Politics and Hip Music in Primetime from the Smothers Brothers

Beyond the comedy and '60s controversy, the bros presented The Who, Beatles, Doors, Airplane, Springfield, S&G, Ike & Tina, Judy Collins, Donovan, and more.

Greg Mitchell, longtime executive editor at the legendary Crawdaddy, has written a dozen books and, since 2022, has directed three films for PBS. Four of his books are on sale this week for just $1.99: Atomic Cover-up, Memorial Day Massacre, Vonnegut & Me, and So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits and the President Failed on Iraq.

Sad news that Tommy Smothers has died at 86. The Smothers Brothers were a key part of my coming to age in the 1960s, you might say, first as an offbeat folksinging comedy duo in various TV guest appearances, and then with their own oft-censored Sunday night CBS “Comedy Hour” from 1967-1969. Dick Smothers was often the straight man to Tom’s impish attention grabbing, but they were no fools. They made George Carlin much more famous and gave us fun cohorts such Pat Paulsen (who would run for President) and Bob Einstein (as Officer Judy). Among the writers: Steve Martin and Rob Reiner.

But for me, it was mainly about the music, at a time was the most you could count on in primetime featuring the large stable of emerging great late-’60s acts was the occasional slot on the Ed Sullivan or Johnny Cash shows. The Smothers almost always hosted a musical guest, highlighted by (see below) The Who, Beatles, Doors, Airplane, Springfield, Cream, Simon & Garfunkel, Ike & Tina, Judy Collins, Donovan, Dion, and more. They brought the blacklisted Pete Seeger back to prime time for the first time in 17 years but then CBS deleted his antiwar blast “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy.” The CBS censors also cut Joan Baez’s reference to her husband in prison for draft-evading and Harry Belafonte protesting the police riot at the Chicago ‘68 Democratic convention. They even pulled one of David Steinberg’s mock sermons, though Carlin’s stoned “hippy-dippy weatherman” usually got a pass.

Here’s the April 1969 episode that never aired and got them fired. Earlier the great Elaine May had written (and performed) a skit mocking CBS censors—which those very censors then killed.

So, below, a few of the musical highlights—plus Steve Martin doing magic tricks. You can still subscribe here for free.

This epic explosive finale to “My Generation” earned The Who new fans.

The Beatles “Hey Jude” and “Revolution” were unveiled by David Frost in UK but Americans got to view the vids first via the Smothers a few days later.

“For What It’s Worth”—a lot, from Buffalo Springfield in ‘67.

Two from the Airplane, “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love.”

“Touch Me,” Jim Morrison begged.

Ike & Tina with one of the great all-time (flop) singles, “River Deep, Mountain High.”

Simon & Garfunkel with early hit, “Homeward Bound”

Judy Collins, long a mere “folkie,” was breaking through to larger audience with Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell covers, and here did Ian Tyson’s “Someday Soon.”

Joan Baez was among those censored by CBS, for mentioning that her husband David was in prison for refusing the draft. Here she does “I Shall Be Released.”

Dion’s comeback began this night with “Abraham, Martin and John.”

Yes, this is dark-haired, little known comic Steve Martin doing magic tricks.

Peter Seeger, when finally allowed to sing on TV again.

A lengthy Donovan-in-his-hippie-prime segment.