A Timeless Comedy Classic from The Carol Burnett Show
A hot dog stand run by “the oldest man” became the setting for one of the most unforgettable sketches in television comedy history, thanks to the legendary partnership of Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show.
Decades after it left the air, The Carol Burnett Show remains one of the most beloved comedy programs ever created. Its success was built on brilliant writing and a cast whose talent bordered on unreal. Among that historic ensemble, Tim Conway and Harvey Korman stood out for their impeccable timing, deep trust in one another, and unmatched ability to turn simple premises into comedic gold.
One of their most iconic sketches features Tim Conway as an impossibly elderly hot dog vendor and Harvey Korman as an increasingly impatient customer. What begins as a routine interaction quickly spirals into chaos, driven entirely by Conway’s physical comedy and Korman’s barely contained disbelief.
The Setup: Simple, Slow, and Perfectly Absurd
The sketch opens with a construction worker stopping at the stand to ask for directions to the post office. Unfortunately, Tim’s character is so slow, distracted, and forgetful that even answering a simple question becomes an ordeal. The delay alone is enough to set the tone, and from there, the situation only grows more ridiculous.
Moments later, Harvey Korman enters the scene as a hurried businessman looking for a quick lunch. The moment he sits down at the counter, it becomes clear that both performers are already fighting laughter. Subtle smirks creep across their faces, signaling the mayhem to come.
The Order That Changes Everything
Harvey’s character politely places his order: a hot dog and a chocolate shake. It should be simple. Instead, it becomes a test of patience that no human could reasonably pass.
Tim’s elderly vendor struggles to remember the order almost immediately. Each attempt to clarify it leads to further confusion. Harvey’s annoyance grows by the second, transforming polite requests into sharp demands. The contrast between Tim’s painfully slow movements and Harvey’s mounting frustration creates the perfect comedic tension.
As Tim fumbles with buns, hot dogs, and condiments, his memory continues to betray him. He repeats steps, forgets what he’s holding, and seems completely lost in his own routine. Every failed attempt makes Harvey’s reactions more exaggerated, until he can no longer hide his laughter.
Breaking Point on Live Television
Around the six-minute mark, Tim’s character is juggling multiple hot dogs in a way that defies logic. At that point, Harvey completely loses control. He turns away, covers his face, and shakes with laughter, desperately trying—and failing—to stay in character.
What makes the moment so unforgettable is that Tim Conway never breaks. He continues the performance with total commitment, fully inhabiting the character while his partner collapses beside him. The contrast only makes the scene funnier.
Eventually, the order is completed… more or less. The result is hardly what was requested, but by then, the destination no longer matters. The journey itself has become the joke.
Why the Sketch Still Endures
This sketch perfectly captures what made Tim Conway and Harvey Korman such an extraordinary duo. Conway’s genius lay in his physical comedy, patience, and ability to stretch a moment far beyond its breaking point. Korman’s brilliance came from his genuine reactions—his laughter wasn’t acting, it was real.
That authenticity is why audiences still laugh decades later. There are no flashy effects, no clever twists—just two masters of comedy trusting the moment and each other.
As the old saying goes, there comes a time when laughter fills the mouth and joy overflows. Few sketches embody that truth more completely than this one.