Scott Gurvey's Public Offerings

His mother always liked his brother best. That was his go-to line. Tommy Smothers (left above) was an American comedian, actor, composer, and musician, best known as half of the musical comedy duo the Smothers Brothers, alongside his younger brother Dick. He was born in 1937, in New York City, and passed away on December 26, 2023, at the age of eighty-six in Santa Rosa, California.

When I look back over my blogs, I see that the few obituaries I write are always about people who have had a significant impact on me. Smothers is one of those people. When I think of Tom I think of the Sixties. This was my coming-of-age decade, and one that stands out as a turning point in American history.

My parents were of the greatest generation, the generation which won the Second World War. The purpose of WWII was clear to us. But my generation, the baby boomers, knew of that time only from social studies class. Our time knew the war in Korea and the war in Vietnam. The purpose of these “police actions” was never clear.

We saw the Sixties as a time of great turmoil. A time of protest. A time for young people, who could be conscripted to go and fight in faraway countries but could not vote, to demand a voice in government. A time of movements, Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, Environmental Rights, a recognition of past national sins and a call for corrective action.

But there was also a great deal of optimism that the new, countercultural movements would have a positive impact on society. There were alternative lifestyles, the hippie movement, the use of drugs, and new forms of artistic expression. The clothes were colorful. The hair was long. The miniskirts, embraced by many as an example of freedom for women, were delightful. And the music was the best ever.

Tom played the buffoon in the brothers’ comedy-folk music act. But in fact, he was the businessman of the duo, and he led their act into the more topical and controversial subject matter that made the brothers heroes of the young. He convinced CBS, the TV network known for its popularity among an older audience, to take a chance. The result was the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, which aired from 1967 to 1969.

The show was known for its political satire and controversial content. Even though CBS scheduled it against NBC’s Bonanza, the number one program on television, the Smothers Brothers succeeded, drawing in the younger audience just as predicted. But it ruffled too many feathers, especially in government, which exercised far greater control over broadcasters in the Sixties than it does today. After nearly weekly battles over censorship, CBS canceled the program even though it was in first place in the ratings.

That only cemented the position of the Smothers Brothers as heroes of a generation. That includes me. Remembrances of Tommy have been posted on sites around the world.

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