The Smothers Brothers retire

As a kid I thought they were pretty funny. And I know they had real social significance in the 60s, the only sibling vaudevillian act to make Nixon's enemies list.

But I had no idea they were still performing, this thread is the first I've seen their name in years.

 

Dick also had a part in Goodfellas.

Steve Martin got his first writing gig on their show, I think.

 

Am I the only one who remembers Tom's solo act as the "Yo-yo Man?"

 

BTW, Tom's Wikipedia entry says he played guitar -- uncredited -- on John Lennon's recording "Give Peace a Chance."

It also says he received a special Emmy in 2008 because in 1968, when the writing staff of the Smothers Brothers' show was awarded an Emmy, Tom purposely left his name off the entry (even though he was the head writer) because he felt he was too controversial and might hurt the staff's chance of winning. Steve Martin, who was indeed one of their writers, presented the 2008 award.

 

You're thinking of Casino. He was part of the panel that denied Sam Rothstein his gaming license and then (kind of) admitted he had dinner with Rothstein.

 

Not really.

 

A staple of their stage show, in the late going.

 

You're right, of course. Casino -- the poor man's Goodfellas.

 

Yeah, you're right. That was a real popular war.

 

Among those in power, it was.

It was the Smothers Brothers' anti-war stance that got their show canceled.

 

They were considered groundbreaking in their time. I think they were downplayed years later when other groups (In Living Color) made light of their act as being corny.

 

I don't watch a lot of boxing anymore, but for years you could pick Tommy out of the audience on a large number of ESPN broadcasts.