Certain moments in television history, much like a well-aged bottle of wine, only get better with time. That is undeniably the case with regard to the comedic skit titled “The Dentist” that was featured on The Carol Burnett Show. It continues to be one of the funniest moments in the history of television, as evidenced by the fact that it continues to make people of all ages laugh out loud.
What Is There Even A Chance Of Going Wrong At The Dentist’s Office?
In just eleven years, The Carol Burnett Show was nominated for eight Golden Globes and won a total of 25 Emmy Awards. Additionally, it was instrumental in bringing many comedic acts to the attention of the general public. It is consistently regarded as one of the most prestigious programs in the annals of television history.
The skit known as “The Dentist,” which stars comedians Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, is still considered to be one of the show’s funniest and most watched sketches. This is one of those moments that will stay ingrained in your mind forever and simply cannot be forgotten. Because it is so entertaining, Conway and Korman find it difficult to restrain their laughter throughout the entirety of the skit.
In the film “The Dentist,” the protagonist, Korman, is a patient who suffers from excruciating tooth pain. When he goes to the dentist on a Sunday, he discovers that his regular dentist is not in the office, but that the dentist’s nephew, Conway, is working.
This dentist just finished his training, and Mr. Korman will be his very first patient. The terrified dentist does everything possible to get his first patient to leave or just get a cleaning. He even tells the patient that the only teeth-pulling practice he’s had was on animals and that he received Cs in dental school. However, poor Korman is in just too much pain to give a damn about any of the excuses you offer.
Conway is forced to consult a manual in order to determine the best method for removing the tooth from his patient’s mouth. During the procedure, he gives himself an accidental injection of Novocain in his hand. The numb hand results in a hysterical accident after a hilarious accident. Because it is so absurdly funny, it forces Korman to cover his face multiple times in order to prevent him from laughing too much and breaking character.
Conway would later divulge the information that Korman was laughing so hard to himself during the scene that he actually peed his pants as a result of his laughter. That right there is comedic gold. He would also reveal at a later time that the skit was partially based on a military dentist that he had actually come across in real life at some point.
The skit came to an end with the dentist having rendered almost everything unconscious, with the exception of the patient’s mouth and the laughter of the audience. Clearly, the skit was successful in eliciting laughs, but you’ll have to watch it for yourself to determine whether or not the patient’s tooth was successfully removed.
Shouldn’t almost everyone be able to empathize with the humiliation of a visit to the dentist? The Carrol Burnett Show was on the air from 1967 until 1978, and during that time it was successful in producing comedy that was universally relatable, free of political overtones, and apolitical. It is simple to understand why this invaluable piece of television history continues to be funny regardless of the generation that is watching it.
What were your thoughts on the skit titled “The Dentist”? Do you happen to have a funny story about a visit to the dentist that you’d like to share with us? Don’t forget to share this hilarious skit with your loved ones and friends, and share your thoughts on it in the comments section below.
