# When did smoking become such a no-no on American TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391 "2014-03-10T23:10:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/41 "2014-03-12T01:20:43Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > my very favorite ‘old movie smoking scene’ is from [Dark Victory](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsbtPfVqUnI). Bette Davis is in the hospital the night before she’s supposed to have risky surgery to remove a brain tumor, and is (understandably) quite nervous. Her _doctor_ gives her a cigarette to calm her nerves, and lights it for her!!! (Her doctor is also her beau too, but that’s another story.) Nothing beats the Medical Corps personnel lighting up cigarettes while marveling at Klaatu’s health in _The Day The Earth Stood Still._ ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/42 "2014-03-12T01:44:02Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > _ **Burn Notice** _ is a basic cable series. > Also, you’ll notice that Sharon Gless’ smoking is actually trimmed in episodes which appear in syndication on “free” television. Funny, but I get Ion over the air and they’re marathoning it right now. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/43 "2014-03-12T02:21:01Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > OK, so when did Johnny quit smoking or have smoking guests? I don’t remember Letterman ever having smoking on the show, but I do distinctly remember him quickly puffing as the cameras came back from break. Once, he even waved off the camera for a second and it cut to Paul playing the music. > > Anyway, when did Johnny stop having smoking on his show/set? He tried quitting altogether back in the early '70s, and didn’t mention it until one of his guests asked if he had. He started smoking again soon after that, but never on camera; you could often see him getting rid of his butts when they came back from a station break. Guests were evidently expected to do the same, as I don’t recall anyone smoking on air again. Since I watched _ **Tonight** _ religiously until around the time I graduated from high school, I’d guess this was in 1972 or '73. I don’t know if he ever gave up smoking entirely before he retired. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/44 "2014-03-12T02:24:40Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Nothing beats the Medical Corps personnel lighting up cigarettes while marveling at Klaatu’s health in _The Day The Earth Stood Still._ John Wayne was offered one by his doctor during a physical in one of his war movies (_ **Flying Leathernecks** _, I think). Or maybe he offered the doctor one; I don’t remember exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/45 "2014-03-12T03:36:52Z")
Do Patty and Selma still smoke on The Simpsons? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/46 "2014-03-12T04:07:32Z")
That show Becker from about 10 years ago featured Ted Danson as a pretty heavy smoker. I can remember if they showed him actually smoking that much (or just with an unlit cigarette in his mouth) That was on CBS. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/47 "2014-03-12T04:11:56Z")
Supposedly, Lucky Strike got a huge sales spike during the first few seasons of Mad Men - ditto Canadian Club Whiskey. I gave a speech on this in college, but the undeniable truth of it – that’s very rarely addressed and never emphasized – is that smoking looks cool! Doubly so on film and TV where you can’t smell it nor the actor’s breath. One, it gives actors something to do with their hands whether it be pensive, seductive, or manic; it is a huge opportunity to emote to the audience in a very natural and relatable way. Secondly, Seinfeld had it right in his stand-up bit where he equated the coolness of smoking to fire-breathing. ---
**Author:** ![kbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kbear)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/48 "2014-03-12T07:27:31Z")
At the beginning of Monuments Men when they show the ratings and warnings screen (UK),along with the usual warnings about language and violence, there was a warning for “Incidents of Smoking”. During the film I checked in periodically with my 15 year olds to see if they were traumatised by the smoking on screen, but they seemed to be ok with it . ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/49 "2014-03-12T08:49:11Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > That show Becker from about 10 years ago featured Ted Danson as a pretty heavy smoker. I can remember if they showed him actually smoking that much (or just with an unlit cigarette in his mouth) That was on CBS. I think Becker was trying to quit though. He didn’t carry cigarettes on him, but he kept a pack in the cash register at the diner. When he came in, he would open the drawer, with Reggie’s permission, and later Chris’s, and take out a cigarette. I think this was a holdover from when Reggie’s father owned the diner. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/50 "2014-03-12T15:36:24Z")
The first episode of _Family Guy_ to air had a scene where a bunch of men were drinking and smoking at a bachelor party. ---
**Author:** ![tellUwut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9e8a1a/32.png) [@tellUwut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellUwut)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/51 "2015-07-27T18:20:52Z")
I just Googled this after watching this old Letterman show with John Candy: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ3PB1z5y2I) I actually remember a conversation I had with my dad when John passed. He was talking about staying healthy and stuff, and mentioned John being a smoker. I asked how he knew and he told me he used to see him smoking on Letterman. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/52 "2015-07-27T22:43:25Z")
That monument to realistic family life, “The Brady Bunch”, had an anti-smoking episode in January, 1971. [http://bradybunch.wikia.com/wiki/Episode:Where\_There’s\_Smoke](http://bradybunch.wikia.com/wiki/Episode:Where_There's_Smoke) ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/53 "2015-07-27T23:22:54Z")
> [@tellUwut](#): > > I just Googled this after watching this old Letterman show with John Candy: > [https://youtu.be/fZ3PB1z5y2I?t=14m10s](https://youtu.be/fZ3PB1z5y2I?t=14m10s) > I actually remember a conversation I had with my dad when John passed. He was talking about staying healthy and stuff, and mentioned John being a smoker. I asked how he knew and he told me he used to see him smoking on Letterman. Welcome to the StraightDope Message Board. This is an older thread, so it may not get as many replies. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/54 "2015-07-27T23:30:02Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Columbo (again, debuted in 1968) was rarely shown smoking; usually his cigar was out. I agree you rarely saw Columbo taking a puff on his cigar, but it was frequently lit. He was always looking for an ashtray. I even saw him put the ashes in his hand, then put them in his overcoat pocket. The episode I watched last night even had the murderer’s butler following him around with an ashtray! Let me add Gomez Addams. He always had a cigar in his mouth. Sometimes he would pull them from his pocket already lit. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/55 "2015-07-28T11:32:16Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > And yet this thread is filled with plenty of examples that are much later than 1970. For some time before it was more or less banned, it was still frowned upon. I suspect it declined in _ **Perry Mason** _ because Ray Collins (Lt Tragg) was dying of emphysema and William Talman (Hamilton Burger) would soon succumb to lung cancer. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/56 "2015-07-28T11:42:14Z")
I also remember James Daly, one of the stars of _ **Medical Center** _ (debut, 1969), smoking during a promotional interview. The interviewer asked “You’re not going to smoke on the show, are you?!?” Somewhat sheepishly, Daly replied “No, no, of course not!” and stubbed out the cigarette. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/57 "2015-07-28T12:05:32Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Of course there was Cigarette Smoking Man on X-Files. And a smoking alien. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/58 "2015-07-28T13:02:08Z")
**Boardwalk Empire** features lots of period appropriate smoking and drinking, including Steve Buscemi with a cigarette in the opening credits. You can buy a replica of his cigarette case! > **[HBO Shop](https://shop.hbo.com)** > > Rep your favorite shows like Game of Thrones, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Euphoria and more with official merch! Shop official merchandise from all of your favorite HBO shows! Apparel, drinkware & more! Which might come in handy if you are driven to smoke by watching the series. > **[THE INQUISITR](https://www.inquisitr.com/)** > > Quality news and entertainment stories relevant to readers worldwide. ---
**Author:** ![Kiyoshi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19adc/32.png) [@Kiyoshi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiyoshi)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/59 "2015-07-28T13:55:38Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > Even as television now depicts behavior that was forbidden at that time, smoking on live camera while doing a newscast is beyond the imagination today. To me, the idea of a newsreader smoking is unimaginable because it would just be so unprofessional. It’s nothing to do with the health dangers of smoking, it’s the attitude towards the job. I want my newsreaders to look like they are interested in the news, not doing a half-assed job while they smoke or drink a frosty beer or munch a bag of doritos. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391/60 "2015-07-28T15:40:56Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > …but the undeniable truth of it – that’s very rarely addressed and never emphasized – is that smoking looks cool! Doubly so on film and TV where you can’t smell it nor the actor’s breath. I remember when I was in second or third grade (late 60s), taking a candy cigarette and standing against a wall in school in that “one foot on wall James Dean slouch” trying to look soooo cool. And I’d never even seen a Dean movie at the time! How did I know it was “cool”? It must have been that pervasive. Talk about “getting them while they are young”. It would seem that they almost did get me, but I never took up smoking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-smoking-become-such-a-no-no-on-american-tv/683391.md?page=4)