It starts innocently enough: Tim Conway, sporting a mustache and a bit of a belly, simply wants a cup of coffee. But on The Carol Burnett Show, nothing is ever simple — especially when a vending machine decides to develop a personality of its own.
A Comedy Duo at Their Best
In the Season 10 premiere sketch “The Vending Machine,” Conway and Harvey Korman deliver nonstop laughter as they turn a mundane moment into a legendary bit. Conway plays a frustrated customer, while Korman strolls in as a security guard just trying to finish his rounds — until the chaos begins.
The Machine With an Attitude
Conway slips in a coin.
Nothing.
Another coin.
Still nothing.
Soon the machine is serving coffee without a cup… or pouring it into a broken cup… or dropping the cup in the wrong place entirely. Each failure pushes Conway closer to the edge — and the audience deeper into hysterics.
His increasingly ridiculous attempts to “fix” the machine catch Korman’s attention. Suddenly, the guard becomes the machine’s loyal defender, springing to its rescue with exaggerated authority and absurd accents. Conway tries to keep a straight face — and fails spectacularly. The audience roars.
Escalation, Carol Burnett Style
After yet another disastrous attempt at getting his drink, Conway finally loses all patience. When Korman returns, the poor guard finds himself disarmed as Conway grabs his service revolver and fires a warning shot into the rebellious machine.
Miraculously — and politely — the vending machine finally dispenses a perfect cup of coffee.
But before Conway can enjoy his long-awaited victory, Carol Burnett sweeps onto the scene. With impeccable timing, she snatches the cup right out of his hands, sipping it triumphantly as the audience erupts into laughter.
A Classic for a Reason
What makes the sketch unforgettable isn’t just the physical comedy — it’s the chemistry between Conway, Korman, and Burnett. Their ability to improvise, break character, and make each other laugh created moments that audiences still cherish decades later.
A simple cup of coffee turned into a masterpiece of chaos, timing, and pure comedic brilliance — exactly the kind of magic The Carol Burnett Show was famous for.
