SMOTHERS BROTHERS COMEDY HOUR 20TH REUNION, THE (TV)
Summary
The twentieth anniversary celebration of this comedy/variety show hosted by the comedy-singing duo of Tom and Dick Smothers. The original program -- which featured political satire, irreverent parodies of topical social issues, and musical performances -- aired on CBS from 1967-1969 before being cancelled because of its controversial nature. On this special, the Smothers Brothers are joined by the guests, comedians, writers, and musicians who contributed to the original program. Highlights include: The Smothers Brothers are the target of a tank offensive by jittery network officials as their helicopter approaches CBS headquarters; Tom and Dick's opening musical number -- sung to the tune of Mary Hopkin's popular lamentation, "Those Were the Days" -- catalogs their turbulent relationship with CBS during the original run of their show; stone-faced comedian Pat Paulsen lampoons the crop of 1988 presidential hopefuls, and then announces his own candidacy; Jennifer Warnes sings "Song of Bernadette"; former series writer Bob Einstein shows up unexpectedly after Tom announces that he is dead; Mason Williams plays his instrumental composition, "Classical Gas"; former writer Steve Martin, whose "impromptu" remarks seem well-rehearsed makes a guest appearance; Glen Campbell sings a medley of "Wichita Lineman" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"; Glen Campbell and former series writer John Hartford sing Hartford compositions, "Gentle on My Mind" and "Learning to Smile All Over Again"; eternal hippie Leigh French provides a segment of "Share a Little Tea with Goldie"; and Tom sabotages Dick's song because "CBS told him to." The show concludes with the introduction of members of the series original writing staff, including Allan Blye, Bob Einstein, Gene Farmer, Carl Gottlieb, Steve Martin, Lorenzo Music, Rob Reiner, and Mason Williams. There are also retrospective clips from the 1967-1969 run of the original series. These clips include: the stoic, terse Bob Einstein as Officer Judy gives pianist Liberace a ticket for playing too fast; Glen Campbell and John Hartford sing "Gentle on My Mind"; and various clips of Leigh French as a hippie. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: April 20, 1988 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:48:23
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:28113
- GENRE: Comedy/Variety; Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy/Variety; Censorship; Music, popular (Songs, etc.); Political satire
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1988
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ken Kragen … Producer
- Bruce Golin … Associate Producer
- David Grossman … Director
- Mason Williams … Writer
- Robert Arnott … Writer
- Tom Smothers … Writer
- Dick Smothers … Writer
- Steve Martin … Writer
- Leigh French … Writer
- Bob Einstein … Writer
- Pat Paulsen … Writer
- Larry Cansler … Music (Misc. Credits), Music Director
- Larry Cansler and His Orchestra … Music Group
- Ron Poindexter … Choreographer
- Ron Poindexter Dancsters, The … Dance Company
- Tom Smothers … Host, Singer, Instrumentalist, Guitarist
- Dick Smothers … Host, Singer, Instrumentalist, Bassist
- Roger Carrol … Announcer
- Pat Paulsen … Performer
- Bob Einstein … Performer
- Leigh French … Performer
- Martineve … Performer
- Glen Campbell … Performer, Singer, Instrumentalist, Guitarist
- John Hartford … Performer, Singer, Instrumentalist, Guitarist, Fiddler
- Mason Williams … Performer, Instrumentalist, Guitarist
- Warnes, Jennifer (See also: Warren, Jennifer {singer}) … Performer, Singer
- Allan Blye … Guest
- Gene Farmer … Guest
- Carl Gottlieb … Guest
- Lorenzo Music … Guest
- Rob Reiner … Guest
- Smothers Brothers, The