Smothered - The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

Starring:Mason Williams (II), Nicholas Johnson, Jack Benny, Carl Gottlieb, David Halberstam, Bette Davis, George Burns, David Steinberg, George Segal, Dick Smothers, Harry Belafonte, Pete Seeger, Paul Lynde, David Bianculli, Nancy Nolan, Perry Lafferty, Pat Paulsen, Bob Einstein, George Sunga, Joan Baez
Director: Maureen Muldaur
Studio: New Video Group
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The tribulations of Tommy and Dick Smothers and their popular late-'60s television show are detailed in Maureen Muldaur's interesting 92-minute documentary. Viewing the clips from The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, one might find it hard to imagine that they were considered controversial at the time; indeed, the jabs at censorship, gun ownership, the Vietnam war, and more seem mild by today's raunchy standards. But controversial they were, especially to CBS, who aired (and eventually canceled) the Smothers' show. Turns out that Tommy, the "dumb" one, was in fact a gadfly who turned the program into a cause célèbre somewhat beyond its actual significance; and in the end, as one of the talking heads featured here points out, it was the Smothers' decreasing sense of fun that really doomed it. Both brothers are interviewed, as are writers Rob Reiner and Steve Martin and others. DVD extra features include bios and an excerpt from a book on the subject. --Sam Graham

Description

An incredible slice of America's media and pop-culture history, SMOTHERED tells the story of the censorship struggles of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, the Emmy Award winning television program, broadcast on CBS from 1967 until it was prematurely stru

Customer Reviews:

History Lesson.......2007-05-07

I wished there would be DVDs with highlights from their shows to enjoy their talents.The censorship struggles are interessted but who wants to see it more than once.

A Punch in the Gut.......2007-03-20

I first saw The Smothers Brothers in an interview on the Dick Cavett Show. Tommy seemed to be the funnier brother, but they played well off of each other, and I wanted to see more. I found this documentary and grabbed it up. I learned so many things about the show that I never would have expected. I had no idea that Steve Martin was affiliated with it, that Tommy was such a huge force behind the show, or that it was anywhere near as political as it was.

Filled with interviews from the Smothers Brothers and their affiliates, this documentary explores the power of the show and its demise. Aired during a very poltically explosive time in US history, the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour reflected the times in a clever way. The brothers were clean cut products of the 1940s and 50s; their appearance was non-threatening. This allowed them to reach large audiences and attack controversial issues. Finally, their candidness and distaste for censorship did them in, but the show was ahead of its time.

The clips included in this video are only teasers for what I'm sure the show really could be. It is unfortunate that it has never been formally released to the public. I'm sure it'd be a bit hit, as the format seems to be a cross between a talk show and Saturday Night Live types of sketches.

Hindsight is something to look at in the mirror.......2007-02-14

The shows of these guys blew me away each week I tuned in. I won't buy this DVD because of the political statements I have no desire to see or hear. Let the politicions do their job and the actors do theirs. The series would make a lot of money if put on DVD. There were few better people on TV than Jack Benny, Joan Biaz, Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, etc. It was an era never seen before or, I suspect, since.

Intelligent Presentation.......2007-01-18

I bought this for my husband for Christmas and he was very pleased with it! As a huge fan of this show he admires it even more considering the social upheaval and political times it was set in and the intelligent, clever ways that the Smother's Brothers found to put a different light on events of the day. Highly recommended!

The more things change, the more they stay the same!.......2007-01-12

What a wonderful documentary on the struggles of the Smothers Brothers to speak out publicly and without censorship on the important issues facing our country. That the administration of that time worked so tirelessly to whitewash their criticism of a divisive war and that they had a major broadcasting company so completely under their spell... Sound familiar? Watching this taught me that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Well worth watching. In fact it should be required viewing in high schools all over the country.

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