If you’ve ever scrolled through YouTube at 2:00 AM looking for a reason to smile, you’ve probably seen it. A bumbling, nervous man in a white coat tries to inject Novocaine into a patient’s mouth, only to stab his own hand. Then his leg. Then his face. It’s the dentist skit Tim Conway performed with Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show, and it is widely considered one of the funniest moments in the history of television.
But here is the thing: what you see on screen wasn't exactly what was on the page.
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Most people think of classic TV as highly polished and strictly rehearsed. Not this. This was a psychological ambush. Tim Conway wasn't just trying to be funny; he was trying to destroy Harvey Korman. And honestly? He succeeded so thoroughly that the story behind the cameras is almost as wild as the sketch itself.
The Army Story That Started It All
Believe it or not, the dentist skit Tim Conway made famous was actually based on a real-life horror story. Conway didn’t just pull this idea out of thin air to be wacky. He actually experienced a version of this while serving in the United States Army.
As Conway told it in several interviews later in his life—including a great sit-down with Conan O'Brien—he had a tooth that needed to come out while he was enlisted. The dentist on duty was a young lieutenant, basically a rookie who had no idea what he was doing. When the guy went to numb Conway’s mouth, he was so nervous that he actually pushed the needle through Conway’s cheek and into his own thumb.
The lieutenant spent the rest of the procedure trying to hide the fact that his hand was completely paralyzed. Conway sat there, mouth hanging open, watching this man fumble with heavy tools using a dead hand. He knew right then that it was comedy gold. He just had to wait a decade or so to use it.
Why Harvey Korman Had No Chance
The magic of The Carol Burnett Show was that they taped twice. They’d do a 4:30 PM show for a "dress rehearsal" audience and a 7:30 PM show for the actual broadcast. Usually, the first run was for getting the timing right. The second run was where Tim Conway would strike.
In the dentist skit Tim Conway played the role of the rookie, and Harvey Korman played the unfortunate patient. During the rehearsals, Conway played it straight. He followed the script. He did the lines. Harvey was prepared for a normal, funny sketch.
Then the red "On Air" light came on.
Conway started improvising. When he "accidentally" stuck the needle into his leg, that wasn't in the script Harvey had read. When Conway's leg went limp and he started dragging it around the office like a piece of dead meat, Harvey was seeing it for the first time.
The Moment Harvey Lost Control
If you watch the clip closely, you can see the exact second Harvey Korman’s soul leaves his body. He’s a professional. He’s trying so hard to stay in character as a man with a toothache. But Conway is relentless.
There is a legendary rumor that has persisted for decades: Did Harvey Korman actually wet himself during the filming?
Yes.
Conway confirmed this later, and it’s become a piece of TV folklore. Korman was laughing so violently and trying so hard to suppress it that he lost bladder control right there in the dental chair. If you look at Harvey’s face during the "Novocaine in the hand" bit, he isn't just "acting" amused. He is in physical pain from trying not to scream with laughter.
Breaking the Fourth Wall (Before It Was Cool)
The show’s creator, Carol Burnett, had a very specific philosophy. She loved it when things went wrong. She realized that the audience felt like they were "in on the joke" when the actors broke character.
In most 1960s and 70s sitcoms, if an actor started laughing, they’d stop, compose themselves, and start the take over. Not here. The producers kept the cameras rolling because the chemistry between Conway and Korman was lightning in a bottle.
The "Conway's Capers" Legacy
The crew actually had a name for these moments: "Conway’s Capers." He was a master of the "slow burn." He wouldn't just tell a joke; he would stretch a moment of silence until it became unbearable. In the dentist skit Tim Conway uses silence brilliantly. He just stares at his limp hand. He waits. He lets the audience—and Harvey—stew in the awkwardness until someone breaks.
Why It Still Works Today
Comedy usually ages like milk. What was funny in 1969 often feels cringey or "slow" by 2026 standards. But the dentist skit Tim Conway created is evergreen. Why? Because it’s built on two universal truths:
- Everyone is terrified of the dentist. The setting creates instant tension. We've all been that person in the chair, vulnerable and hoping the person with the drill knows what they're doing.
- Watching a professional fail is hilarious. There is something fundamentally funny about a person who is supposed to be an expert (a doctor, a pilot, a chef) being completely incompetent.
Fact-Checking the Myths
Since this skit is so famous, a few myths have popped up over the years. Let's clear the air.
- Myth: They did 20 takes to get it right.
- Fact: They did two. The one you see on TV is almost entirely the second "live" taping with all the improvisations kept in.
- Myth: Tim Conway was a regular cast member when this aired.
- Fact: Surprisingly, he was still just a "recurring guest star" in Season 2, Episode 20 when this first aired in March 1969. He didn't become a permanent cast member until much later in the series.
- Myth: The needle was real.
- Fact: It was a prop, obviously, but Conway’s physical acting was so good that people actually wrote letters asking if he’d hurt himself.
How to Watch It Like a Pro
If you’re going to re-watch the dentist skit Tim Conway and Harvey Korman made famous, don't just look at Conway. Keep your eyes on Harvey’s right hand. You can see him gripping the armrest of the dental chair so hard his knuckles turn white. He’s literally trying to anchor himself to reality so he doesn't fall out of the chair laughing.
Also, notice the timing. Modern comedy is fast. This sketch is slow. It takes its time. It lets the "injury" breathe. That’s the mark of a confident comedian.
Your Next Steps for a Comedy Deep Dive
If you want to fully appreciate the genius of this duo beyond just the dentist's office, here is what you should do:
- Watch "The Elephant Story": This is the other "greatest hit" where Tim Conway goes off-script about Siamese elephants joined at the trunk. It’s arguably the only time the entire cast, including Vicki Lawrence and Carol herself, completely gave up on finishing the scene.
- Look for "The Oldest Man" Skits: Conway played a character who moved at roughly one inch per hour. It’s a masterclass in physical comedy that uses the same "tormenting Harvey Korman" energy.
- Check out Tim Conway’s Memoir: If you can find a copy of What's So Funny?, he goes into detail about his relationship with Harvey. They weren't just coworkers; they were best friends who genuinely loved making each other laugh.
The dentist skit Tim Conway performed isn't just a "funny video." It's a document of a specific kind of friendship—the kind where you know exactly which buttons to push to make your friend lose their mind. That's why we’re still talking about it fifty years later.