The Smothers Brothers are back, taking their show on the road
Tom and Dick Smothers had no intention of returning to the spotlight at this time in their lives. In particular, they didn’t anticipate appearing on CBS, the network that notoriously canceled its top-rated program in 1969, the program that flipped prime-time television on its head.
Dick played the straight man on the bass, and Tommy played the guitar. Looking back, we seem so innocent, sincere, and pure, said Dick.
Do you remember thinking of yourselves as stand-up comedians at first? said reporter Lee Cowan.
“No. We considered ourselves to be folk singers “Tom answered.
They became popular almost immediately. It seemed virtually unimaginable at the time that “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” would surpass “Bonanza” in the ratings just two weeks after the program’s debut. Dick said, “It was just the most excitement, it was fantastic!”
Particularly during their well-known episodes of sibling rivalry, they were extremely endearing. “Mom liked you the most!” They claim that in reality, their conflicts backstage wasn’t all that dissimilar from those they had on stage. We were actually interacting so terribly, according to Tom, that he booked up a session for relationship counselling.
Dick said, “Because we’re a pair. “This chamber contained it. Right now.”
“It was quite helpful to us. It had a significant impact.”
“Yeah. This extended our career.”
Their youth was what CBS, which was having trouble attracting a younger audience, found appealing. Dick and Tom were just 29 and 30 years old, respectively, when their show premiered in February 1967, making them both still sufficiently young to be affected by the 1960s’ social and political upheavals, Tommy in particular.
Dick: “As citizens, our government is requesting that us refrain from visiting other countries.”
Tommy: “All right, Vietnam, get out of here!”
Although Tommy claims he wasn’t particularly political, he was socially sensitive, and nothing was off-limits for him and the other writers of the show (including Steve Martin and Rob Reiner).
“We are going to give our President Nixon our full support for the start of his term, and lay off the jokes altogether,” said Tommy.
“That’s right,” says Dick.
Tommy: “We’ll be able to get to him; he’s going to be in office for at least four years.”
Even the musical guests on the program were prominent members of the counterculture, such as Pete Seeger, who performed the anti-war classic “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy.” Nothing we ever did was premeditated, according to Tom. “Never did we do anything to attract notice. We just finished it. And if it garnered attention, I vowed to repeat the action. Maybe people will pay greater attention to us.”
As their humor became more cutting-edge, the CBS censors began honing their scissors, removing offensive material, occasionally entire acts, which put Tommy on the defence. “I felt insulted. Why am I not allowed to say that, you ask? It suddenly developed into something more.”
So when they began to cut more and more, Cowan questioned, “You kept sort of prodding the bear more and more though, right?”
Dick: “A comedy duo is similar to a married couple. It resembles a 50-year marriage in length.”
Lots much fighting but no sex, Tom
Speaking of marriages, Tommy served as the Flower Boy during Dick’s most recent fifth wedding in September.
They assert that it is more crucial than ever to be a family. Tommy and Dick only get together three or four times a year; Tommy lives on his vineyard in Northern California, and Dick is currently residing in upstate New York.
Together, the Smothers Brothers were always more effective. Their friendship endured criticism and ultimately paved the path for a lot of what still makes us laugh today.
Tom stated: “Laughing people are holy. The best thing ever is to be able to influence, control, and create that.”
Added Dick “When asked, “What’s the best day in your life,” I replied, “Standing on that platform, having that feeling with that audience, with my brother standing a few inches to my right.” That sums up my entire existence. Nothing is superior.”
The Smothers Brothers
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