The Carol Burnett Show produced countless iconic sketches, but few are as delightfully absurd as the courtroom scene featuring Tim Conway as a mischievous bunny. With Carol Burnett, Conway, and the rest of the talented cast, audiences were guaranteed not just laughter — sometimes even the performers themselves couldn’t hold it together.
The scene opens in a traditional courtroom setting. A lawyer addresses the jury, describing the defendant as a devious, almost villainous figure. The audience braces for the dramatic proceedings — and then Conway appears.
Dressed in a suit with floppy ears, a pink mustache, and exaggerated whiskers, Conway chomps on a carrot as if it’s part of the official court proceedings. He is the ultimate “Bunny Defendant,” and his presence immediately turns the courtroom upside down.
The sketch cleverly channels the spirit of classic cartoons. Conway’s bunny has been accused of painting a faux tunnel on a neighbor’s wall, reminiscent of Bugs Bunny’s famous antics. What follows is a series of comedic hijinks: the lawyer drinks paint thinking it’s milk, his hands are stuck to the witness stand, and the bunny’s antics escalate with perfectly timed pauses and subtle expressions.
The scene builds to a chaotic climax worthy of any Looney Tunes finale. The frustrated lawyer demands the bunny hand over his carrot — only to receive a stick of dynamite instead. Every line, every gesture, is timed to perfection, creating unstoppable laughter that echoes from the stage to the audience and beyond.
What makes this sketch unforgettable isn’t just the absurdity, but Conway’s genius in executing it. He didn’t need elaborate setups or punchlines; his expressions, timing, and subtle reactions were enough to make the room erupt. Even the cast managed to stay in character, holding back laughter as the chaos unfolded.
Decades later, the sketch still circulates online, a reminder of the pure joy of live comedy. Conway’s bunny isn’t just a character — it’s a masterclass in mischief, timing, and how a single actor can turn the ordinary into sheer hilarity.
As Job 8:21 reminds us, “The time will come when your mouth will be full of laughing, and cries of joy will come from your lips.” This sketch is that very moment brought to life.