Harvey Korman, the talented comedian known for his work in the entertainment world, recently made an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Korman was on the show to discuss his upcoming role in a new NBC series called Bud and Lou, where he would be portraying the late comedy legend, Bud Abbott.
During the interview, Carson mentioned how Korman was a great addition to the show and highlighted his friendship with the comedian. Korman jokingly mentioned how everyone in the green room was nervous about who would go on next, and Carson reassured him that he was lucky to have the spot.
The conversation then shifted to Korman’s background and hometown. He revealed that he hails from Illinois, just 40 miles from Kenosha, and considers himself a regular “mellow comedy actor.” Carson asked if Korman had any siblings, to which he comically responded with a mix of yes and no, eventually clarifying that he has a sister.
Carson praised Korman’s performance as a straight man, highlighting his ability to elicit laughter from the audience. The conversation then turned to Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, and Korman expressed his admiration for their comedy. He mentioned that as a child, he loved watching the Marx Brothers and the Ritz Brothers, but as he grew older and watched Abbott and Costello’s films, he realized how brilliant their comedic timing and physicality were.
Korman revealed that Bud Abbott was actually a lifelong epileptic, a fact that a lot of people are unaware of. He would often have seizures on stage, and Korman shared how Abbott would work out a system with his partners to prevent the seizures from occurring during performances. The conversation also touched upon Abbott and Costello’s explosive chemistry on and off the screen, with Korman mentioning that they didn’t talk to each other for years when they were at the height of their fame.
As the interview progressed, Korman shared his experience working on the Bud and Lou series and how he fell in love with his co-star, Buddy Hackett. He described their friendship and how their daily routines would often involve starting the day with tacos and tequila in Buddy’s trailer. Korman expressed his excitement about the show, mentioning that the audience would be surprised to see him and Hackett portray the more human and deeper sides of Abbott and Costello’s lives, which were filled with tragedy and challenges.
Carson then shifted gears and asked Korman about his own career. Korman mentioned his participation in pilots and half-hour comedy shows, but expressed how challenging it is to start a new project after being a part of successful shows like The Carol Burnett Show. He shared that the network believes audiences want to see him portray a variety of characters, similar to his work on The Carol Burnett Show, which makes it difficult to establish a consistent TV persona.
The conversation ended on a lighthearted note as Carson and Korman reminisced about past adventures and jokes they had shared. Korman mentioned their idea of forming an entertainers vigilante committee, where they would arrest performers who delivered terrible performances. They laughed about their idea and Carson wrapped up the show.
Overall, Harvey Korman‘s appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was filled with laughter, anecdotes, and a preview of his upcoming project, Bud and Lou. Korman’s talent as a comedian and his playful banter with Carson made for an entertaining and lively interview.
Keywords: talk show, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Harvey Korman, Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, comedy, straight man, entertainment, television, comedy legends
