Posted on 12/27/2023 12:56:37 PM PST by 11th_VA
He and his brother, Dick, "turned television upside down" on 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour' before they were canned.
Tom Smothers, the countercultural comedy icon admired for the 1960s variety program he created and hosted with his younger brother, Dick, and for the tenacity he displayed in frequent clashes with CBS censors, has died. He was 86.
Smothers died peacefully Tuesday at his home in Santa Rosa, California, after a battle with cancer, his brother said in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter by a spokesperson for the National Comedy Center.
“Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner,” Dick, 84, said. “I am forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with him, on and off stage, for over 60 years. Our relationship was like a good marriage — the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another. We were truly blessed.”
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour ran from February 1967 until April 1969, when the pair were fired after 72 episodes (and with their show in the top 10 and already renewed for a fourth season). Up against NBC powerhouse Bonanza at 9 p.m. on Sunday nights, their program succeeded by attracting younger, hipper, more rebellious viewers — while also launching the careers of Steve Martin, Rob Reiner, Bob Einstein, Mason Williams and many others…
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And at least they were against the war when LBJ was still in the White House, as opposed to those who only climbed on the anti-war bandwagon once Nixon became President.
Jennifer Warnes and Mason Williams were introduced, to us, by their show also.
I produced a stage play with Tommy Smothers back in 2012. He was a fun guy to hang out with, except when some roses were delivered to the theater for Tommy. When I handed the box to him, he asked me who they were from. Trying to be cute, I said “probably Rush Limbaugh”. My comment triggered him into a 10 minute tirade against conservatives. I’ve never wanted to take back something I said so badly.
Rest in peace, Tommy. Prayers to Marcy.
Stan Laurel, Groucho Marx et al, comedic talent
You started to laugh before they did anything.
May God grant eternal rest.
Me too! What a great couple of guys.
Steve Martin was in their band.
I’d run into him a few times at a club I had managed. Nice guy. Funny thing. He was one of those guys that swore like a sailor in all his private conversations.
“f” this and “G” “D” that in every sentence. No malice. Just the way he talked.
They were certainly anti-war which is now considered right wing. Times, they are a changing.
I saw Dick Smothers numerous times cycling by Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas.
They were great back in the day. Some real funny stuff there.
Don’t like seeing folks leaving us.
IIRC, my choices were either watch Bonanza or go to bed early for school the next day.
*
go to bed early for school the next day.
What’s that like?
I don’t think I’ve ever done that.
His mom always liked his brother best.
Yes, they had Pete Seeger on their show and he sang ‘Waist Deep in the Big Muddy’ - that was the last straw for CBS.
It is seen as stupid and pointless only because we lost imo. If we had won it, which we easily could have, most people would not see it as stupid and pointless today. It basically was won, until the Democrats, with a post-Watergate leftist Congressional majority, cut off all military aid to S. Vietnam, in order to bring about their collapse.
Thanks for those personal stories !
Sorry! That was Dick Smothers. Tom, the Yoyo guy, was not the potty mouthed one.
Yep. Never did care for them that much.
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