Laugh In, The Smothers Brothers, All In The Family ... Where Are You?

[BLUSH]

I recently saw a documentary (I think it was on Bravo) about how those shows were the first to take on the politics and social issues of the time.

Where are today's prime-time shows with political and social satire?

If Laugh-In, Smothers Brothers, All In The Family, et al. were on today, what would their take be on the Iraq war, the Bush administration, and the right-wing extremist movement?

(Can't the Smothers Brothers come out of retirement?)

[realisticphish]

1. i love the smothers brothers

the ballad of john henry is one of the funniest bits EVER

...whop....

[Richardo]

2. If you recall, the Smothers were kicked off the air for their views

So there's that.

All that being said, I really miss those guys... hilarious and politically relevant.

[jane_pippin]

3. My Name is Earl and The Office

There're two for you.

[JitterbugPerfume]

4. the closest thing we now have is

The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, but somehow the impact just is not the same

[jane_pippin]

12. We have more than 3 channels now.

That's why the impact isn't the same.

[Benfea]

5. Battlestar Galactica is pretty blatant with its Bush analogies.

I hope you get the Sci-Fi Channel, it's a damned fine TV show.

[JitterbugPerfume]

6. I gotta start watching Battlestar Gallactica

I have heard nothing but good things about it !

[Benfea]

10. It's all allegory of course

But the biggest themes in the show are terrorism, supposed democracies acting in a dictatorial fashion in the name of "national security," and even uncomfortable questions about the role of religions in society (the Cylons are fanatical monotheists of the worst sort, and the parallels between the Cylon religion and Abrahamic religions are hard to miss).

[peekaloo]

7. A show about a law firm comes close.

Boston Legal!

Denny Crane is a lovable Freeper (oxy-moran)

[TexasLady]

8. one of my first crushes was on the balding one..whats his name?

tommy, dicky, I cant remember.
"Mom always liked YOU best!"

[JitterbugPerfume]

9. that is Tommy

he is my favorite too

[BLUSH]

16. On Bravo is Casino

Dick Smothers has a role in the film.

[Ivan Sputnik]

11. Well ....

Laugh In = Saturday Night Live? (they do some political stuff)
All in the Family = Animated comedies on (ahem) Fox? Simpsons, etc?
Smothers Brothers -- I don't know. "Variety" shows don't really exist anymore. Roughly equivalent to The Daily Show?

[Left Is Write]

13. We could use a little Laugh-In right now.

[libnnc]

14. Veeeery interestink...

[trof]

17. sockit-to-me sock-it-to-me sock-it-to me

Goldie Hawn's debut.

[astonamous]

15. The Richard Pryor show, even though there were only

4 episodes and a special. He did one skit with Maya Angelou that made you cry and laugh at the same time and the Black Reverend trying to get donations was hilarious.

[BLUSH]

18. The Who was on the Smothers Brothers

http://www.smothersbrothers.com