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Rhiannon12866

(202,965 posts)
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 01:45 AM Jul 2019

The Smothers Brothers mark their CBS firing 50 years ago

NEW YORK (AP) — Getting fired from work isn’t usually a cause to celebrate. But the Smothers Brothers aren’t your run-of-the-mill comedians.

The duo has stepped out of retirement to commemorate the day 50 years ago when CBS canceled their show over their political impudence.

Tom and Dick Smothers — aged 80 and 82 respectively — reunited Monday for several appearances at the Chautauqua Institution and the nearby National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York.

“It’s really an honor to be honored in this way,” Tom Smothers told The Associated Press on the eve of the events. “At least we’re both alive and not having someone speak for us. We can mumble our own way through.”

The two discussed their firing in an onstage discussion and later unveiled a display of archival material they donated to the center, including their iconic red suit jackets, Tom’s guitar and Dick’s bass, scripts and creative papers, and legal documents.


Read more: https://apnews.com/6e2df9337df04d459f66d519d1daa5aa




FILE - This Oct. 29, 2002 file photo shows The Smothers Brothers, Tom Smothers, left, and Dick Smothers at the Kennedy Center in Washington for the Mark Twain Prize for Humor Award ceremony honoring Bob Newhart. The duo has stepped out of retirement to commemorate the day 50 years ago when CBS canceled their show over their political impudence. The pair reunited Monday, July 29, 2019, for several appearances at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson, File)

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The Smothers Brothers mark their CBS firing 50 years ago (Original Post) Rhiannon12866 Jul 2019 OP
Impudence is a good word for their comedy. murielm99 Jul 2019 #1
I remember watching with my parents, they were always favorites in our house Rhiannon12866 Jul 2019 #2
The best. Nt BootinUp Jul 2019 #3
The Smothers Brothers were important... ProudMNDemocrat Jul 2019 #4
Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour - Mama Cass - Harry Belefonte - Pat Paulson - 3rd season opening Rhiannon12866 Jul 2019 #7
I vote for Paulson for POTUS and Dick BigmanPigman Jul 2019 #8
We sure could - and have - done worse, then and now! Rhiannon12866 Jul 2019 #9
They were so sharp and clever... BigmanPigman Jul 2019 #11
And compare that to CBS today Rhiannon12866 Jul 2019 #13
Steve Martin and Mason Williams were writers for them, as well. Dave Starsky Jul 2019 #22
They were the first A-listers I ever heard come out against Nixon and the war. pecosbob Jul 2019 #5
My parents had most of their albums, remember listening to them all the time Rhiannon12866 Jul 2019 #6
The Purple Onion was a small but legendary club TexasBushwhacker Jul 2019 #39
and next week, direct from london...the beatles nt msongs Jul 2019 #10
I sent this to my Dad proud patriot Jul 2019 #12
Oh, very cool! My Dad was a big fan, too! Rhiannon12866 Jul 2019 #14
Here's the whole documentary about their censorship battles; "Smothered" Dennis Donovan Jul 2019 #15
Thanks so much! And did you notice who was in the Opening?? Rhiannon12866 Jul 2019 #19
I always thought they were boring as hell. Couldn't stand the show. Vinca Jul 2019 #16
You thought they were boring? Dave Starsky Jul 2019 #23
Uh . . . no. Not into westerns either Vinca Jul 2019 #33
There always was a war in our house over which one we'd watch. Dave Starsky Jul 2019 #36
Hmmm . . . I think we had the same Grandma. LOL. Vinca Jul 2019 #37
Great thread malaise Jul 2019 #17
We need something to make us smile these days Rhiannon12866 Jul 2019 #18
Indeed malaise Jul 2019 #20
Awwww! Well, kids can do it, too - they're our hope for a better future Rhiannon12866 Jul 2019 #21
I watched them religiously. They were the resistance on weekly. spanone Jul 2019 #24
Either Wikipedia or the AP has their ages wrong. sl8 Jul 2019 #25
I believe Tom IS the eldest but their act implied Dick was older and more mature. Gidney N Cloyd Jul 2019 #35
Tommy is definitely older, but I would have guess 4-6 years older Brother Buzz Jul 2019 #38
Loved them and their wit. sinkingfeeling Jul 2019 #26
Loved their show. Subtle and dry at times. Glad to see they're still around. n/t Liberal In Texas Jul 2019 #27
I remember seeing a skit with an awful rw uncle. The punchline was a parchment copy of the Bill empedocles Jul 2019 #28
I remember the Pat Paulsen "editorial" on Censorship MurrayDelph Jul 2019 #32
Ah, the Pat Paulsen deadpan empedocles Jul 2019 #34
Their TV show was great but to see them live was a real hoot! GemDigger Jul 2019 #29
Enjoyed their show, but they whined too much about their termination. (nt) Paladin Jul 2019 #30
I loved the Smothers Brothers! ellie Jul 2019 #31
My parents were hardcore conservatives, Mendocino Jul 2019 #40
I know that my parents voted for Nixon, but the Smothers Brothers were always on at our house Rhiannon12866 Jul 2019 #41
YEs to everything above except the person who was bored by them BUT... PCIntern Jul 2019 #42

murielm99

(30,655 posts)
1. Impudence is a good word for their comedy.
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 01:57 AM
Jul 2019

I enjoyed their show so much.

I remember one joke where Tommy was dissing LBJ. His brother stopped him and told him that LBJ had a tough job. "How would you like to trade jobs with him?" he asked his brother.

Tommy said, "No, I wouldn't like that. I would not trust him with my show."

People did not say things like that on TV in those days.

Rhiannon12866

(202,965 posts)
2. I remember watching with my parents, they were always favorites in our house
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 02:01 AM
Jul 2019

My parents also had a lot of their albums. And my parents usually voted Republican, but they were also liberals. How things have changed.

ProudMNDemocrat

(16,468 posts)
4. The Smothers Brothers were important...
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 02:13 AM
Jul 2019

For their contributions to political discourse in introducing the sublime, but very funny Pat Paulsen. Not to mention, Glen Campbell was a regular guest who got his own show eventually.


"Mom liked you best," was Tom Smothers favorite line.

Rhiannon12866

(202,965 posts)
9. We sure could - and have - done worse, then and now!
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 03:26 AM
Jul 2019

I loved that show - my parents had it on all the time!

BigmanPigman

(51,430 posts)
11. They were so sharp and clever...
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 03:42 AM
Jul 2019

CBS was too conservative and shortsighted to see that their immense talent was appreciated by almost everyone else. They deserved much better treatment from CBS.

*They had great musical guests too.

Rhiannon12866

(202,965 posts)
13. And compare that to CBS today
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 03:54 AM
Jul 2019

I was thinking of Stephen Colbert - who I just posted. My parents watched and enjoyed the show and I know they voted for Nixon. As for their guests, yikes! I was looking through the YouTube videos and their show was a catalog of the greats of the time - who we still admire today!

Dave Starsky

(5,914 posts)
22. Steve Martin and Mason Williams were writers for them, as well.
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 08:37 AM
Jul 2019

There was a lot of brilliant talent feeding that show.

pecosbob

(7,502 posts)
5. They were the first A-listers I ever heard come out against Nixon and the war.
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 02:26 AM
Jul 2019

They will always be respected for their decision. I also always respected Nolan Ryan the baseball pitcher for sacrificing a large part of his career to military service. Funny how that respect thing swings both ways.

I had a record of their performance at the something (maybe Purple?) Onion when I was a kid. I always thought of them as a funny Pete Seeger.

Rhiannon12866

(202,965 posts)
6. My parents had most of their albums, remember listening to them all the time
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 02:49 AM
Jul 2019

I probably would remember most of the words.

Dave Starsky

(5,914 posts)
36. There always was a war in our house over which one we'd watch.
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 02:14 PM
Jul 2019

They were on different networks at the same time. Such was life long before VCRs.

Grandma was always firmly in the Bonanza camp, but she'd make an exception if that "nice, smiling boy from Arkansas" (Glen Campbell) was going to be on The Smothers Brothers.

Rhiannon12866

(202,965 posts)
18. We need something to make us smile these days
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 06:11 AM
Jul 2019

It's not always easy, but The Smothers Brothers are still funny!

malaise

(267,784 posts)
20. Indeed
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 06:15 AM
Jul 2019

although I had some family in town with two adorable kids. The bigger one had me howling with laughter for four days.

Rhiannon12866

(202,965 posts)
21. Awwww! Well, kids can do it, too - they're our hope for a better future
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 06:18 AM
Jul 2019

And when I get down after reading the news on DU, I look in The Lounge for puppies. They make me smile too.

sl8

(13,584 posts)
25. Either Wikipedia or the AP has their ages wrong.
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 09:03 AM
Jul 2019

Wikipedia says that Tom is the eldest.

Either way, I never realized how young they were when they hosted their show.

Brother Buzz

(36,212 posts)
38. Tommy is definitely older, but I would have guess 4-6 years older
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 02:47 PM
Jul 2019

Tommy was always the brains and creative genius of the act, and Dick was the reluctant straight man. Other than a decent singing voice, Dick was an empty suit. Hell, he initially used the bass as a prop because he didn't even know how to play it.


Why are you lying? National policy.

empedocles

(15,751 posts)
28. I remember seeing a skit with an awful rw uncle. The punchline was a parchment copy of the Bill
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 09:41 AM
Jul 2019

Rights, stamped , CENSORED

The uncle declared, 'that should not be allowed.'

I met Tommy Smothers once, at a Stewart Mott sponsored confab in DC. Talked a bit. Tommy lived to his reputation, of living his character. The 'Mom liked you [Dickie] best' motif was a powerful driver.

Good to see that their faces are still so recognizable at their 80's.

MurrayDelph

(5,278 posts)
32. I remember the Pat Paulsen "editorial" on Censorship
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 12:22 PM
Jul 2019

"We're allowed to say Ronald Reagan was a lousy actor, but we're not allowed to say he's a lousy Governor.

"That's ridiculous; everyone knows he was a good actor."

GemDigger

(4,305 posts)
29. Their TV show was great but to see them live was a real hoot!
Tue Jul 30, 2019, 10:33 AM
Jul 2019

The audience was laughing so hard and loud that they had to pause to let us get it together. Of course with them taunting us to hush up just made us howl louder. It was 30 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday.

Mendocino

(7,430 posts)
40. My parents were hardcore conservatives,
Wed Jul 31, 2019, 01:37 AM
Jul 2019

but they would watch the Smothers Brothers... So were my siblings, I was the hippie.

Rhiannon12866

(202,965 posts)
41. I know that my parents voted for Nixon, but the Smothers Brothers were always on at our house
Wed Jul 31, 2019, 01:44 AM
Jul 2019

And my parents had numerous Smothers Brothers albums! We loved them! From my perspective now, my parents were pretty liberal - back in the day when liberal Republicans existed.

PCIntern

(25,341 posts)
42. YEs to everything above except the person who was bored by them BUT...
Wed Jul 31, 2019, 06:20 AM
Jul 2019

It was David Steinberg's work that got them in REAL hot water with CBS.

I refer people to the HBO documentary: Quality Balls which is the biography of Steinberg. I watched Smothers Brothers as a kid and was amazed at their intellect, wit, and bravery.

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