I nearly did a post on the passing of Alexander Courage (composer of the original Star Trek theme) earlier this week, but I hesitate to posts concerning such things. It would be too easy to blog about people passing away all the time, because it seems to happen so frequently, and I don't want to dwell on maudlin things. Yet I just couldn't fail to do something for Harvey Korman. I never missed an episode of The Carol Burnett Show on CBS when I was very young (6 or 7 years old). I think it came on Sunday nights, and my little sister and I thought he and Tim Conway were very funny. I felt like I knew them both. Obviously, he was brilliant in the Mel Brooks films Blazing Saddles and High Anxiety (his scenes with Cloris Leachman are hilarious), and as a kid, I also liked him in things like Americanthon and even Herbie Goes Bananas. And then there was his role as Count de Monet in History of the World: Part 1. On The Carol Burnett Show, he would play straight man to Tim Conway, and more often than not, "lose it" due to something Conway did (it seems like it was just yesterday I was watching these on a large, wood-paneled television set in my parents house):"Speedo Airlines"
"The Dentist Sketch"
"Intermezzo for Two Pianos"
Chris,
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely correct to recognize the passing of this comic genius. Like you, I watched the Carol Burnett show religiously as a teenager. He was a critical part of the chemistry that made that show so damned good. He was also one of those folks that you just know would be a nice guy in real life and you'd love to have met. Anyway, while he hasn't done much lately, I'll miss him.
Have a great weekend.
Ed