"The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" (1967) TV series 1967-1970

Directors:

Bill Davis
Stan Harris

Writer:

Norman Sedawie (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

5 February 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The Smothers Brothers host a comedy variety that would become notorious for its topical satirical humor.

Plot Keywords:

Variety | Political | Summer Of Love | Cult TV | Satire

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Tom Smothers	...	Himself - Co-Host (71 episodes, 1967-1969)
Dick Smothers	...	Himself - Co-Host (71 episodes, 1967-1969)
Pat Paulsen	...	Regular Performer / ... (54 episodes, 1967-1969)
Peter Cullen	...	Announcer / ... (43 episodes, 1967-1970)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Trivia:

The Beatles made occasional appearances on the show, through promotional videos (made in England) of their latest singles, airing as part of the program. George Harrison also turned up in person one night, during a visit to California.

Quotes:

Dick: It's a very difficult situation. People keep spending our money abroad and it's hurting our economy. People keep wanting to travel to other countries instead of staying in the good old United States.
Tom: Yeah, well, the way I think is that, see, President Johnson should just come up with something positive as an inducement to keep the people here.
Dick: But what could the president do to make people want to stay in this country?
Tom: Well he could quit.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who (2007)

Don't Believe Everything You Hear

Lemmee say right up front that, yeah, this was a funny show. I rarely if ever missed it. And it was cutting edge too. Really pushed the envelope. But, that said, you young'uns out there that never got to see it, don't buy into the manufactured swill that it was "censored." It wasn't. Tom and Dick made all the political and social commentary points they wanted to make. They just wanted to take it a step further and posture and pose as "victims" being stepped on.

Just remember, we are talking about 1967 and the few years following, and in those days it was easy to be cutting edge. The times they were a changing. And the Smothers Brothers were right there in the middle of it. But they weren't victims and they weren't censored. CBS (yeah, *that* "see b.s.," of the forged phony lying documents to try to steal an election fame. Yep, *those* guys) tried to hold them to the standards then extant of the Tiffany Network, as CBS was once and then known. Their sponsors, the ones paying for it all, demanded it. That was all.

----UPDATE 02/02/2008----

Okay all you voters, you hate my comment. But I stand by it.

I said it was a good show. I said it was a show I rarely missed. My comment is that the allegations of "censorship" are way overblown. This show suffered from failing ratings. They tried to jack up the ratings by claiming that they were being persecuted, but it didn't work. It couldn't be saved. End of story. Use your common sense.