Tim Conway thought more comedy was needed in TV and film
Tim Conway was one of television’s greatest comedians. He used humor in his work, his life, and with his funny friends, including Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman. For Conway, humor was always at the center.
Conway was known for being the funny guy on The Carol Burnett Show, where he made audiences laugh until they cried for 11 seasons. He had a talent for making people laugh while supporting the other comedians around him.
According to a 1977 interview with The Marion Star, all of his experience in comedy led him to this realization: there was an unmet demand for comedy movies aimed at general audiences.
While television led America’s comedy kick, movies were still scrambling to catch up.
"There's a market for good comedy—movies without anyone taking their clothes off," Conway said. "There's room for good solid comedy where you actually go into a theater and laugh."
At the time of this interview, The Carol Burnett Show had only 10 episodes left to film. By this point, the series had achieved major success, with countless parodies, costume changes, awards, and recognition as one of the best places to see pristine comedy.
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Besides wrapping up his long legacy on The Carol Burnett Show, Conway remained active in motion pictures, vowing to make a "G"-rated comedy film for both kids and adults alike.
According to the interview, Conway said he had spent seven years trying to launch a series of comedy films he had written after being approached by a film company. Walt Disney and other major studios turned down his proposals for a "G"-rated comedy film.
He was told there wasn't a large enough market for general-rated comedies.
"I think there is a tremendous market for general entertainment," Conway said. "Most people think of special effects or kid-and-dog stories when 'G' movies are mentioned. But Laurel and Hardy made 'G' rated movies and yet they were good at comedy."
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