Did you know Harvey Korman was briefly fired from The Carol Burnett Show? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 02-17-2023, 09:50 PM

https://www.metv.com/stories/did-you...-from-her-show

Burnett felt she had to send a message to Korman, and it's safe to say he got it.

Yong Fang · 02-20-2023, 01:29 AM

Ironically, Korman did leave before the end.

TV Guy · 03-04-2023, 10:37 AM

Decades shows the hour long episodes, and this week they ran the first two season 11 episodes, with Dick Van Dyke replacing Korman. And boy, was Carol pushing Van Dyke. In both episodes, he was featured in the cold open/monologue. In the first one he got to do a song and dance number. Understandable, I guess, since it was his first episode as a regular. But in the second episode, he got to come out and do her monologue with her.

I wonder how Vicki and Tim felt about that. Tim, especially, had less to do in these first two episodes. Also, Dick got better billing than they did, even though they are much more valuable to the show than he is. Dick is a very talented man - he can act and sing and dance. But he’s not a sketch comedian who can disappear into characters the way that Carol, Tim, and Vicki can/could. I can see why he didn’t last long. Carol would have been better off hiring a couple of younger sketch comedians who could have helped revitalize things a bit.

Do you know if Harvey got any kind of send off at the end of season 10? Because Carol didn’t mention him at all in the season 11 premiere.

rusty spike · 03-04-2023, 01:57 PM

I can only imagine that everyone can burn out after working the same show/similar format of sketches. And I think Harvey could be extremely sarcastic. I also believe that Carol could be very difficult to work with. I think everyone was ready to move on to other projects.

Didn't Harvey start working more and more behind the scenes as a producer/director?

MichaelKeith · 03-06-2023, 04:07 PM

I've never heard that Carol Burnett could be hard to work with. Not saying isn't so, just never heard it.

Duster76 · 03-07-2023, 12:40 AM

A great many issues were raised in this thread concerning Harvey, why he left, was Carol part of the reason, and Dick Van Dyke. Let's start with Dick Van Dyke.

I know what Carol said about this but I feel the network suits were the cause of the ill-fated decision to hire Dick. Van Dyke was as big a star as Carol in a business of big egos there is no way she was supportive of this addition. I believe the suits looking to save one of their most prestigious shows that had fallen to number 44 in the ratings decided to go with star power. Carol had been with CBS for a long time dating back to The Garry Moore Show, CBS had supported her career, given her a variety show, loyalty to the network probably played a big part in her accepting the recommendation (I'm sure the network payed a substantial part of his salary as well). The idea was doomed for the simple reason that Harvey was a comedic actor who played parts, Van Dyke was a star and he had to be dealt with at that level. Van Dyke was going to have to be featured in skits, given time to demonstrate his other talents, he was going to be the male equivalent of Carol. That couldn't possibly work on The Carol Burnett Show so of course the plan failed. I think if Carol had made the call on her own Ken Berry would have been Harvey's replacement.

Let's take a look at Harvey's leaving.

Harvey leaves after 10 years, I think we have to accept the fact that he may have had some concerns about the long term viability of the show. The variety format was dying on TV, the show's ratings were in decline so how much longer was it going to go. There may have been another reason....

Tim and Harvey

It's true they worked well together, and basically they got along, but Harvey may have felt he was becoming Tim's valet. I don't believe all those scenes where Harvey is breaking up at something Tim is doing are real, that became part of the show's fabric, almost expected and anticipated by the audience. In other words it helped get the bit over. For comedic actor like Harvey he might have gotten tired of holding Tim's coat while Conway got all the laughs and accolades.

With respect to Carol being difficult to work with, I don't believe it. She was a pro, and she probably was demanding but I think she was fair. Harvey had worked on The Danny Kaye Show, Kaye by all accounts was nightmare to work for, I would have loved to have heard Korman commenting on that experience.

02-17-2023, 09:50 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,387	Did you know Harvey Korman was briefly fired from The Carol Burnett Show? https://www.metv.com/stories/did-you...-from-her-show Burnett felt she had to send a message to Korman, and it's safe to say he got it.

02-20-2023, 01:29 AM	#2
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	Ironically, Korman did leave before the end.

03-04-2023, 10:37 AM	#3
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Decades shows the hour long episodes, and this week they ran the first two season 11 episodes, with Dick Van Dyke replacing Korman. And boy, was Carol pushing Van Dyke. In both episodes, he was featured in the cold open/monologue. In the first one he got to do a song and dance number. Understandable, I guess, since it was his first episode as a regular. But in the second episode, he got to come out and do her monologue with her. I wonder how Vicki and Tim felt about that. Tim, especially, had less to do in these first two episodes. Also, Dick got better billing than they did, even though they are much more valuable to the show than he is. Dick is a very talented man - he can act and sing and dance. But he’s not a sketch comedian who can disappear into characters the way that Carol, Tim, and Vicki can/could. I can see why he didn’t last long. Carol would have been better off hiring a couple of younger sketch comedians who could have helped revitalize things a bit. Do you know if Harvey got any kind of send off at the end of season 10? Because Carol didn’t mention him at all in the season 11 premiere.

03-04-2023, 01:57 PM	#4
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	I can only imagine that everyone can burn out after working the same show/similar format of sketches. And I think Harvey could be extremely sarcastic. I also believe that Carol could be very difficult to work with. I think everyone was ready to move on to other projects. Didn't Harvey start working more and more behind the scenes as a producer/director?

03-06-2023, 04:07 PM	#5
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	I've never heard that Carol Burnett could be hard to work with. Not saying isn't so, just never heard it.

03-07-2023, 12:40 AM	#6
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,639	A great many issues were raised in this thread concerning Harvey, why he left, was Carol part of the reason, and Dick Van Dyke. Let's start with Dick Van Dyke. I know what Carol said about this but I feel the network suits were the cause of the ill-fated decision to hire Dick. Van Dyke was as big a star as Carol in a business of big egos there is no way she was supportive of this addition. I believe the suits looking to save one of their most prestigious shows that had fallen to number 44 in the ratings decided to go with star power. Carol had been with CBS for a long time dating back to The Garry Moore Show, CBS had supported her career, given her a variety show, loyalty to the network probably played a big part in her accepting the recommendation (I'm sure the network payed a substantial part of his salary as well). The idea was doomed for the simple reason that Harvey was a comedic actor who played parts, Van Dyke was a star and he had to be dealt with at that level. Van Dyke was going to have to be featured in skits, given time to demonstrate his other talents, he was going to be the male equivalent of Carol. That couldn't possibly work on The Carol Burnett Show so of course the plan failed. I think if Carol had made the call on her own Ken Berry would have been Harvey's replacement. Let's take a look at Harvey's leaving. Harvey leaves after 10 years, I think we have to accept the fact that he may have had some concerns about the long term viability of the show. The variety format was dying on TV, the show's ratings were in decline so how much longer was it going to go. There may have been another reason.... Tim and Harvey It's true they worked well together, and basically they got along, but Harvey may have felt he was becoming Tim's valet. I don't believe all those scenes where Harvey is breaking up at something Tim is doing are real, that became part of the show's fabric, almost expected and anticipated by the audience. In other words it helped get the bit over. For comedic actor like Harvey he might have gotten tired of holding Tim's coat while Conway got all the laughs and accolades. With respect to Carol being difficult to work with, I don't believe it. She was a pro, and she probably was demanding but I think she was fair. Harvey had worked on The Danny Kaye Show, Kaye by all accounts was nightmare to work for, I would have loved to have heard Korman commenting on that experience.