Whats Hot On TV

For the second time in a week, another one of my childhood TV legends has died. While Dick Martin, known best as half of the hosting duo of Rowan and Martin from Laugh-In passed away on May 24th, Harvey Korman best known for his comedic talents on The Carol Burnett Show and the film Blazing Saddles, passed away on May 29th.

While I can remember watching Laugh-In while I was very young, one of my fondest memories from my childhood is gathering together in front of the TV every Saturday night and watching the whole CBS lineup, from All In the Family to The Carol Burnett Show. If we were really lucky, Mom would ask if we wanted some popcorn, and she’d pop a pan-full on top of the stove.

The best part of The Carol Burnett Show was the ensemble cast, between Burnett, Korman, Tim Conway, and others. One of the most infamous comedy duos of the time, Korman and Conway had a way of cracking each other up, and almost always, it was Conway veering from the script and making Korman laugh so much that he couldn’t keep a straight face. Even more fun than watching the humor of their bit was watching the two of them play off each other.

While Korman earned several Emmys and a Golden Globe for his work on The Carol Burnett Show, he was of course known for legions of other fine acting and comedic work as well, such as the film Blazing Saddles, the voice of The Great Gazoo in The Flintstones, and the film High Anxiety. Yet, for this little girl that still remembers every time he cracked her up, I will always think of him in his skits from The Carol Burnett Show.

Korman passed away of complications from the rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm that occurred four months ago, bringing kind words from many of those that worked with him, such as Carol Burnett and Mel Brooks. In terms of leaving a legacy, Harvey Korman did it up good.

Photo Courtesy of wirthentertainment.com

Trackback URI | Comments RSS