WHAT'S SO FUNNY? My Hilarious Life

by Tim Conway

Six-time Emmy award-winning funny man Tim Conway, best known for his characters on The Carol Burnett Show, offers a straight-shooting and hilarious memoir about his life on stage and off as an actor and comedian.In the annals of TV history, few entertainers have captured as many hearts, tickled as many funny bones, and brought as many families together in living rooms across America as Tim Conway. In What’s So Funny? he brings his hilarious hijinks from the screen to the page.



Conway’s often-improvised humor, razor-sharp timing, and hilarious characters have made him one of the funniest and most authentic performers to grace the stage and studio. As Carol Burnett has said, “there’s no one funnier” than Tim Conway. In What’s So Funny? Conway takes us on a seventy-year, rags-to-riches journey that is touchingly comical and ultimately inspiring, from his pranks in small Ohio classrooms during the Great Depression to his pitch-perfect performances on national TV and in major motion pictures. Along the way, Conway shares hilarious and often moving accounts of the glory days of The Carol Burnett Show; his famous partnerships with entertainment greats like Harvey Korman, Don Knotts, and Dick Van Dyke; and his friendships with stars like Betty White, Bob Newhart, and, of course, Carol Burnett, who also provides an intimate foreword to the book.



As Conway continues to tour the country giving live comedy performances that enchant his always eager audiences, What’s So Funny? brings his warmth, humor, and heart to delight and inspire fans everywhere.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir, Audiobook, Autobiography, Biography Memoir

Paperback

First published October 29, 2013

About the author

Thomas Daniel "Tim" Conway was an American actor, writer, director, and comedian.

He portrayed the inept Ensign Parker in the 1960s World War II situation comedy McHale's Navy, co-starred on the 1970s variety and sketch comedy program The Carol Burnett Show, starred as the title character in the Dorf series of comedy films, and provides the voice of Barnacle Boy in the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants.

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

While writing a review for Carol Burnett's memoir, This Time Together, I saw that Tim Conway wrote a memoir as well. As a diehard fan of The Carol Burnett Show, my favorite sketches were those played by Harvey Korman and Tim Conway. Naturally, I had to read this book.

It's refreshing to read a memoir not filled with anger, reproach and/or jealousy. This book is written with happy memories of Tim's childhood, his army stint, his career aspirations, his marriages and children, his friends and colleagues, and of course, of his TV high jinks! I loved that this book also included:
1. 16 pages of black-and-white photos - many captions are LOL funny!;
2. a Foreword written by Carol Burnett! I appreciate how this woman was gracious enough to give Tim free rein to vary the scripts which led to some of my favorite memories of her show;
3. Tim's explanations of his inspirations for "The Oldest Man's" shuffling walk and Mr. Tudball's accent;
4. Tim's version of being introduced to Harvey Korman;
5. a chapter titled "Harvey" - my favorite chapter which was both hilarious and heartbreaking; and,
6. a perfect title! His writing had me smiling to outright laughing with tears streaming down my face!

This quote of Tim's says it all: The instant I walk out I forget my troubles and get happy. It's such a comfort to be entertaining you. And I love it when you let me know you're having fun. Laughter has always been what I was after; it's the key to my career and it's the key to my life. Believe me, whatever laughs you had were given with great pleasure and much joy."

On May 14, 2019, the world lost a beloved master of comedy. I bet he and Harvey have the angels rolling in the aisles! A must-read for fans of Tim Conway!

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am about to say something that will get me branded (by some at least) as "an old codger". I really think that at least largely today people have forgotten how to be actually..."funny". I watch TV sitcoms and mostly don't laugh. I mean I sit watching most contemporary stand-up comics with a straight face.

I mean I like Big Bang Theory...I laugh (mostly) at Jeff Foxworthy and a few other comics. I liked some of Jerry Seinfeld's stuff, though far from all. Most (so called) comedians now fall back on "shock" comedy. They found somewhere they could use a profanity or talk about bowel functions and the audience would laugh.

Sort of like preteen boys who think farts are the peak of humor.

When did this start? Has it been "going that way" all throughout history? Was it George Carlin who discovered it for the modern generation of comics? When he released his album The 7 Dirty Words did it all start to go?

I don't know....BUT how many reading this have seen Tim Conway? If you haven't go to Youtube and search for some of his skits on the Carol Burnett Show. According to Ms. Burnett. Mr. Conway and the rest of the crew none of times they broke up on camera were scripted...it was just Tim Conway.

Wait, why should you have to search for the skits:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs1ljs...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKW-sX...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf6csG...


I loved comedy when I was younger...but sadly other than a few older comics things aren't that funny anymore.

This is a great book. Told by Mr. Conway (Tim) we get to know him from his childhood "upward". He touches on the high points of his life and shares them with humor and good will. This is not a memoir where unpleasant secrets are divulged and "muck is raked". It's the story of a good guy and his life.

By the way...I recommend in this this case that if you can you get the audio read by Tim Conway himself. It's worth it...really. I found myself in tears several time, gasping for breath in laughter.

Recommended...really, enjoy.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

“And if I give you a laugh or two, great, and if I don’t, keep it to yourself.”

I grew up with Tim Conway movies. They were wholesome and decent, and kid friendly and so that is what my parents allowed us to watch. I’m glad they did, because I learned what funny was. But I never saw vulgarity and obsceneness. I was raised right.

I listened to Tim Conway’s autobiography WHAT’S SO FUNNY?, and narrator Dick Hill does a good job approximating Mr. Conway’s voice. So much so that I forgot it wasn’t him reading from time to time.

I can’t say I learned a lot in the book, Mr. Conway focuses mostly on the memories of him that have become iconic pop culture moments (the Dentist sketch, break ups on the Carol Burnett Show, etc.) but it is a pleasant reading experience.

What was new to me was the first half of the book which focuses on his life prior to fame. He was an Ohio boy, as am I, and I appreciated his thoughts on childhood and family.

WHAT’S SO FUNNY is a surface level book. Nothing deep or revelatory to it, but it kept my attention while driving, and it’s about a good dude, whose decency and comedy is greatly missed nowadays, so it’s all good for me.
Honestly, I think my experience with this text would have been better if I had read as opposed to listened to it. Not sure why I feel that way.

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always viewed life through Coke bottle lenses. That distortion, that visual twist,brings into focus the things that made me laugh, and even better, the things I can use to make other people laugh.

For me, the world is composed of props. I simply cannot resist them. Most people walk into a room and take an overall view.
Are there windows, who's in the room, where's the nearest place to sit down, things like that. I walk into a room and right away I'll look for something usable. It could be a chair, a vase, a curtain, a paperweight, or even a doorknob, whatever it is I'll find it. I never met a prop I didn't like or that I didn't try to use. I can't help it; it's just the way I am.

I present my new grandparents, Carol Burnett and Tim Conway!
Haha, I wish.. no disrespect meant to my family of course but I would love to add these two to mine:)

Very enjoyable memoir.. it started off slow but interesting for me, but I loved Tim from the start.

I grew up on the old shows but somehow missed Carol's show (or if I saw it, I don't remember ).. Definitely gonna check em out now:)

So many stories of Tim's in here had me smiling and rereading.. I'm still thinking about a few.

I've heard some say that Tim comes across as "too nice".. it didn’t seem that way to me. Just a wonderful, cozy sort of book.

Would recommend:)

The instant I walk out I forget my troubles and get happy. It's such a comfort to be entertaining you. And I love it when you let me know you're having fun. Laughter has always been what I was after; it's the key to my career and it's the key to my life. Believe me, whatever laughs you had were given with great pleasure and much joy.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I confess, I usually like my celebrity memoirs sprinkled with a little dirt but it didn't bother me a whit that Tim had nothing but nice things to say about everyone, especially his friends Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman. Tim's memoir is a touching and hilarious tribute to his parents, friends, and family, and I loved every moment. Some of his personal stories produced giggle fits (Harvey Korman and the plane gas cap is hilarious) and it's fun to read how his classic skits with Carol Burnett were created. For a good "laugh until you cry" video, look up the Carol Burnett Show elephant skit outtake. They just don't create comedy like that anymore.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone who wants a memoir without any mean-spiritedness or profanity.

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Dear Jane,

Without your assistance, this would have been a pamphlet. - Tim"

If you have been around as long as I have, you might just remember Tim Conway, the comedian who graced our television sets with his delightful and unforgettable skits from such memorable shows like The Carol Burnett Show, McHale's Navy as well as movies like Disney's The Apple Dumpling Gang and The Shaggy D.A. But one thing remains clear, he is definitely committed to making people life and that in itself is truly a wonderful gift we all need more of.

In the book, "What's So Funny? My Hilarious Life by Tim Conway and Jane Scovell, the reader gets a look at the life behind the scenes of what made Tim who he is today. Reminiscing about his childhood living in Chagrin Falls, Ohio being the only child to Dan and Sophia Conway, we immediately get a sense that this isn't your usual autobiography. Written in the same manner that we all know Tim there are laughs scattered through this book to guarantee not only a smile but a laugh or two. There are the stories of Tim's mom, Sophia who was so conscientious with money that when it came to wallpapering his room as a young boy, she refused to spend money on wall paper paste and created her own from flour and water. The only problem is during the summer with the heat, it baked the paper and caused it to peel off the walls.

He shares another great example from his childhood about his parents quirks and how much they truly enjoyed each others company.

"They liked to do things together, like dancing. One time they decided to take dancing lessons at a local studio. At the first lesson they were given a strip of paper with two sets of footprints on it, one for the man and the other for the woman. It was a basic dance pattern. The idea was to take the sheet home, put it on the floor, put a record on the phonograph, and step on the appropriate footprints in time with the music. Simple, right? Not for my parents. When I came home from school, I found them standing in the middle of the living room with the music baring from the phonograph. They looked at me sheepishly and asked if I could help them. Help them? How could I help them when what they'd done was cut the footprints from the paper and pasted them on the bottom of their shoes? I guess they figured that would make the shoes magically do the steps. When it didn't happen they were stopped in their glued-on tracks." (pg 33).

There are so many great memories captured in this book from his encounters and friendships with Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Steve Allen, Ernie Anderson, Don Knotts and so many others that this is guaranteed to be a memoir like any other. There are practical jokes he played on police officers, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne as kids from his childhood growing up in school. I think some of the best parts are his time spent on the Carol Burnett show. It had me going back to YouTube to watch such notable episodes like The Dentist skit with Harvey Korman who Tim was challenged to make break down during the skit with laughter. This is truly a great book to enjoy.

I received What's So Funny? by Tim Conway and Jane Scovell compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are strictly my own. I absolutely loved this book. Just the style in which it is written is such a easy going and likeable manner of Tim Conway that you can sense that he has truly enjoyed his life every step of the way. There are some great pictures capture inside that gives you an inside look at the love and laughter as well as personal friendships he has managed to capture after all these almost 80 years with us. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars! Thank you Tim for the memories and the laughter after all these years! You've made life a true joy!

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed a fluff break in my reading, and a title with a question mark in it for a challenge...so I picked this little memoir by Tim Conway. Seems like I grew up knowing about him: I saw him in the old McHale's Navy show when that show was new; I saw him on The Carol Burnett Show. But I never thought about what his personal life might be like, never really wondered about the man behind the characters he played.

Then my Mom ordered this book for herself and passed it on to me, mainly (I imagine) because of the Siamese elephant story. That bit from The Carol Burnett Show has been my favorite blooper for years, and in the final chapter of this book, Tim explains that his line was only supposed to be 'elephant'. Well, that is not exactly the way things turned out. Judge for yourself, here is a YouTube link of the two times the cast tried to get the sketch filmed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qqE_W...

This was a quick and easy read, just what I was in the mood for; and it was interesting to see how Conway tied events from his past to the characters he played on television. A football injury in high school created a situation where he could barely walk for weeks, and the shuffle he used to get around at that time became an integral part of The World's Oldest Man on The Carol Burnett Show. There are no deep hidden complexes and exposed sins here, just a peek into a comedian's life, and an awareness of Conway as himself, which does not seem to be too much different from his goofy characters.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Confession: I don't remember Tim Conway from TV shows or movies. Lately "Carol Burnett & Friends" has been on late night TV and the comedy sketches are side-splittingly funny. The book is written as though the author is telling you about his life over a series of warm, friendly meetings. His life is fodder for his stories which are laugh-out-loud funny, from the antics of his father, who never saw a situation he couldn't improve with a less-expensive alternative, to his own penchant for taking any job that would pay anything. Conway is the gentle prankster that just can't stop himself from taking every golden opportunity that presents itself; even when he is often the fool at the end of the prank. These are stories that are so wonderful you won't want to miss them, even if like me, you may have missed Conway in his original work. Luckily there are many ways to catch his work through DVDs and television. You'll be glad you did. -Suzanne R.

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Call it sentimentality or call it getting older, but my husband and I were recently talking about the fact that our generation may be the last to truly remember the great entertainers of the 20th century. From music legends like Sinatra and Elvis to movie icons such as Katherine Hepburn and John Wayne, they were trailblazers whom our parents adored and we, in turn, could enjoy.

So, too, were there pioneers who lead the way for today’s comedians. What would the world be without Vitameatvegamin? And do you remember “to the moon, Alice”? But I have to say when I look back on television’s funny people one of my all-time favorites is still Tim Conway, whom I consider to be one of those few who can make me laugh just by walking on stage.

His new memoir, What’s So Funny? My Hilarious Life is a wonderful reflection on not only his personal experiences, but Hollywood in its heyday. Co-authored by Jane Scovell and with a foreword by the timeless Carol Burnett, the book is like the man: pleasantly unassuming yet loaded with unexpected humor.

Conway began his life as Toma, later shortened to Tom, in a small town outside of Cleveland as the only child of an Irish father and Romanian mother. (Years later a Hollywood personality suggested he change his name to “Tim” to avoid being confused with another up-and-coming entertainer.) He dreamed of being a jockey, having grown up in the horse business with his father. That dream came to an abrupt and somewhat jarring end when his first ride began and ended in the starting gate (the horse went on but Conway found himself on the ground and searching for another career choice).

His experiences in his early years proved to be a great foundation for the many beloved characters that he brought to life on the small screen. From a brief stint in the military, bumbling Ensign Charles Parker (McHale’s Navy) was borne; Mr. Tudball’s (The Carol Burnett Show) quirky accent was reminiscent of Conway’s own mother. Everyday life gave him endless ideas for creative license and was happily the butt of many of his own jokes.

Conway’s journey to Hollywood is filled with all the great names of the era: Ernest Borgnine, Don Knotts, Bob Newhart, Don Rickles, and of course, Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman (who could forget the dentist skit?) His genius lies in his ability to excel as second fiddle, and recognized that his was never to be a starring role.

What’s So Funny? is a reminder of days gone by, when times were simpler and sketch comedy reigned the airways. Conway is one of the great entertainers of our (and our parents’ and grandparents’) generation and yet maintains a quiet life outside Los Angeles, still rubbing elbows with the big names of another era in American television and being content in his newest role as grandpa. If you enjoy his comedy, then you will equally enjoy this memoir.

[Christina DeVane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun memoir! The best parts were the funny stories from his dad’s life and his personal experiences. Some of the book went on about his friends and all the people he met or worked with which wasn’t as interesting. His dad seemed like a hilarious risk taker! While shooting an injured horse he shot his friend in the foot. He was taking this same friend somewhere in his car who was shouting the whole way, blaming it on his being drunk. Upon arriving he discovered he had shut the friend’s hand in the door! 😳
It was also neat to learn where he got ideas for so many of the Carol Burnett sketches. Mrs. Uh-Wiggins, the slow fireman, the dentist, etc😂

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always liked Tim Conway. he is one of the funniest actor, comedian' guy in the business. I will always have fond memories of him on the Carol Burnett show. this is his memoir. Tim Conway grew up in Ohio. his family moved some. He had a pretty happy childhood. he wrote about his sense of humor back then. sometimes it worked for him. other times not so much like when he was in the army.
Mr.Conway kept his memoir "nice" no "dirt" here. He writes fondly of the people he has worked with. Such As Ernest Borgnine in McHale's Navy Don Knotts. All the Cast on The Carol Burnett show. He has special chapters dedicated to working with Carol, and Harvey. I always thought that Tim Conway seemed like a nice guy. this was a fun quick memoir to read. If you are familiar with Tim Conway's work, you can easily see his voice in his memoir.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

I much prefer watching Tim Conway on TV or stage. I liked hearing some of the background to various skits, but overall I found this read to be quite boring. I don't think Tim's spontaneous personality, which is his reason for being so funny, comes off in a book. As he admits, he needs a star, or partner, to really be funny. Instead of reading another book, I think I'll put in one of my Carol Burnett show DVDs.

[Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's So Funny? Tim Conway! He didn't disappoint! This quick read was very amusing and entertaining while giving us a history of his very interesting life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever enjoyed the talents of Tim Conway. He has shared his humor and entertained us, and now in this book he shares his tender feelings and his wonderful life.

[Julie Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great autobiography from northern Ohio native Tim Conway! I listened to the audiobook version and Tim had me laughing out loud quite often. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys his style of comedy. Tim Conway is proof that it's not necessary to curse or be vulgar to be funny and entertaining.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Tim Conway's book felt no different than sitting on the front porch while he told you his stories (many of which were hilarious.)

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim Conway--funny on stage and off. This was a good biography (more of a biography than a memoir, since it covers his life, so perhaps an autobiography). I have to say that I did enjoy this and there were some moments where I didn't just laugh out loud, I kept on laughing and it slowed my reading pace down. That said, I have a remarkable ability to keep a straight face most of the time and made it through with my stomach muscles pain free and my bladder didn't fail me, unlike a few of the people in his book.

This was Tim Conway, warts and all, and while he probably didn't exaggerate too much about his parents, he carefully selected plenty to show us what a colourful pair they were and he credits them and his upbringing for helping him to be funny. His dyslexia didn't hurt, either, but you have to read the book to understand. Like Carol Burnett, he never hits below the belt nor demeans people, which I appreciate. His story is interesting and, of course, I have seen him on TV, so know who he is.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim Conway....ah yes. The "little old man" who could destroy Harvey Korman and Carol Burnett with a look, causing "corpsing" galore while the audience egged him on. That was back in the day when variety shows were all the go, and humour did not mean "cynicism", "sarcasm" or locker-room jokes larded with profanity. Back in the day when there really were at least seven words you couldn't say on television, comics had to leave it to the audience's imagination--by skilfully planting an idea without expressing it.

Who knew? His parents were first-generation immigrants, one from Ireland, the other from Rumania. His father was "whip" for a foxhunting club (and I have to agree with Conway re: the drag hunt--they could get a lot farther just dragging a hot pastrami sandwich and it would be cheaper, too). He grew up in an actual town called Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and attended an "exempt" school (though what it was exempt from is never made clear). He was also dislexic, before people knew what that meant, and like many dislexics used humour and laughter to deflect the expectations he couldn't meet. It didn't stop him from graduating from Bowling Green University, though.

I found it interesting that he always referred to his mother as "my Sophia", while his father is only called by his name--and really seldom seems to participate directly in his son's life. Well, okay, in those days fathers tended to be gone all day working, but besides being repeatedly told "my dad wasn't much of a talker" when he appears it tends to be making or drinking home brew. Was the gentleman Tim Conway side-stepping the issue of a possibly alcoholic father? He'll never tell. If you're looking for reasons his first marriage came apart after six children (six!), you'll have to look elsewhere, though toward the end he does mention the inadvisability of lying to your wife, "being stupid" and "being a scamp." Hm. I have my idea.

He grew up speaking Rumanian with his mother, and when he started school his teacher thought he couldn't speak English. Tim (Toma in those days) thought he was. Oops. No, he had equated his teacher with his mother, and spoken to her in Rumanian--a language his father never learned.

Interesting.

The good part is that there is no whining, no pleading for affection, no arrogance, and no blame-assigning. Conway is of a generation for whom none of that would be acceptable when talking to perfect strangers. He is under no illusions about his own mistakes, but nor does he feel the need to lay it all out for everyone to mull over. I did snicker, chuckle, snort and even laugh right out loud, several times. Yes, one or two of the anecdotes sound a little too Hollywood to be true (and he himself gives totally different versions of them in live interviews), but 90% of it was believable, and all of it enjoyable.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with many books, I listened to the audio version. I expected this one to be read by Tim, as most celebrity autobiographies are read by the celeb in question. Instead, after a foreword read by Carol Burnett, and a brief intro read by Tim, the book is read by veteran audiobook performer Dick Hill. Dick does a fine job, but inadvertently caused a huge cognitive disconnect for me. Dick also reads the Henning Mankell novels that I enjoy-- tales of gruesome murders in Sweden and the detective who solves them. I’ve listened to so many Mankell books that hearing Dick’s voice now automatically has me expecting mayhem. So, while I enjoyed the tales of Tim’s happy childhood, I kept expecting an ax murderer to appear in Chagrin Falls to kill at least a half-dozen people.

No dirt in this bio. It's an amiable book about an amiable guy and his mostly amiable career, which involved a whole lot more than just the Carol Burnett Show.

[Barth Siemens · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh! I listened to the audio book. Too many times, it felt like Tim was reading a grocery list for the 100th time. He starts the narration by saying something about having read the book and it wasn't that interesting. I'm sure he meant it to be a joke, but his tone at the beginning and through the remainder of the book seems like he meant it a little more than he hoped. Don't listen to this book. Maybe don't even read it. Let your memories of this great comedian remain intact.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't usually read the biographies of entertainers, but I read this one because Tim Conway and I are both from Cleveland, and their are some curious parallels between our early lives. Beyond that, however, he's the funny one.

[Sher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining. As someone who grew up watching the antics of this amazing comedian, I loved reading about his life.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audible 2 for 1 credit sale | I'm risking a lot of annoyed comments, but this was fairly dull. | Most of the book was about as interesting as if you picked up the memoir of that guy who has lived down the street from you for the past 30 years, who retired from some office job, and who stuck pretty close to home away from work. I didn't even crack a smile, let alone a laugh, for the whole listen. Not because I wasn't getting the jokes, but because there weren't many to get. I've loved Carol Burnett's memoirs and the stories behind the show, but Tim's tales were just slow and boring. Listened in a sitting while on a long drive.

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Audio) One of my favorite comedians. I appreciate when individuals talk about their humble beginnings, work hard — really hard, and make it while remaining humble to the end. Loved his Portrayal of Sophie, his Mom.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about the life and career of one of my favorite TV performers. I enjoyed every story and could only wish there had been more of them.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, clean fun. :) Tim Conway is one of those actors that remind you to not take life so seriously. He is down-to-earth, entertaining, and I wish there were more like him around today. His book is a great vacation read, so grab a copy on your way to the beach!

[Bob Goedjen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed in this period of stress and confusion... Laughs and there are many in the book. It truly surprised me as I thought I knew him but he mentions things that I had no idea about like having a stable of horses! Brilliant person and comic

[Mediaman · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a major disappointment--this book about a very funny man is one of the most dull reads you'll ever experience. He spends much of the book focusing on his extremely boring parents, friends and family--while very little of it addresses anything interesting in his life or the shows we're most interested in hearing about. Namely, it's not worth reading.

Here's the first tip: skip the first hundred pages. I can summarize it in a sentence or two. His name is Tom, not Tim, and Tom remains his legal name today (even though his son is named Tim, Jr.?). As hard as it is to believe, he claims to know nothing about his parents' past, their marriage, their jobs, why they moved around, etc. He says he never met any other relative on either side of the family.

He does eventually talk about his entertainment career but it was one that he just fell into by needing a job after getting out of the military and a friend knew of an opening at a radio station. Somehow he gets into comedy but he never tells us how because he had no performance or writing background. It just happens. No real explanation is ever given for anything in his life, how his famous reputation for being on failed shows happened, why he married his first wife or why he broke up his family by divorcing her (he even claims to not remember why the two split). It's incredibly frustrating to read a few stray facts without knowing the background into why he made major decisions. In other words, there is NOTHING to this book.

When he gets to his family he barely mentions his kids, saying he values his privacy (in a memoir???). Then he eventually talks about his TV shows but gives almost no details. He overpraises Carol Burnett constantly, and almost does the same with Ernest Borgnine. He has a terrible habit in the book of repeating things, particularly praise for co-workers (especially a guy named Ernie Anderson, who most of us have never heard of). There are few behind-the-scenes stories and most of the book focuses on other people, not Conway. He seems to have led a very tedious life.

He does, however, relate some stories of how he did illegal things, immoral things, and unethical things--often in the name of trying to be funny. I came away from the book disliking him and realizing that he is much different from the man we would think he would be. He's dull. And so is the book.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's So Funny! Tim Conway, that's who! I listened to this book on Audible and laughed out loud throughout the book.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many people who watched The Carol Burnett Show, I loved to watch Tim Conway crack up Harvey Corman, Carol, Vicki Lawrence, and any guests. Tim is now 80 and sounds a little breathless and stiff sometimes in reading his own story, but his life is a story worth hearing!

Tim's parents gave him a lot of fodder for his comedy. His mother was of Romanian descent and his father emigrated from Ireland. Thomas Daniel Conway was an only child who grew up in the small town of Chagrin, Ohio. He tells of staying with his Romanian-speaking mother until he went to school and on his first day, he spoke to the teacher in Romanian although he understood everything she was saying in English. His father had many mishaps by trying to do things himself, like painting his old black car with yellow paint for striping highways that was given to him. A million bugs stuck to the paint job, so he and Tim had to scrape it and repaint it.

Tim was dyslexic and got a lot of laughs unintentionally in school. He liked the laughter and kept doing things to make folks laugh the rest of his life. He went to Bowling Green College and got a job in radio after graduation. He suffered so many failures in his life, but he has a great, positive attitude and he kept pursuing his dream and finally became a television star on McHale's Navy in the 1960s. He is a very humble man who counts his blessings and loves his life. He tells of meeting some of the big movie stars of his day and being dumbstruck in their presence. Many of his close friends (Harvey Corman, Ernie Borgnine) are gone and he misses them terribly but he continues to find happiness in making others laugh. A few things that impressed me about him are his kindness, his humility, and his ability to be spontaneous. He never resorted to using cursing or putting anyone down. I truly admire the comedic genius of Tim Conway.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve loved Tim Conway since the first time I saw him, and watching him on the Carol Burnett show made me laugh until my jaw and sides hurt. If you saw the show where he walked down the wall instead of the stairs, or where he was talking about an elephant, you know what I mean. When I was in middle school, one of my teachers told us she went to school with him in Willoughby , Ohio (not far from where I lived) and that he was just as funny even as child.

This book lets us into the life and thoughts of this man, who in my opinion is one of the funniest people, and best comedic actors, ever! I know about his childhood and his unusual parents who he calls by their first names, Sophie and Dan. They were very different from my parents, and did quirky, even strange things. There was a part in the audio where he talked about his mom not liking a certain family in the neighborhood, so whenever they saw the family coming up the driveway, they’d shut the curtains and hide under the kitchen table! Another thing that stuck out in my mind was when he was going to New York, and his dad told him to go see his sister who he hadn’t seen for years (after they came to the U.S. from Ireland, they lost contact) and when Tim got to her apartment she wouldn’t open the door, so he talked to her very shortly through the door and then he left. This was after he was famous even. But she said she didn’t watch tv so didn’t really know who he was. All I can figure is that she was older and lived alone in New York so was leery that he was even who he said he was, and too afraid to open the door to a strange man.

I could go on and on, but think you should either read the book or listen to the audio version for yourself. It is a LOL audio that I plan on listening to from time to time, whenever I need a feel good listen or a laugh.

Highly recommended!