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12/13: Tim Conway interview (extended version)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ABOVE: Former Conyers man Jack McBrayer shows Tim Conway around on “30 Rock” earlier this year when Conway played an actor with a politically incorrect past.
I wasn’t able to get my entire Tim Conway interview into the print edition so here’s the extended version. Conway provides commentary for a special on Disney live action films narrated by Angela Lansbury on Turner Classic Movies Sunday at 7 p.m.
While Tim Conway is best known for his physical and verbal humor on “The Carol Burnett Show,” he was also an integral part of those goofy live-action Disney films of yore such as “The Apple Dumpling Gang.” “The World’s Greatest Athlete.” “The Shaggy D.A.”
These are hardly “Bambi” or “Beauty & the Beast” in terms of “classic” and are seldom seen on TV nowadays. But Turner Classic Movies has been bringing back 25 Disney live-action films this month, including “Old Yeller,” “Swiss Family Robinson” and “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.”
This Sunday, TCM is airing a documentary on the Disney films narrated by Angela Lansbury and featuring commentary from the likes of Dick Van Dyke, Kurt Russell and Conway.
We spoke with Conway Thursday:
Q: Happy birthday a bit early. [His 75th birthday is Monday.] What plans do you have that day?
A; Well, probably just getting a cleaning at the dentist. That’s it for me. I don’t make so much about birthdays, especially when you get up to 75. Who would have thought I’d make it to 75? Certainly, not me! I don’t try to do too much at this age. It’s too exciting for me.
Q: Did you ever spend much time in Atlanta?
A; I shot a couple of independent films there: “The Prize Fighter” [1979] and “Private Eyes” [1981] with Don Knotts. It’s such an interesting city. At the time, the Underground was quite active. The weather is great. You get away from Hollywood, you can do what you want. It was fun.
Q: What was it like working with Don Knotts on those films?
A: The best! I had been a big fan of Don Knotts since “The Tonight Show With Steve Allen.” Don and I became best friends for 40 years. I admired him so much for his comedy, how subtle he was with his comedy. So I wrote a couple of films for us. We had the same philosophy in entertainment: try to do it in a way the entire family could enjoy. Do something we would never have to apologize for unless it was just bad comedy — not for foul language or nudity or violence. We had enough of that at home!
Q: I’m sorry about Harvey Korman [his castmate on “The Carol Burnett Show,” who passed in May.].
A: I am, too. We had 45 years together. It was great working with Harvey. On the show, I’d write things one way and say something else on the show. That’s why he used to go south all the time on the sketches. It was fun to break him up. We had a very enjoyable career.
Q: Did he make you laugh, too?
A: Oh, yah! I think looking at him laughing at me made me laugh. When we did the dentist’s sketch, we’d end up in hysterics.
Q: You’re such a good adlibber. Did you do much on the Disney films?
A: No. The scripts were too good. We only adlibbed physically. The stories were so well constructed. You didn’t want to ruin it.
Q: How did you end up getting that gig on “30 Rock”? [He played a politically incorrect old actor visiting the “30 Rock” set in an episode that aired in April.]
A: Tina Fey called me! I read it and said, ‘Gee, there isn’t much here.’ She said, ‘Please, come and do it.’ I did and won an Emmy. That’s how much I know!
Q: Did you enjoy working with Jack McBrayer [who plays Kenny and used to live in Conyers.]?
A: He will be a big part of the business. He’s such a nice guy and he’s a funny, funny guy. He presented the Emmy to me. I got mine the week before [when all the awards not presented during primetime are handed out.]. We’d been there five hours and it was the last award. Before Jack had a chance to announce the nominees, I went up on stage. I stood next to him. He said, “Wait a minute! You haven’t won! I’m just announcing names!” “Yah, but if I do win, I’ll already be here and you wouldn’t have wasted time.” He then read the names, took the envelope and said ‘Tim Conway!’ I took the Emmy, thanked everyone and walked off!
Q: Are you still doing “Spongebob”? [He does the voice of Barnacle Boy opposite his former “McHale’s Army” cohort Ernest Borgnine, who does Mermaid Man.]
A: Yes. That’s fun to do. Ernie and I still get to work together every once in awhile. I’m seeing him next Wednesday to do a few more episodes. He’ll come up and give me a bear hug, break a couple of ribs. We’ll do our show, I go to the hospital and then get repaired for the next round.
Comments
By Deirdre
December 15, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
I always loved Tim Conway on the Carol Burnett Show. He was terrific at physical comedy. One of my favorite sketches was Mr Conway playing a man who accidentally is shot with a dog vaccine and slowly becomes dog-like. I laughed until tears ran down my face.
By SophyB
December 15, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
He and Harvey Korman were so great on The Carol Burnett Show. I loved it when Harvey got all cracked up over something Tim was doing & now I know why he did! That was one of my favorite shows as a kid.
By Da Mick
December 15, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
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By McHale's
December 15, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
Rodney,
McHale’s Army? I can tell you weren’t around back then. It was McHale’s Navy.
By Behind Enemy Lines
December 15, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
Thanks for blogging this, truly one of the all-time TV comedy greats.
By Stuart
December 15, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
I had the pleasure of interviewing both Tim Conway and Don Knotts several years ago. I could have just asked one question and let him ad lib for an hour. He had all of us, including the most jaded LA film crew, laughing like hell the entire hour. Don Knotts was very frail then, but still funny, and just as nice as I’d always imagined he’d be. It was a dream come true for a kid who literally grew up with “The Andy Griffith Show” as well as “McHale’s Navy” and “The Carol Burnett Show.”
By Stuart
December 15, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
I had the pleasure of interviewing both Tim Conway and Don Knotts several years ago. I could have just asked one question and let him ad lib for an hour. He had all of us, including the most jaded LA film crew, laughing like hell the entire hour. Don Knotts was very frail then, but still funny, and just as nice as I’d always imagined he’d be. It was a dream come true for a kid who literally grew up with “The Andy Griffith Show” as well as “McHale’s Navy” and “The Carol Burnett Show.”
By kar
December 16, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Watching him on the Larry Sanders Show was one of my best memories. The way he played against his public “nice guy” persona was perfect.