In the golden age of television comedy, no one could turn chaos into art quite like Tim Conway and Harvey Korman. And nowhere was their magic more perfectly displayed than in The Carol Burnett Show’s legendary “Gas Station Robbery” sketch — a six-minute masterclass in timing, absurdity, and the kind of laughter that just can’t be scripted.
Originally aired during Season 6, Episode 17 in 1973, the scene begins like something out of a crime thriller: a desperate bank robber, played by Korman, speeds off with the loot, police sirens blaring in the distance. His heart’s pounding. His nerves are shot. And just when escape seems within reach… his car sputters to a stop.
He’s out of gas.
Cue the disaster.
The Setup: A Getaway Gone Wrong
Korman’s robber pulls into the nearest station — a sleepy, one-pump joint run by none other than Tim Conway, whose character could charitably be described as “slow.”
What follows is a comedy of excruciating patience. While Korman frantically urges him to “hurry up,” Conway moves at the pace of a man who’s got all the time in the world. He checks the oil. He washes the windshield. He whistles. He leans against the car and begins a long, winding conversation about absolutely nothing.
By the time Conway starts fumbling with the gas pump — upside down, backward, and nowhere near the actual tank — Korman’s robber looks ready to collapse.
Harvey Korman’s Legendary Meltdown
The beauty of the sketch isn’t just in the slapstick. It’s in the slow burn. Conway’s weapon was stillness — that perfectly blank stare, that infuriating calm — and it pushed Korman to the brink every single time.
You can actually see it happen on screen: Korman’s shoulders begin to shake, his lips twitch, and before long, he’s visibly losing it. Trying not to laugh becomes the joke itself.
Tim, sensing blood in the water, doubles down — deliberately misplacing the gas cap, asking in his trademark deadpan, “You want regular or the good stuff?” The audience is roaring, the cameramen are shaking, and Korman finally breaks, slapping the car in helpless laughter as Conway just keeps pumping… and pumping… and pumping.
A Masterclass in Slow Comedy
It’s the kind of scene modern sketch shows rarely attempt anymore — no punchlines, no frantic pacing, just two masters stretching one simple joke into something transcendent.
Carol Burnett once said, “Tim Conway could make silence funny. He didn’t need words — just a look, a pause, and Harvey trying not to wet himself.”
Indeed, the “Gas Station” sketch is now studied by comedians for its precision. Every hesitation, every misstep is deliberate. Conway’s genius was in playing the fool who wasn’t trying to be funny — he was just being, and that made it hysterical.
The Ending — and the Eternal Payoff
As the police sirens grow louder, Korman’s panic hits a fever pitch. Just when he thinks he’s doomed, Conway finally finishes filling the tank — only to casually add, “Oh, by the way, you might want to check your oil. That’ll be another five minutes.”
Korman’s scream of frustration could probably be heard across the studio lot.
The sketch ends with both men in complete chaos — Korman trying to speed away as Conway cheerfully waves goodbye, oblivious to the robbery, the police chase, and the fact that he’s just delivered one of the funniest moments in television history.
Fifty Years Later, Still Comedy Gold
Half a century later, fans still share clips of the sketch online, introducing new generations to the timeless duo’s brilliance. “This is what real comedy looks like,” one viewer commented recently. “No CGI, no profanity — just pure timing and talent.”
For longtime fans, The Carol Burnett Show remains a comfort — a reminder that the simplest setups can still produce the loudest laughter.
And for anyone wondering how two men at a gas station turned a routine police chase into one of TV’s greatest moments, the answer is simple:
When Tim Conway and Harvey Korman met on screen, even running out of gas became comedy fuel for the ages.
