Laughs in Television Shows: Unforgettable Moments from Mama’s Family and More

The infamous elephant story from the “Mama’s Family” sketch, where the cast played Password, made it to air, albeit edited. The first take was used, with much of the extended laughter cut, but viewers could still witness the remaining cast members losing their composure. Dick Van Dyke, known for his wholesome image, played against type as an alcoholic character, further adding to the humor.

The Carol Burnett Show also had its share of memorable laughter. Carol cleverly got revenge on Tim Conway by incorporating a slightly altered version of the unaired second elephant story into a different skit, catching him completely off guard. His surprised reaction is truly priceless.

Another set of bloopers from “Mama’s Family” involves a skit where the cast plays the board game “Sorry.” Throughout the episode’s recording, the cast members repeatedly inserted ad-libbed references to the song “Windmills of Your Mind” as an inside joke. During the “Sorry” skit, Vicki Lawrence continuously threw in improvised insults at Carol Burnett’s character, catching her off guard. One particularly funny line, almost drowned out by the audience’s laughter, is “Are you riding the cotton pony?” Listen carefully and you’ll hear it.

Beyond “Mama’s Family,” other shows have produced iconic laughter-inducing moments. The Dentist sketch on The Carol Burnett Show is a classic example, with Tim Conway’s antics making Harvey Korman laugh so hard he reportedly wet his pants.

Tim Conway’s unscripted performances frequently led to uncontrollable laughter on set. In one instance, he played the world’s oldest wardrobe manager and pulled off impromptu stunts that had Harvey Korman in stitches. Korman would have collapsed on the floor if he hadn’t been gripping a hanging cable for support. This hilarious sequence begins around the 6:10 mark in the linked video.