Where Did Great Comedy Go?

Do you remember when we looked forward to sitting with the family in the evenings to watch great TV shows such as “I Love Lucy,” “Father Knows Best,” “Gunsmoke,” “Get Smart, ” and “The Andy Griffith Show”? Of course, there was “Hee Haw,” and so many others.

“The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” was great—no politics— just clean, funny entertainment. Recently, I rewatched one of his interviews with the child star (at that time) Drew Barrymore. She was just herself, very funny, and Johnny’s expressions made the audience go crazy. It was hilarious!

I think of “The Carol Burnett Show” and those crazy skits that fell apart very quickly when one of them would completely break down in laughter. Usually, that was because they never knew what to expect of Tim Conway— He wasn’t just a comedian, he was a “comedy assassin!”

I still watch some of those skits on FB, and still laugh even though I have seen all of them over and over. There is Carol Burnett and “the curtain rod dress.” And, of course there is the legendary dentist sketch with Tim Conway as the dentist, and Harvey Korman as the patient. The situation becomes a hilarious disaster!

Tim Conway, the comedy legend, reflected on his humble beginnings in Ohio…writing jokes that went unheard. “I just wanted to make people laugh.”

Tim’s words: “I don’t care what anyone says— comedy should be about kindness and joy, not division. I am Tim Conway. I perform for my fans, for my cast, and for the laughter—not for any agenda.”

Before Tim Conway passed away, his final message to fans was: “Keep laughing, because laugher is the best medicine…” So, I repeat— Where did great comedy go? We lost it somewhere along the way!