Tim is Money

Sunday, Nov. 9, 2003 | 3:19 a.m.

Comedian Tim Conway called from his hotel in New York City, where he was taping a television special that aired Nov. 2 celebrating the 75th anniversary of CBS television.

The 69-year-old multiple Emmy Award-winner was Ensign Charles Parker on the hugely popular "McHale's Navy" (ABC, 1962-'66), which starred Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine.

Conway also was a co-star of the even more popular "The Carol Burnett Show" (CBS, 1967-'78), where he became friends with another co-star, Harvey Korman.

Following his run on that show, Conway enjoyed massive success with his "Dorf" series, highlighted by "Dorf on Golf."

On a lark, four years ago he and Korman teamed up with a comedy act that incorporated some of their skits from the "Burnett" show, as well as other material.

They were so successful that their two-man show now is a major part of their careers.

Conway and another "Carol Burnett" alumnus, Vicki Lawrence, have been reunited on the CBS sitcom "Yes, Dear," in which they have recurring roles as husband and wife.

Korman and Conway will be at the Stardust's Wayne Newton Theater Nov. 12 to Nov. 15.

While waiting to return to the studio for rehearsals, Conway discussed his life in show business with the Sun.

Las Vegas Sun: How did you get your start in the business?

Tim Conway: When I was growing up in Willoughby, Ohio, I always had a sense of humor. In high school, I was always the guy who told jokes. I didn't wear lamp shades or anything like that, but I could tell a joke.

But I actually was going to be a jockey. Seriously. I was was always galloping horses -- my dad trained a couple. I had knowledge about the track, but falling off as much as I did, I developed a tremendous fear of horses.

Sun: When did you decide to get into show business?

TC: There was never really a plan. I was just looking to get through college so I majored in speech and dramatics. After I graduated I joined the Army. I was stationed in Seattle. You notice Seattle never was attacked.

When I got out of the service I had nothing to do, and a friend told me about a job in radio, writing jokes for a morning disc jockey in Cleveland. Eventually, I convinced a television station into doing a show with Ernie Anderson, with Anderson as the talent, and me directing.

The show really was bad. We were supposed to show a movie in the morning and have guests on, but we were so bad we couldn't get any guests so I was always the guest, a different character each time. Ernie would introduce me as anything, a bullfighter or whatever, and then I would ad-lib five minutes of nonsense.

Sun: How did that translate into such a successful career?

TC: Rose Marie, who was doing "The Dick Van Dyke Show" at the time, saw one of the skits and thought it was hilarious and she recommended me to Steve Allen, who put me on his TV show. I thought that after doing Steve Allen I didn't have to do anything else to make a career, but when I finished that I ended up back in Ohio.

Sun: How did you join "McHale's Navy?"

TC: The producer saw me on Steve Allen's show and offered me the role.

Sun: What was it like being on one of the top shows of the '60s?

TC: It was four years of wonderful times.

It was a great show, but it was all kind of foreign to me. Ernest Borgnine had won an Oscar in 1955 for "Marty." And in "From Here to Eternity" (1953), he was not the kindest guy in the squad. To take on a comedic role on television was quite a challenge for him.

I had no character. I was just playing stupid. It was an example of not knowing anything about the business. I heard one guy talking about motivation and I asked Ernie what was my motivation for a particular scene. He said, "If if you don't get it done by 5 o'clock, I will kick you in the butt."

So that was my motivation.

Sun: Are you still friends?

TC: Ernie and I see a bit of each other from time to time. He always gives me a bear hug.

Sun: What did you do after "McHale?"

TC: I did a lot of variety shows, and then I went on to 11 years with Carol Burnett. That's about as good as you can expect in this business.

Sun: What are you most proud of?

TC: Of all the things I've done, the Burnett show is first, "McHale's Navy" is right up there -- and then this with Harvey.

It's fun to do it for a live audience, for the immediate response. It's genuine when they laugh. It really is neat to do. We don't have to answer to producers or writers. We just do what we do.

Sun: How long will you keep doing it?

TC: We're booked through this year. We'll keep doing it until Harvey can no longer get to the chair.