Last night, we took a stroll back to the golden age of television — a time when great comedy wasn’t about special effects or punchlines delivered by formula, but about timing, instinct, and the magic that happens when two comedic masters collide. On the set of The Carol Burnett Show, Tim Conway appeared as “the slowest sheriff in the West,” facing off not against outlaws, but against a panicked, exasperated bank robber played by Harvey Korman. What followed has since become one of the most beloved and hilarious sketches ever recorded.
A Masterclass in Comic Timing
The scene opens in a dusty Old West saloon — creaking doors, piano faintly playing — and in ambles Conway’s sheriff at a pace so slow you could pour a cup of coffee between his words. Every gesture, every blink, every pause is perfectly measured. Korman’s robber, desperate to escape, tries to drive the sketch forward, but the sheriff simply won’t be hurried. The tension between Conway’s molasses-paced delivery and Korman’s barely contained frustration creates a comedic rhythm that’s impossible not to laugh at.
As the sketch unfolds, Conway turns the simplest movements into punchlines: a slow stumble, a misplaced hat, an unnecessary pause. Meanwhile, Korman’s robber grows more and more exasperated, trying to salvage the scene while struggling to keep from breaking character. His pleas of “Hurry up, Sheriff!” only make Conway slower, funnier, and somehow even more unpredictable. The laughter from the audience builds in waves — laughter that comes not from words, but from pure performance art.
Comedy Chaos, Perfectly Controlled
By the time the sketch reaches its climax, the stage is a whirlwind of slow-motion chaos. Korman, visibly fighting back tears of laughter, can barely deliver his lines. Conway, still calm and collected, continues to undercut every attempt at normalcy with his unflappable deadpan. The brilliance lies in the contrast — one man trying to keep the sketch alive while the other deconstructs it entirely through patience and absurdity.
When the bit finally ends, Korman’s face is flushed and trembling with laughter, while Conway simply tips his hat and ambles offstage, victory sealed in silence. Then comes the applause — not immediate, but growing, wave after wave, as the audience realizes they’ve just witnessed comedic perfection. No fancy setups, no scripts needed — just timing, talent, and two men utterly in tune with the joy of making each other (and everyone watching) laugh uncontrollably.
A Timeless Reminder of What Comedy Can Be
“The Old Sheriff” is more than a sketch — it’s a reminder of what makes comedy timeless. It’s unpolished, spontaneous, and rooted in human connection. It’s the art of dragging a moment out until it becomes irresistible. Conway’s deliberate slowness, Korman’s frantic energy, and the shared laughter of the live audience combine into something truly magical — the kind of moment television rarely captures anymore.
If you’re in need of a smile, watch the sheriff shuffle across that stage. Watch Harvey Korman try — and fail — to hold it together. Feel the room lean in as the simplest gag becomes comedic brilliance. Because in that tiny Western saloon, two legends turned silence into laughter, and laughter into history.
