What begins as an ordinary scenario—a routine stop at a self-service gas station—quickly descends into absolute comic anarchy when Tim Conway steps into the frame. The legendary sketch, “Self-Service Gas Station,” from The Carol Burnett Show, is often remembered not just as a funny moment, but as a masterclass in how controlled chaos, impeccable timing, and fearless improvisation can turn a simple idea into timeless comedy. At the center of it all is Conway’s gleeful mission: to make his longtime scene partner Harvey Korman break—on live television.
A Simple Setup with Explosive Potential
On paper, the sketch is almost disarmingly basic. Two men at a gas station. One is the customer, eager to fuel up and move on. The other is the attendant, tasked with helping him. There are no elaborate props, no flashy punchlines, no complicated premise. And yet, from the moment Tim Conway appears as the attendant, you can feel that something is off. Not loudly off. Not obviously off. Just… wrong in the most intriguing way.
Conway’s character moves with agonizing slowness, as if time itself has decided to take a coffee break. Each action—picking up the nozzle, turning toward the car, responding to a question—takes just a second too long. It’s that extra beat, that deliberate pause, where the comedy starts to simmer. The audience senses it. Harvey Korman senses it. And Conway, with his trademark deadpan expression, knows exactly what he’s doing.
The Art of the Straight Face
One of Tim Conway’s greatest gifts was his ability to remain utterly serious while unleashing complete nonsense. In the “Self-Service Gas Station” sketch, his face never betrays the madness of his actions. He asks absurd questions with the calm sincerity of someone discussing the weather. He handles the gas nozzle like it’s a foreign object he’s never seen before—twisting it the wrong way, pointing it in dangerous directions, and generally treating it as if the concept of “fueling a car” is a brand-new invention.
This is where Harvey Korman’s role becomes crucial. Korman was a brilliant comedian in his own right, but he was also famously vulnerable to Conway’s antics. His job in this sketch is to be the straight man—the reasonable human reacting to an unreasonable world. At first, he tries. You can see him biting the inside of his cheek, clenching his jaw, and staring into the distance as if mentally begging the scene to end. Each time Conway adds another layer of incompetence, Korman’s composure cracks just a little more.
When Laughter Becomes the Punchline
What makes this sketch legendary isn’t just that it’s funny—it’s that it breaks the rules. On The Carol Burnett Show, breaking character was not only allowed, it was embraced. The audience loved seeing performers lose control, and no one exploited that dynamic better than Tim Conway. His goal wasn’t simply to deliver jokes; it was to push his fellow actors to the brink.
As the sketch escalates, Korman’s reactions become the real spectacle. His eyes widen. His face turns red. His attempts to speak dissolve into helpless laughter. The audience roars, feeding off the energy of the moment. Conway, meanwhile, stands calmly in the eye of the storm, unfazed, almost amused by the destruction he’s causing.
This wasn’t accidental. Conway was known for going “off-script,” stretching pauses, and introducing unexpected physical business precisely to throw his partners off balance. In the gas station sketch, every delay, every awkward movement, every nonsensical decision is calculated. The chaos feels spontaneous, but it’s guided by a comedian who understands rhythm as deeply as a musician understands tempo.
Why the Sketch Still Works Today
Decades after it first aired, the “Self-Service Gas Station” sketch remains endlessly rewatchable. In an era of fast cuts, punchy one-liners, and tightly scripted comedy, Conway’s slow-burn approach feels almost rebellious. He proves that silence can be funny, that discomfort can be hilarious, and that watching someone almost lose it can be more entertaining than the joke itself.
There’s also something deeply human about the sketch. We’ve all experienced frustration at a simple task going wrong, at someone who just doesn’t “get it,” at a situation that spirals for no logical reason. Conway takes that universal feeling and amplifies it until it becomes absurd art. Korman’s struggle mirrors our own, and that shared recognition is what keeps the laughter alive.
A Legacy of Comedic Sabotage
The “Self-Service Gas Station” sketch stands as a perfect example of why Tim Conway is remembered as one of television’s greatest comedic disruptors. He didn’t need big jokes or flashy setups. He needed time, patience, and a willing victim. Harvey Korman, to his eternal credit, understood the assignment—even as he completely lost control on camera.
Together, they created a moment that transcended the sketch itself. It became a symbol of what made The Carol Burnett Show special: fearless performers, genuine laughter, and the joy of watching professionals delight in each other’s brilliance.
In the end, Conway stands victorious—not because he followed the script, but because he ignored it. The gas station may have been fictional, but the chaos was real. And for audiences then and now, that chaos is pure comedy gold.