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That is such sad news. The Smothers Brothers were so talented and gave me so much joy.
I remember his catchphrase to brother Dick, "Mom liked you best". And the "cop" who busted guests for anything "questionable".
They had a similarly short lived variety show in the 70's, which I really liked and never missed, though by then they refused to do the "Mom liked you best" schtick. One of their guests was Olivia Newton John in one of her first American TV appearances. She sang "Have You Never Been Mellow". I remember guest Ringo Starr trying to perform the "No No" song (one of his hits with lyrics about marijuana, cocaine, moonshine whiskey), and the "cop" character (brought back for the new show) coming up on stage to bust him for possession of said marijuana, cocaine, and moonshine whiskey.
I am pleased that Tom Smothers' death is getting plenty of play on the news. He was truly an outstanding comedian (he wrote virtually all of their material), and extremely intelligent. I did love the Smother Brother's TV show back in the day.
I still have their records. I liked one exchange,where Tommy is telling the audience about his brother's wedding:
Tom: "So, after the wedding we headed over to the hotel to watch the conception"
Dick: "Not conception, Tommy, Reception. You went to the hotel for the reception".
Tom: (after appropriate pause): "I think we went to the wrong room".
They also exposed people to a lot of traditional folk songs.
Lol!
I was pretty young when their show was on, but I liked them. My parents were fans and would always watch. At his age, this shouldn't be surprising, but I did hate seeing the headline. What great contribution he brought to the entertainment world.
As a child recall watching the Smothers Bros. show with siblings and parents. Much of the material went right over my head but other bits were fun.
In final seasons Smothers Bros. show became more and more pointed in their satire and such which bothered the suits at CBS along with "The Establishment" including members of Congress and POTUS. They do say Nixon leaned on then powerful CBS president William Paley, to squash the Smothers Bros. show, which he did.
MAJ Thomas Bolyn Smothers Jr. father of the boys died during WWII when being transferred from one Japanese POW camp to another. Death was caused by friendly fire from an Allied pilot who bombed ship transferring prisoners in error. Body was buried at sea.
I suspect that Tom, being the oldest sibling, had at least fleeting memories of his father. And that his death and the circumstances of it deeply affected him, making him against all wars, not just the one in Vietnam.
I was in Syracuse, NY staying in a hotel. Who enters the elevator but Tommy Smothers. I said “Tom, Syracuse, NY?” He pulled out a yo yo. On a promotional tour for Duncan.
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