The television adaptation was directed by George Schaefer (his final film project) and starred Harry Anderson (as the eccentric Elwood P. Dowd), Leslie Nielsen, and Swoosie Kurtz.

Anderson plays the role of Elwood P. Dowd, an amiable but eccentric man whose best friend is an invisible, 6 ft 3+1⁄2 in-tall (1.92 m) white rabbit named Harvey.

His older sister Veta (Kurtz) and his niece Myrtle Mae live with him in his large estate, but have become social outcasts along with Elwood due to his bizarre behaviors in public and his obsession with Harvey.

Dr. Chumley, head of the sanatorium, discovers the mistake and realizes he must bring Elwood back, searching the town with Wilson, an orderly.

Warmed by Elwood's kindness, the cab driver explains how he has driven many people to the sanatorium to receive the same medicine and how they enjoy the ride here, watching the sunset and talking about various things, some real, some not, but on the way back, the same people start shouting at the cab driver, complaining how busy they are and that they are always running short of time.

In the ending scene, Veta and Elwood are seen smiling and playing the piano together in their mansion while an empty chair rocks back and forth, supposedly with Harvey sitting on it.