CBS Evening News for
Friday, Apr 04, 1969
Headline: Smothers Brothers / Television Show Canceled
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(Studio) CBS President Robert Wood regrets cancelling "Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour", but brothers failed to deliver tapes of show consistently in time for review by CBS Bd. Smothers Brothers unavailable for comment.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite
Tommy and Dick Smothers |
The Smothers Brothers are an American music-and-comedy team, consisting of the brothers Tom (or Tommy) (born February 2, 1937) and Dick Smothers (born November 20, 1939). The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs (Tommy on acoustic guitar, Dick on string bass), which usually led to arguments between the siblings. Tommy's signature line was, "Mom always liked you best!" Tommy (the elder of the two) acted "slow," and Dick, the straight man, acted "superior."
In the 1960s, the brothers frequently appeared on television variety shows and issued several popular record albums of their stage performances. Their own television variety show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, became one of the most influential and controversial American TV programs of the Vietnam War era. Despite popular success, the brothers' penchant for material that was critical of the political mainstream (and sympathetic to the emerging counterculture) led to their program's cancellation by the CBS network in 1969.
The brothers continued to work, both independently and as a team, on stage, on television and in films during subsequent decades. They continue to tour the country as the longest-lived comedy team in history; 2008 marks their 50th year performing together.
Wikipedia
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As a teenager I looked forward to watching The Smothers Brothers on television.
I enjoyed their comedy routines.
The viewers never knew what was going to come out of Tommy’s mouth next.
Their music was folk music…which wasn't my thing, but their variety show had some good talent.
It was another one of those shows that you watched as a family (although, not with younger children).
And, during the Vietnam war, it just fit in with the times.
