In one of The Carol Burnett Show’s most unforgettable sketches, comedy legend Tim Conway manages to do what he did best—completely derail a scene by making everyone laugh, including his fellow castmates.
This particular skit, now making the rounds online, starts with Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman playing a couple hoping to adopt a child. They imagine a sweet little boy joining their happy home. What they get instead? Tim Conway, playing a wide-eyed, overly eager “orphan”… who just happens to be 35.
Dressed like an overgrown kid with a desperate need for love and a family, Tim throws himself into the role—literally. He tells them about his lonely life, like how he has to play catch by himself, and it’s so over-the-top and heartfelt that it’s impossible not to laugh. Carol and Harvey try to stay in character, but you can see them breaking—turning their heads, covering their mouths, doing everything they can not to lose it completely.
At its core, the sketch is ridiculous, but it’s also kind of sweet. It plays on the idea that becoming a parent isn’t always a straight path—and that love doesn’t care about age. Sure, Conway’s “child” is clearly too big for a stroller, but the sketch pokes fun at something real: the deep, human desire to belong somewhere.
It’s classic Conway—taking a bizarre premise and turning it into pure comedy gold. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s worth the watch. Not just for the laughs, but for the genuine joy of watching three comedy icons lose themselves in the moment.
