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One of Harvey Korman’s biggest worries was time
Time was Korman’s toughest critic!
A strike that halted production at CBS left many television actors with a lot of questions—and a ton of unexpected free time, a potentially dangerous combination for any creative mind.
Working in television meant long hours, countless takes, and always learning new lines. But when the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) called a strike against the major networks, production came to a sudden stop.
The labor dispute, sparked over disagreements about pay and residuals for reruns, put many actors—including those on The Carol Burnett Show—in limbo for weeks.
The strike left Carol Burnett Show star Harvey Korman with an unusual dilemma: what to do with all the time he suddenly had after years of keeping up with a grueling production schedule.
For the first time in his career, he had time to do all the things he’d never had time for—including worrying. According to a 1973 interview with The Town Talk, the pause in production forced Korman to reflect on his future.
"Time is hanging heavy on my hands," Korman said. "I can only play so much golf and tennis. I figured I'd have time to do all those things I've never had time to do, but then I realized there was nothing I really wanted to do. All I've ever wanted to do was be a working actor."
With the rare stretch of downtime, Korman began to consider what life might look like after The Carol Burnett Show. Though he had risen to fame through its variety format, he had never seriously entertained what came next.
He began to wonder what kind of series might suit him if he ever did step out on his own. Would it be a sitcom? Another variety show? Something completely different?
"I've got a deal in my pocket, so I have nothing really to worry about," Korman said. "But psychologically, I'm scared of going on my own. The burden of an entire show has never been on my shoulders alone. And I just don't know if I want to take that step. It's a big one."
"It's a dilemma," Korman continued. "But it's better than having nothing at all."
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