Huh. A clip I watched last night had them taking questions from the audience, and one was whether Smothers was their real last name. They said that it indeed was; but then Tommy added 'but we're not brothers'. And after a beat: "We're married".
Of course the laugh was partly at what an *outlandish* notion, two men! But to even suggest such a thing, at that time (long enough ago that Dickie had short hair, and no 'stache) struck me as still being cutting edge. Thank goodness for YouTube; I know what some of my views this evening will be devoted to.
I was in college at a large university with a very active anti-war student body in the mid to late 1960's. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was very popular on our campus. Although their content would be almost bland in today's political landscape, it was pretty radical back then.
Is it just me, or a lot of cultural touch stone personalities from those years dying off all of a sudden?
The local paper ran the story (several paragraphs and a photo) of Tommy Smothers' death above the masthead. They are such conservative bastards I wondered how they would handle it. But points for style and grace. And a quarter-page article on page 2.
I remember watching "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" when I was, like, 5 or 6 years old and I loved them. My right-wing parents, however (even though "right wing" wasn't a thing like it is now, they were simply "conservative" and grew into their far-right views when Fox News entered the game) couldn't stand them. Dad would always grumble "Not THESE two again!" when they would be on the Tonight Show or other talk/variety programs. I'm gonna have to give the Smothers Brothers credit for me being the only "leftie" in the family.
Tom was a perfect fool and foil to Dick’s overbearing straight man. Incidentally it was at The Smothers Brothers live show at the Troubadour in Hollywood in 1974 where a drunk John Lennon and Harry Nilsson were thrown out for heckling and fighting. That’s when Nilsson destroyed his voice trying to emulate and impress Lennon. But “Don’t Forget Me” was produced by Lennon and is a great Nilsson song. Anyway, I think Tom and Dick succeeded because Tom had a genuine sweetness to him. He was likable. He was far brighter and snarkier than he played at and he had great timing. He was a very talented comedian and musician. RIP Tom.
doc, thanks for these links! I was just a tween when these were on our RCA console color TV but I remember being drawn to them even when I didn't understand most of it. It took me years and years to figure out who they were. And who I am. heart emogi
Yeah, I was about the same age as Dok when they were on the air, but I remember watching them. I don't remember how much of the humor I didn't get, of course.
The Brothers were engaging in some typical back-and-forth ("Comedy Hour", IIRC) and Tommy made one of his standard, not-very-smart comments. Dick said, "You're stupid." Tommy, of course, acted flustered and said, "I am not!" Dick said, ""OK, you're ignorant."
Tommy said, "I'm not disputing *that*."
Bought my first (and their first) Smothers Brothers LP (remember those?) when i was about 9. Absolutely wonderful, loved them ever since, adored the CBS show.
This is really, truly, very, very sad news.
Rest in Power, Tommy! They'll never be another like you.
"Our relationship was like a good marriage"
Huh. A clip I watched last night had them taking questions from the audience, and one was whether Smothers was their real last name. They said that it indeed was; but then Tommy added 'but we're not brothers'. And after a beat: "We're married".
Of course the laugh was partly at what an *outlandish* notion, two men! But to even suggest such a thing, at that time (long enough ago that Dickie had short hair, and no 'stache) struck me as still being cutting edge. Thank goodness for YouTube; I know what some of my views this evening will be devoted to.
I was in college at a large university with a very active anti-war student body in the mid to late 1960's. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was very popular on our campus. Although their content would be almost bland in today's political landscape, it was pretty radical back then.
Is it just me, or a lot of cultural touch stone personalities from those years dying off all of a sudden?
It's the common fate of mankind. Those of us in college in the 60s are running out of warranty. We had a good run.
I remember watching their show as a kid, must have been reruns since I was born in 67. My Grandma loved them.
The local paper ran the story (several paragraphs and a photo) of Tommy Smothers' death above the masthead. They are such conservative bastards I wondered how they would handle it. But points for style and grace. And a quarter-page article on page 2.
I remember watching "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" when I was, like, 5 or 6 years old and I loved them. My right-wing parents, however (even though "right wing" wasn't a thing like it is now, they were simply "conservative" and grew into their far-right views when Fox News entered the game) couldn't stand them. Dad would always grumble "Not THESE two again!" when they would be on the Tonight Show or other talk/variety programs. I'm gonna have to give the Smothers Brothers credit for me being the only "leftie" in the family.
Said more with a smirk and a side cut of his eyes than most politicians will say in their entire lives.
I wouldn't be fully who I am today without their influence. It's impossible to overstate their importance to those of us in '60s flyoverland.
Tom was a perfect fool and foil to Dick’s overbearing straight man. Incidentally it was at The Smothers Brothers live show at the Troubadour in Hollywood in 1974 where a drunk John Lennon and Harry Nilsson were thrown out for heckling and fighting. That’s when Nilsson destroyed his voice trying to emulate and impress Lennon. But “Don’t Forget Me” was produced by Lennon and is a great Nilsson song. Anyway, I think Tom and Dick succeeded because Tom had a genuine sweetness to him. He was likable. He was far brighter and snarkier than he played at and he had great timing. He was a very talented comedian and musician. RIP Tom.
Damn, he lost his son earlier this year. That had to have taken a toll on someone already fighting cancer.
doc, thanks for these links! I was just a tween when these were on our RCA console color TV but I remember being drawn to them even when I didn't understand most of it. It took me years and years to figure out who they were. And who I am. heart emogi
Yeah, I was about the same age as Dok when they were on the air, but I remember watching them. I don't remember how much of the humor I didn't get, of course.
The Brothers were engaging in some typical back-and-forth ("Comedy Hour", IIRC) and Tommy made one of his standard, not-very-smart comments. Dick said, "You're stupid." Tommy, of course, acted flustered and said, "I am not!" Dick said, ""OK, you're ignorant."
Tommy said, "I'm not disputing *that*."
Bought my first (and their first) Smothers Brothers LP (remember those?) when i was about 9. Absolutely wonderful, loved them ever since, adored the CBS show.
This is really, truly, very, very sad news.
Rest in Power, Tommy! They'll never be another like you.
I haz a sad. :-(
Mom always did love you best.
I am quietly singing a little song about yelling "Fire" as I fell into a vat of chocolate...RIP Tommy!
I was singing that yesterday after I heard. It must be his requested ritual.
If it wasn't, it should have been
Rob Reiner and Steve Martin were writers on the show
The Big Muddy story wasn’t just a metaphor. Happened at Parris Island. The Marines acquitted the DI who did it, but still...
The Smotherses were not just snarkers. They were also practitioners of silly humor, which is the best and bravest sort of humor.