“It is part of the price of leadership of this great and free nation to be the target of clever satirists.”
–President Lyndon B. Johnson, in a letter to the Smothers Brothers
When The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour premiered on CBS in February of 1967, the show was just a slightly “hipper” version of other variety shows that peppered the airwaves at the time. However, the series quickly evolved into something that pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable on television at the time. While the Smothers Brothers took the lead in this effort, the series had the help the help of some individuals who would go on to become some of comedy’s biggest stars. Steve Martin, Don Novello (“Father Guido Sarducci”), Rob Reiner, Presidential candidate Pat Paulsen, Bob Einstein (“Super Dave Osborne” and “Officer Judy”), Einstein’s brother, Albert (who works professionally as Albert Brooks), and resident hippie Leigh French (“Share a Little Tea with Goldie”). The show also introduced audiences to pop singer Jennifer Warnes (originally billed as Jennifer Warren), who was a regular on the series.
By their third season, The Smothers Brothers had largely done away with the traditional variety show format. Instead, they embraced the counter-counterculture lifestyle that was gripping the youth of America and openly questioned United States involvement in the Vietnam War. They constantly battled with network censors over their attempts to openly confront police brutality during the Democratic National Convention, and to have the gall to produce skits that poked fun at religious orthodoxy.
Though the show was called The Comedy Hour, music played a big part in the proceedings. The hosts themselves always played a couple of songs; with Tommy on guitar and Dick on his bass, they were usually tough-in-cheek little ditties about issues of the day or songs from their childhood. During that third season, The Smothers Brothers had an impressive roster of musical guests. For instance, show 213 which aired on December 15, 1968 featured two songs by Jim Morrison and the Doors, “Wild Child” and “Touch Me.”
No discussion of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour would be complete without mentioning Pat Paulsen. At first he was cast as an editorialist but his deadpan humor made him a star. He ran for President in 1968, using the slogan “Just a common, ordinary, simple savior of America’s destiny” and responded to all criticisms with his catchphrase, “Picky, picky, picky”. During his 1968 Presidential run, Paulsen’s main vehicle was The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. The final episode included in the set is the entire Pat Paulsen for President program that ran just two weeks before the election. Paulsen actually got some write-in votes though he wasn´t able to edge out Richard M. Nixon. One example of Paulsen´s dry humor: he sets up a kissing booth with two pricing tiers: 25 cents for plain, 50 cents for “fancy.”
This is not the complete Season Three, only a “best of.” I have no idea if there are plans to release the complete season. There are 11 episodes on 4 Discs. The episodes are not presented in chronological order. Each episode is 45-50 minutes long.
EPISODE GUIDE
DISC ONE
SHOW 202 – Sep 29, 1968
Guests: Harry Belafonte, Cass Elliott, Pat Paulsen and Rosey Grier
Belafonte performs three songs, including “Don´t stop the Carnival” which the network didn´t broadcast because it was performed to images from the Democratic National Convention.
Cass Elliott provides a reminder that she had one of the greatest voices of her generation while singing “California Earthquake” and “Dream a Little Dream of Me.”
SHOW 212 – Dec 8, 1968
Guests: Bob Newhart, The First Edition (w/Kenny Rogers), West Coast Cast of “Hair”
The Cast of “Hair” performs Aquarius/Hair/The Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In).
First Edition performs “But You Know I Love You”
Steve Martin briefly appears in this episode.
SHOW 213 – Dec 15, 1968
Guests: George Carlin, The Doors
The Doors sing “Wild Child” and “Touch Me.”
Tom and Dick go electric to perform “Red River Valley.”
SHOW 219 – Feb 16, 1969
Guests: Liberace, David Frye
Liberace performs several songs integrated into comedy bits. This episode won an Emmy.
DISC TWO
SHOW 209 – Nov 17, 1968
Guests: Donovan, Dion, and George Harrison
Harrison only makes a brief appearance at the beginning to show solidarity with the Smothers boys. He doesn´t sing.
Donovan performs “Lalena,” “Happiness Runs,” and “I Love My Shirt”
Dion, performs “Abraham, Martin, and John.”
SHOW 216 – Jan 19, 1969
Guests: Jackie Mason, Ray Charles
Ray Charles sings “I Can´t Stop Loving You” and “You Made Me Love You.”
SHOW 221 – March 2, 1969
Guests: Joey Bishop, Judy Collins, Jonathan Winters
Bishop makes a brief cameo. Collins sings “Someday Soon” and “My Father.”
SHOW 225 – April 13, 1969
Guests: The Ike & Tina Turner Revue, Mason Williams
Ike and Tina sing “River Deep, Mountain High”, “I´m Gonna Do All I Can (To Do Right by My Man” and “Land of 100 Dances.”
Losing presidential candidate Pat Paulsen makes another appearance.
DISC THREE
SHOW 223 – Mar 30, 1969
Guests: Jackie Mason, Joan Baez
Baez sings “Sweet Sir Galahad” and “Green, Green Grass of Home.” This episode also met with the wrath of censors when Baez´s dedication of “Green, Green Grass” to her husband David Harris, about to be jailed for war protests, was cut off.
SHOW 226- Never Aired
Guests: Dan Rowan, David Steinberg, Gospel singer Nancy Wilson
This was the episode that got the Smothers Brothers fired by CBS. David Steinberg returned to do another comic sermonette and CBS wasn’t happy about it. Seen today, Steinberg´s routine is fairly tame.
SHOW 227 – April 20, 1969
Guest: Anthony Newley
This was the last episode of the season and the entire show. The boys plead with the audience to send in letters of support: Tommy reads a glowing letter from former President Lyndon Johnson. It didn´t work.
DISC FOUR
SHOW 205 – Oct 20, 1968
“Pat Paulsen for President”
A fake documentary (long before such a thing ever became popular) narrated by Henry Fonda, this hour-long program gathers clips of “non-candidate” Pat Paulsen on the “non-campaign” trail as well as clips from his numerous appearances on the “Smothers Brothers” show. Of all the episodes in this set, this has probably suffered the most with age, but it´s still very funny.
The episodes are presented in their original full-screen broadcast ratios. The interlaced transfers are not restored, and the quality is mediocre. There is quite a bit of video flicker evident in the transfers and the colors can only be described as sickly-looking you’ll notice some serious orange, brown feel to everything but this set is still well worth watching.
The discs are presented in Dolby Digital Stereo. The audio quality is adequate. We might hope for more considering how many musical numbers there are, but again, considering the age of these shows it’s probably as good as it can be. No subtitles are provided.
There are quite a few extras spread out among the four DVDs. Here is a list:
• Episode Introductions by the Smothers Brothers
• Interviews with guests and collaborators (1992-1993)
• Tom’s Audio Reflections
• “A New Fable for Our Time”
• Rehearsal Footage shot for 60 Minutes
• 1969 Emmy Awards clip
• “Mom Always Liked You Best”
• Jackie Mason Dress Rehearsal
• Joan Baez Dress Rehearsal and Alternate Take
• Episode Promos
• Smothers Brothers 2000 Reunion at the US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, CO
• Smothers Brothers Letter to LBJ and Response
• Donald Rumsfeld “Department of Peace” Letter
• CBS Documents
• Photo Galleries
• Tom’s Final Reflections
• “Pat Paulsen for President” Special
• Robert Kennedy with Pat Paulsen and Tom Smothers
• Interview Outtakes from the Special
• Pat Paulsen at the White House
• Pat Paulsen at the 1968 Democratic National Convention
• Pat Paulsen Comedy Club Act from 1992
• “Pat Paulsen’s Malignant Humor”
• “Pat’s Memorial Humor”
• E! Intro Segments
• Photo Gallery
• 16-Page Booklet
It’s wonderful to finally have some of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on DVD. The boys broke barriers for comedians that came after them and deserve credit for doing so. It is worth noting that In September 2008, during the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, Tommy Smothers, a lead writer of “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” was belatedly awarded a 1968 Emmy for Outstanding Writing In A Comedic Series. In 1968, Tommy Smothers had refused to let his name be on the list of writers nominated for the Emmy because he felt his name was too volatile, and thus when the writing staff won he was the only member not to receive the award. So it seems fitting that forty years later, younger generations of Americans who never saw The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour can see it for the first time and those that did, can finally add it to their personal collections.
