It was supposed to be a murder mystery — but when Carol Burnett’s “corpse” refused to stay dead, chaos took over the stage. In The Carol Burnett Show’s legendary sketch “Murdered Woman Isn’t Murdered,” every move, cough, and comeback from Carol sends Tim Conway’s detective spiraling into hysterics. The cast breaks, the audience roars, and comedy history is made right before our eyes. Fans still share the clip decades later, calling it the funniest “crime” ever committed on live TV. Because only Carol could turn dying into a laugh so big it lives forever. #CarolBurnettShow #TimConway

It begins like a classic murder mystery — the lights dim, the music swells, and a “dead” woman lies dramatically on the floor. But within seconds, The Carol Burnett Show flips the script, and chaos — glorious, side-splitting chaos — takes over.

In “Murdered Woman Isn’t Murdered,” Carol Burnett plays a supposed corpse who refuses to stay dead, much to the horror (and eventual surrender) of Tim Conway’s bumbling detective. Each time he tries to investigate, Carol “accidentally” moves, coughs, or argues from the floor, sending Conway into his trademark meltdown. The audience can’t contain their laughter — and neither can the cast. At one point, Conway visibly loses it, his composure breaking as Carol’s impeccable timing keeps pushing the bit further.

What makes this sketch unforgettable isn’t just the comedy — it’s the chemistry. Burnett’s fearless improvisation meets Conway’s helpless exasperation in a perfect storm of absurdity. The premise is simple, but the delivery? Masterful. Even the crew reportedly struggled to stay quiet during filming as Burnett turned every missed cue into a comedic gem.

Decades later, “Murdered Woman Isn’t Murdered” remains one of the most replayed clips from The Carol Burnett Show. It’s more than a skit — it’s a reminder of an era when live television thrived on spontaneity, quick wit, and the sheer joy of breaking the rules. As one fan put it online, “Only Carol could make dying so funny you forget to breathe.”

And that’s exactly why, long after the cameras stopped rolling, Carol Burnett and Tim Conway continue to be comedy’s eternal heartbeat — proof that laughter never dies. #CarolBurnettShow #TimConway #ClassicComedy