When it comes to comedy legends, Tim Conway stands in a league of his own — a master of timing, charm, and chaos who could make an entire cast crumble just by raising an eyebrow. But even in a career filled with unforgettable sketches, one moment towers above them all: the night a supposed tragedy became the funniest scene in television history.

The setup was simple. The tone, deadly serious.
Conway’s character was meant to die.

It was supposed to be a solemn, emotional farewell — the kind of rare, dramatic turn that gave The Carol Burnett Show depth amid the laughter. Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, and the rest of the cast prepared to deliver their lines with restraint and grace.

And then Tim Conway did what only Tim Conway could do.

He looked down at the prop gun in his hand… paused for just the right beat… and asked with total sincerity:
“Is it loaded?”

The studio erupted.

Harvey Korman — usually the most composed of the group — instantly lost control. Not just a laugh, but a collapse. He buried his face in his hands, turned away from the camera, and shook with uncontrollable laughter. Carol tried desperately to keep going, but once she caught sight of Korman’s face — and Conway’s innocent smirk — it was over.

The audience howled. The crew could barely hold the cameras steady. The carefully written scene was gone — replaced by something pure, unplanned, and absolutely legendary.

That single line turned what should have been a somber death into a comedic resurrection. It captured everything fans loved about Conway: his unpredictability, his timing, and his ability to find humor in the unlikeliest of places.

Even decades later, the clip still circulates online, drawing millions of views and countless comments from people who say it makes them laugh until they cry — every single time.

Carol Burnett herself has often said that Tim Conway’s genius wasn’t in telling jokes — it was in creating moments. He could turn a line, a pause, or a glance into something unforgettable.

And that night, he did exactly that.
A scene about death became a celebration of life — and laughter.

Because when Tim Conway was on screen, nothing ever went as planned.
It always went better.