Harvey Korman loved The Carol Burnett Show, but hated some of the costumes
Most people tire of their day jobs, even in fields they love. The monotonous work routine can make anyone grow bored or fatigued after a while. Even those working with comedy queen Carol Burnett could feel a bit burned out after 11 seasons.
This was the case for Harvey Korman, who served as Carol Burnett's second banana for a total of 245 episodes.
Korman was an actor who loved his craft but, over time, began to grow tired of certain aspects of his chosen career. After all, there are only so many fake mustaches and funny costumes one can wear over 11 years before they start to feel unfunny.
In a 1976 interview with The Charlotte Observer, Korman said that he wore more feathers and satin onstage than most male actors on television. While he proved passionate about getting a laugh in any way possible, sometimes it came with a cost.
"I'm tired of bird costumes and drag," Korman said.
After 10 seasons and with the series entering its final season, Korman admitted the show was starting to run out of ideas. While the comedy was as crisp as ever, his mindset had taken a toll.
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"It's not that I don't love Carol," Korman said. "It's not that I don't appreciate what the show has done for me all these years, but my God! We're running out of ideas. We're starting to repeat ourselves."
During his time on The Carol Burnett Show, Korman played roles ranging from a knight to a fairy godmother, often donning fake mustaches, satin, feathers, aprons, a tiara, a tutu, and face paint.
While these costumes created countless funny moments for fans, the actor behind the antics began craving something different. However, his feelings didn’t reflect The Carol Burnett Show’s passionately devoted fanbase.
"We're still getting 38 percent of the audience," Korman said. "The people out there never seem to tire of watching us repeat ourselves."
"We very often sit around asking ourselves how long it can last, how long can we keep it up," Korman said. "You know, the mail still pours in from kids, old people, from sick people in hospitals. We make them laugh right on week after week."
Although he had no idea what was in store for season 11 of the series, its final season, he knew it was time to move on to something new. Even today, however, fans of The Carol Burnett Show never tire of rewatching its episodes and sketches.
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