# Tom Smothers has died **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [December 27, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239 "2023-12-27T16:11:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/21 "2023-12-27T19:20:12Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > **Awe.** ‘Filled with **awe**.’ > > I’ve had a lot more typos since I crushed my hand in the log splitter. ☹ That’s sounds as horrible as the line “a voice filled with axe” would be wonderful. Sorry for both mishaps. I watched as much Smothers as possible when I was in high school. Fortunately my parents weren’t fans of Bonanza. That a pair of folk singers in their 30s perfectly caught the emerging teen audience remains amazing. The bands, the comedy, the skits, all spoke directly to us. Once Nixon was elected they were doomed. CBS CEO William Paley was a friend of Nixon’s. The battles and the eventual cancellation order came straight from the top. Looking back, not a thing would have changed whether the show stayed on the air or not. A lot of people sadly made themselves martyrs to gain nothing. Except good memories. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/22 "2023-12-27T19:25:38Z")
I was introduced to them with their 1988/89 revival. Fifteen year old me found it hilarious. Really was comedy from a completely other era of humour. The bits that didn’t work were when they strived too hard for a racy punchline, but then the most “dangerous” stuff from the sixties incarnation was only slightly more abrasive than a Bob Hope special (he was still cranking those out). > [@Biggirl](#): > > Aw, man. I’m sad for me. As a child I always wondered if they were mad at mom for not having another son to name Harry. Harry Anderson appeared on the 80s show and they did a song about their names. “Tom, listen: you’re Tom, I’m Dick and he’s Harry and that makes us…?” “Harry Anderson and the Smothers Brothers, but I don’t get it!” ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/23 "2023-12-27T19:30:14Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Their Mother was the Avon lady in my neighborhood, I bet her business really picked up when they became famous. According to the obit in the New York Times their mother was a major alcoholic who married and divorced multiple times after their dad was killed in WW2 ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/24 "2023-12-27T19:36:48Z")
What makes me saddest is that I’m the only one in my office old enough to remember them well. Damn young folk. Of course I suspect many of their jokes went over my then young head … ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/25 "2023-12-27T19:47:39Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Aw, man. I’m sad for me. As a child I always wondered if they were mad at mom for not having another son to name Harry. She did let Tom have a pet chicken named “Frank.” ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/26 "2023-12-27T20:05:12Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > According to the obit in the New York Times their mother was a major alcoholic who married and divorced multiple times after their dad was killed in WW2 Gives a little poignancy to Tom’s “Mom always liked you best” line. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/27 "2023-12-27T20:13:12Z")
Loved their show as a kid and collected most of their vinyl when I was in college in the 80’s. Glad I held on to those albums. I will have to play them over the next few days. Rest well dear Tommy. 🥹 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/28 "2023-12-27T20:41:48Z")
_“Hey, Dick, I’d like to borrow your bass for a minute…”_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OiSKu7SbGNQ/hqdefault.jpg "The Who My Generation Smothers Brothers, 1967") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiSKu7SbGNQ) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/29 "2023-12-27T21:12:45Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > What makes me saddest is that I’m the only one in my office old enough to remember them well. Now I don’t feel so old. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/30 "2023-12-27T21:24:17Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > A vicious puma probably got him. Or a snarling, vicious gnu (pronounced with a hard “g”-- guh-_NOO_). * * * * * * ETA: They had some famous guest stars on their show. From [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smothers_Brothers): > ### History > > _[The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smothers_Brothers_Comedy_Hour)_ started out as only a slightly “hip” version of the typical comedy-variety show of its era, but rapidly evolved into a show that extended the boundaries of what was considered permissible in television satire at that time.[[10]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smothers_Brothers#cite_note-10)[[11]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smothers_Brothers#cite_note-11) While the Smothers themselves were at the forefront of these efforts, credit also goes to the roster of writers and regular performers they brought to the show, including [Steve Martin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Martin), [Don Novello](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Novello), [Rob Reiner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Reiner), presidential candidate [Pat Paulsen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Paulsen), [Bob Einstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Einstein), [Albert Brooks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Brooks), and resident [hippie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippie) [Leigh French](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leigh_French). The show also introduced audiences to pop singer [Jennifer Warnes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Warnes) (originally billed as Jennifer Warren or simply Jennifer), who was a regular on the series. The television premiere of [Mason Williams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason_Williams)’ hit record, “[Classical Gas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_Gas)”, took place on the show; Williams was also the head writer for the series. > > ### Musical guests > > The series showcased new musical artists to whom other comedy-variety shows rarely gave airtime, due to the nature of their music or their political affiliations.[[12]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smothers_Brothers#cite_note-12) [George Harrison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Harrison), [Ringo Starr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringo_Starr), [Joan Baez](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Baez), [Buffalo Springfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Springfield), [Cass Elliot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Elliot), [Harry Belafonte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Belafonte), [Cream](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cream_(band)), [Donovan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donovan), [The Doors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doors), [Glen Campbell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Campbell), [Janis Ian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janis_Ian), [Jefferson Airplane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Airplane), [The Happenings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Happenings), [Peter, Paul and Mary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter,_Paul_and_Mary), [Spanky and Our Gang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanky_and_Our_Gang), [Steppenwolf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steppenwolf_(band)), [Simon and Garfunkel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_and_Garfunkel), [The Hollies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hollies), [The Who](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Who), and even [Pete Seeger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Seeger) were showcased on the show, despite the advertiser-sensitive nature of their music. > > Seeger’s appearance was his first appearance on network television since being blacklisted in the 1950s. It became controversial because of his song choice, “[Waist Deep in the Big Muddy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waist_Deep_in_the_Big_Muddy)”, an anti-war song that the network considered to be an insult to [President](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States) [Lyndon Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_Johnson) and his [Vietnam War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War) policy. The song was censored on Seeger’s first appearance but permitted on a later appearance. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/31 "2023-12-27T22:38:09Z")
They were before my time, but I appreciated and respected the Smothers Brothers, and was bummed out to hear of Tom’s passing. (Thanks for the links in this thread. I request that the links keep coming.) ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/32 "2023-12-27T22:46:44Z")
RIP Tom. You were subversive, talented, and funny as hell. You brought joy to millions. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/33 "2023-12-27T23:19:43Z")
Bob Seeger’s account of _Waist Deep in the Big Muddy_: [https://web.archive.org/web/20130805061813/http://www.peteseeger.net/givepeacechance.htm](https://web.archive.org/web/20130805061813/http://www.peteseeger.net/givepeacechance.htm) ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/34 "2023-12-27T23:35:16Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > According to the obit in the New York Times their mother was a major alcoholic who married and divorced multiple times after their dad was killed in WW2 I am wrong, it was one of the Rowan and Martin pair I was thinking of. Has been a long time since either has crossed my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2023, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/35 "2023-12-27T23:45:55Z")
I’m too young to remember their original show, but became a fan when I was in university. The Smothers Brothers were subversive, talented, intellectual and hilarious. And they taught me the meaning of the song _La Cucaracha_. I was saddened to hear this news. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FTjJ8JimWJw/maxresdefault.jpg "La Cucaracha") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTjJ8JimWJw) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/36 "2023-12-28T00:01:41Z")
I don’t have first hand knowledge. But the Smothers Brothers are often credited with “laying down the foundation” for both _SNL_ and _The Daily Show_. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/37 "2023-12-28T00:08:20Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > According to the obit in the New York Times their mother was a major alcoholic who married and divorced multiple times after their dad was killed in WW2 Tom always said she loved Dick the best. He will be missed. My favorite Smother. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/38 "2023-12-28T01:44:40Z")
Ah, damn… so long, yo-yo man. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/39 "2023-12-28T01:47:21Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Bob Seeger’s account of _Waist Deep in the Big Muddy_: I think you mean Pete… ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239/40 "2023-12-28T02:00:25Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > > [@Chefguy](#): > > > > A vicious puma probably got him. > > Shoulda stayed out of those crevices. No, it was the pyumas in the cravices! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-smothers-has-died/995239.md?page=3)