# How would you rate Tim Conway as a comedian? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948 "2014-09-30T07:35:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/21 "2014-09-30T14:06:56Z")
Funny, funny, funny man. Edgy, no, but edgy is overrated. He can just be doing his thing, not saying a word, and crack me the fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/22 "2014-09-30T14:28:02Z")
Very funny TV comic in the era before edgy/racy/sexy was possible. I still love watching him break up Harvey Korman, Carol Burnett, et al. in the reruns. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/23 "2014-09-30T15:02:57Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > I was surprised to later learn that _McHale’s Navy_ is held in low regard among 60s sitcom fans - not up there with _Dick Van Dyke_, closer to _Green Acres_. From second through fifth grade, my favorite night of the week was Tuesday, since I could watch _ **Dobie Gillis** _, _ **Combat!** _, and _ **McHale’s Navy** _ back-to-back. I still love that show! (My favorite moment in the first _ **MHN** _ motion picture is when Gruber offers some Chinese laborers sticks of opium-flavored chewing gum. Could _not_ get away with that today!) I also loved _ **Green Acres** _, since (as Charles Emerson Winchester would say) it was positively _surreal_! Like _ **Cheers!** _ and _ **Frasier** _, _ **DVD** _ was always in a class by itself. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/24 "2014-09-30T15:04:50Z")
To answer the OP’s question: Yes, Tim Conway was funny as hell on both _ **MHN** _ and _ **Carol Burnett** _. I can’t imagine anyone else playing Chuck Parker as well as he did. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/25 "2014-09-30T15:10:27Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > O deer ghod. > > I think the answer to the OP’s question is Q.E.D., but Vikki Carr might have won the round anyway. Or Vicki Lawrence! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/26 "2014-09-30T15:14:19Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > Or Vicki Lawrence! Uh, yeah, her too. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/27 "2014-09-30T15:21:37Z")
Haven’t read any other replies yet, but in my estimation Tim was / is one of the most naturally funny people I’ve ever seen. His ability to break up whoever is in a sketch with him ranks with the likes of Jonathan Winters, Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy and maybe another half dozen or so. If you want to spend some time laughing your ass off visit > **[Tim Conway](https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/tim-conway)** > > Tim Conway (1933-2019) was interviewed for two-and-a-half hours in Beverly Hills, CA. The interview consists of two parts: one hour solo, and one-and-a-half hours with comedy partner Harvey Korman. In his solo interview, Conway talks about his early... There are other interviews with Harvey Korman that are also a riot. Okay. I’ll read others’ comments now… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/28 "2014-09-30T15:30:06Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Well, I think one problem is that it got compared to Sgt. Bilko (which I hadn’t seen at the time). And Ernest Borgnine was no Phil Silvers. Respectfully disagree. They were both great, and I never compared one to the other (the actors or the shows). ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/29 "2014-09-30T15:30:32Z")
As I understand it, [this bit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf6csGvNYQU) was largely improvised and a total surprise to Lyle. It’s my second favorite, after the elephant story. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/30 "2014-09-30T15:36:54Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > what’s a Tim Conway? More than a hen. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/31 "2014-09-30T15:55:22Z")
I have stated in this forum, for the record, that Tim Conway is one of the funniest people to ever have lived, and cited the elephant story as proof. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/32 "2014-09-30T16:01:15Z")
He more recently won an Emmy for his appearance on 30 Rock. _We used to call this the Jew room…_ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/33 "2014-09-30T16:41:43Z")
[quote=“zoid, post:2, topic:699948”] Hilarious. One of the legends. [/QUOTE] Improvised and outtakes and hilarious. Yeah, he is a genius. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/34 "2014-09-30T16:45:51Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > As I understand it, [this bit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf6csGvNYQU) was largely improvised and a total surprise to Lyle. It’s my second favorite, after the elephant story. OMG! The Hitler puppet! (Where can one get those?) ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/35 "2014-09-30T16:57:09Z")
Absolute tops. Most “second bananas” needed a particular straight man to follow. Lou Costello by himself wasn’t that great; neither was Laurel. But put Conway next to anyone or anything and he could make it funny. A rare talent indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/36 "2014-09-30T17:08:54Z")
Another classic, the [dentist](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk92O0SEjXc) sketch. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/37 "2014-09-30T17:49:02Z")
One of the best ever. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/38 "2014-09-30T17:54:18Z")
I think it’s great that we’re taking time to appreciate Conway while he’s still with us. Too many times we don’t show our appreciation for someone until they’ve passed away. Keep making 'em, laugh, Tim. Three cheers for Mr. Parker! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/39 "2014-09-30T17:57:09Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I think it’s great that we’re taking time to appreciate Conway while he’s still with us. Too many times we don’t show our appreciation for someone until they’ve passed away. Keep making 'em, laugh, Tim. Three cheers for Mr. Parker! True dat! Wonder if Tim checks in now and then at SDMB. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948/40 "2014-09-30T18:01:31Z")
I feel that if his only work was on CB, he would still be a comic god. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-rate-tim-conway-as-a-comedian/699948.md?page=3)