RIP: A comedy legend - Tom Smothers, 86
Dec. 27th, 2023 01:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thewayneTom was the older of the musical comedy duo, The Smothers Brothers, playing the 'dumb' one to his brother Dick's more straight man. They had a show on CBS for three seasons during the '60s that was quite controversial and surprisingly successful, slamming all sorts of norms. It criticized the government, the involvement in Vietnam, and finally the network pulled the plug after claiming that they did not submit the show to network censors in a timely enough fashion.
The duo continued to tour and eventually got an anniversary show back on CBS. In a monumental feat of bad timing, it was during a writer's strike! However, the Screen Writer's Guild recognized the importance of their show, both historically and the anniversary, and gave them a waiver to let the show be made and broadcast. And one of the opening numbers had the entire writing cast on stage performing 'Ghost Writers In Disguise' with all of them in tuxedos and wearing Groucho Glasses. It was lovely seeing Steve Martin out there in Groucho Glasses, this show was one of his first big writing gigs when he was starting out.
In 2008, the brothers were awarded a lifetime Emmy for their achievements, it was presented by Steve Martin. Late in their careers they bought a winery and vineyard in California that apparently bottled pretty good stuff.
The Rolling Stone article has a video of The Who performing My Generation on their show in 1967. I don't think I ever saw video of The Who performing in that era, it's really good!
And I had completely forgotten about Yo-Yo Man! Tom was so good with that thing, I was always lousy. I could usually make it go up and down and that was about it.
https://variety.com/2023/music/news/tom-smothers-dead-smothers-brothers-1235851343/
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/tom-smothers-comedy-smothers-brothers-dead-obituary-1234936771/
The duo continued to tour and eventually got an anniversary show back on CBS. In a monumental feat of bad timing, it was during a writer's strike! However, the Screen Writer's Guild recognized the importance of their show, both historically and the anniversary, and gave them a waiver to let the show be made and broadcast. And one of the opening numbers had the entire writing cast on stage performing 'Ghost Writers In Disguise' with all of them in tuxedos and wearing Groucho Glasses. It was lovely seeing Steve Martin out there in Groucho Glasses, this show was one of his first big writing gigs when he was starting out.
In 2008, the brothers were awarded a lifetime Emmy for their achievements, it was presented by Steve Martin. Late in their careers they bought a winery and vineyard in California that apparently bottled pretty good stuff.
The Rolling Stone article has a video of The Who performing My Generation on their show in 1967. I don't think I ever saw video of The Who performing in that era, it's really good!
And I had completely forgotten about Yo-Yo Man! Tom was so good with that thing, I was always lousy. I could usually make it go up and down and that was about it.
https://variety.com/2023/music/news/tom-smothers-dead-smothers-brothers-1235851343/
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/tom-smothers-comedy-smothers-brothers-dead-obituary-1234936771/
