cast to create authentic reactions. In many ways, he wasn’t just acting for the camera — he was performing specifically to break Harvey Korman, knowing that Harvey’s laughter would ignite the entire room. Their comedic chemistry became iconic, a perfect balance of Conway’s escalating antics and Korman’s melting resistance.
Conway pushed the boundaries of every scene he touched. Korman inevitably cracked. And viewers — both then and now — couldn’t help but laugh along with them. Their dynamic became one of the most beloved elements of the show, a reminder of how powerful genuine comedic connection can be.
A Memory That Still Brings Joy
Today, the clip resurfaces constantly across social media and YouTube, still managing to spark explosive laughter from new audiences discovering it for the first time. It connects generations through humor that doesn’t rely on trends, context, or complexity — just the timeless joy of watching people genuinely lose themselves in a moment of shared silliness.
It reminds us of simpler television, of humor created without cynicism, and of performers who truly loved entertaining. Many comedy moments are enjoyable, but only a select few — like this one — evolve into treasured classics that people return to again and again. If you’ve ever laughed until your stomach hurt or found yourself laughing even harder because someone else couldn’t stop, this sketch will feel instantly familiar and endlessly comforting.
