The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
"The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" was a groundbreaking variety show that aired on CBS starting February 5, 1967, featuring the comedic duo of Tom and Dick Smothers. Known for blending folk music with humor, the show became notable for its social commentary and satirical skits that addressed political and religious themes, which often made CBS executives uneasy. At its peak, the program garnered a 36 percent share of the viewing audience, surpassing the popular western "Bonanza." The Smothers Brothers used their platform to highlight issues such as the Vietnam War, with memorable guests like comedian Pat Paulsen, who humorously campaigned for president.
However, the show's progressive approach led to significant censorship challenges, particularly in its second and third seasons, ultimately resulting in its cancellation. While CBS cited rising costs and declining ratings, the Smothers Brothers argued that their controversial content was the primary reason. Although they successfully sued the network, they did not return to regular programming until the following decade on ABC. "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" played a pivotal role in pushing the boundaries of television comedy, demonstrating that few topics were off-limits for satire and social critique.
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Date: Produced February, 1967-June, 1969
A television variety show extremely popular among high school and college-age youth. Tom and Dick Smothers and their guests made satirical comments about sacrosanct topics that provoked censorship.
The Work
The Smothers Brothers, Tom and Dick Smothers, who mixed folk songs with comedy, launched a variety show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) on Sunday, February 5, 1967. The show featured social commentary, utilizing innuendo and satirical skits to emphasize message development. It captured a 36 percent share of the viewing audience, outdrawing the well-established show Bonanza by a 10 percent share. Tom and Dick Smothers attributed the large audience following to the program’s social relevance. Many of the show’s skits and acts dealt with political and religious topics with which the CBS executives were uncomfortable. The Smothers Brothers’ most notable guest was comedian Pat Paulsen, who launched a satirical run for president to complement the 1968 election in a way that older and conservative viewers found highly offensive. In addition, many of the guests and performers, including folksinger Pete Seeger, used the show to make statements against the Vietnam War.
The show started to have major censorship problems with CBS executives shortly after it started its second season; these problems heightened in the third season. CBS canceled the program because the Smothers Brothers had failed to submit a videotape in time for network preview. The comedy duo argued that the program had gotten too controversial and that the network was looking for any excuse to get rid of the show. CBS disagreed with the pair’s statements, pointing out that there was a rising cost issue and that the show’s ratings had started to slip. Also, the network alleged that there was a contract dispute, and that the social climate of the viewers was changing.
The Smothers Brothers successfully sued CBS for the dismissal but were not able to revive their show on a regular basis until the next decade on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) network.
Impact
Other television shows had been censored during the 1950’s and 1960’s, including those that featured entertainers such as Groucho Marx and Jack Paar. However, censorship in these cases was usually limited to the excision of language or specific acts. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour helped to establish that in American television, almost no subject would be too sacred for derisive and satirical treatment.
Additional Information
For further information on the Smothers Brothers and their show, see Broadcasting in America (1982), by Sydney W. Head with Christopher H. Sterling.