From $50 Bet with Harvey Korman to Roasting the King of Late Night – Conway’s Legendary 1976 Appearance Remains Unmatched

In an era when late-night television was ruled by one man, one comedian managed to steal the crown for five glorious minutes. On March 18, 1976, Tim Conway walked onto The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson not as a guest, but as a comedic hurricane. What unfolded is still regarded as one of the greatest moments in late-night history: a masterclass in improvisation that left Johnny Carson, the undisputed king of cool, reduced to helpless laughter and the studio audience in absolute hysterics.

Conway, fresh from his Emmy-winning run on The Carol Burnett Show, was there to promote the upcoming variety special The Tim Conway Comedy Hour. But the moment he sat down, the script went out the window. With his trademark slow-burn delivery and mischievous twinkle, Conway launched into a story about a $50 bet he’d made with Harvey Korman: whoever could make the other break character first on Carol Burnett would win the cash. “Harvey lost the first week,” Conway deadpanned, “because I told him his fly was open… and it was.” Carson, already grinning, tried to steer the conversation back to the special. Conway ignored him completely.

What followed was pure anarchy. Conway recounted a fictional golf game with Carson, claiming Johnny had cheated by “using a putter on the fairway” and “kicking the ball when no one was looking.” The audience roared. Carson, famous for his unflappable demeanor, began to crack. Conway then pivoted to a story about a “dentist sketch” on Carol Burnett where he’d ad-libbed so much that Korman had to hide behind a prop to laugh. “Harvey’s face turned purple,” Conway said, mimicking Korman’s silent breakdown. Carson, now doubled over, could barely speak.

The pièce de résistance came when Conway claimed he’d once “hypnotized” Ed McMahon into thinking he was a chicken. McMahon, sitting stone-faced, denied it—until Conway clucked. The band lost it. Carson slammed the desk, tears streaming. For nearly five minutes, the most powerful man in late-night television was utterly powerless against Conway’s relentless charm.

The clip has since become legendary, amassing over 50 million views across platforms and regularly topping “best Tonight Show moments” lists. Comedy historians call it “the gold standard of guest hijacking.” Even Carson, who rarely praised guests on air, later admitted: “Tim Conway could make a statue laugh.”

Conway appeared on The Tonight Show 51 times between 1970 and 1991, but this 1976 visit remains the crown jewel. Decades later, in an era of carefully curated late-night segments, it serves as a reminder of when comedy was raw, fearless, and gloriously unscripted.

Tim Conway didn’t just visit The Tonight Show that night.

He hijacked it—and gave us five minutes of television immortality.

Watch the hilarious meltdown below. You’ll thank us.