Thu Mar 22, 2012, 03:30 PM

Remember this show, Boomers?????

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

This is the ONLY show in American TV history (until Bill Maher’s Politically Incorrect in 2001) to be fired instead of canceled.
Originally picked up as a CBS sacrificial goat to go up against powerhouse “Bonanza” in 1967, in quickly found a place in the hearts of younger viewers and won its timeslot. At first ignored by the CBS Network, the show began to feature political aspects and guest stars reflecting the leftwing views of the Smothers Brothers. This led to increased (and fairly silly) censorship on the part of the Network, until CBS found a technical excuse to dump the show in 1969, despite high ratings. Today, it is seen as one of the most memorable examples of the 1960-70s era fights for free speech (Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, et al)

And I am now walking down nostalgia lane watching The Best of Season 3 dvd!!!!!
Which includes the infamous, censored, Harry Belfonte song.

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18 replies	Author	Time	Post
Remember this show, Boomers????? (Original post)	dixiegrrrrl	Mar 2012	OP
Remember it very well. I wish there was something as political as that like it today.	canoeist52	Mar 2012	#1
Do you remember Mason Williams?	schmice	Sep 2012	#2
Name is familiar....	dixiegrrrrl	Sep 2012	#3
"Classical Gas" + also a writer on the Smothers Brothers Show.	schmice	Sep 2012	#4
ahhh! I knew Classical Gas but not that he was a writer.	dixiegrrrrl	Sep 2012	#6
He lives in Oregon--impressive resume, he has.	MADem	Feb 2013	#15
Classical Gas is awesome...	haikugal	Feb 2013	#14
I remember it well.	SheilaT	Sep 2012	#5
pat paulsen	johnsolaris	Oct 2012	#7
Thanks for that tidbit about Williams.	dixiegrrrrl	Oct 2012	#8
mason website	johnsolaris	Oct 2012	#9
On the bookshelf right by me	HeiressofBickworth	Oct 2012	#10
Boomers	skiptaylor	Oct 2012	#11
Oh yeah -	codjh9	Nov 2012	#12
Let's not forget John Hartford	BarbaRosa	Jan 2013	#13
I remember Bonanza - Lorne Greene, Little Joe, Hoss . . .	ConcernedCanuk	Mar 28	#16
Ask me about test patterns on tv	dixiegrrrrl	Mar 28	#17
That boring looking dart board (we only had a b/w TV)	ConcernedCanuk	Mar 28	#18

Response to dixiegrrrrl (Original post)

Thu Mar 22, 2012, 07:39 PM

canoeist52 (1,546 posts)

1. Remember it very well. I wish there was something as political as that like it today.

The Daily Show and Colbert come close, but try to balance it too much. Smothers Bros. were definitely cutting-edge liberals.
Dang, now the theme song, which I didn't know I still knew, is stuck in my head.

Remember this show, Boomers?????

1. Remember it very well. I wish there was something as political as that like it today.

2. Do you remember Mason Williams?

3. Name is familiar....

4. "Classical Gas" + also a writer on the Smothers Brothers Show.

6. ahhh! I knew Classical Gas but not that he was a writer.

15. He lives in Oregon--impressive resume, he has.

14. Classical Gas is awesome...

5. I remember it well.

7. pat paulsen

8. Thanks for that tidbit about Williams.

9. mason website

10. On the bookshelf right by me

11. Boomers

12. Oh yeah -

13. Let's not forget John Hartford

16. I remember Bonanza - Lorne Greene, Little Joe, Hoss . . .

17. Ask me about test patterns on tv

18. That boring looking dart board (we only had a b/w TV)