4 | JANUARY 11 • 2024
J
N

for openers
Remembering a Master of Comedy
T

om Smothers, one
half of the legendary
comedy team the
Smothers Brothers, passed
away Dec. 26, 2023, at 86
after a battle
with cancer.
In a statement
released on
behalf of his
family by
the National
Comedy Center
(NCC), his
brother Dick
Smothers, 85, said: “Tom
(who he often called Tommy)
was not only the loving older
brother that everyone would
want in their life, he was
also a one-of-a-kind creative
partner. I am forever grateful
to have spent a lifetime
together with him, on and off
the stage, for over 60 years.”
The Smothers Brothers
humor, a blend of music
and satire, changed with the
times, and their material
still holds up today. As a
matter of fact, the duo were
planning tour dates last year
when Tom took ill.
The Smothers Brothers
made us laugh, and they
made us think. “They were
true champions for freedom
of speech, harnessing the
power of comedy to push
boundaries and our political
consciousness,” said the
NCC.
“Tom was a true pioneer
who changed the face of
television and transformed
our culture with The
Smothers Brothers Comedy
Hour, which satirized
politics, combated racism,

protested the Vietnam War.”
So threatened by the
nuances and challenges of
their brand of humor, CBS
famously canceled their show
in April 1969.
I’m grateful I had the
chance to interview Tom
and Dick Smothers at the
2005 TV Land Awards in
Los Angeles. TV Land is the
cable channel that “celebrates
the best of comedy tele-
vision,” including many
classic sitcoms of yesteryear.
As a member of the press,
I was invited to attend the
event, which was honoring
the Carol Burnett Show and
her iconic ensemble cast
with the network’s “Legend
Award.” The Bob Newhart
Show was also among the
honorees, and I got to
interview him, too!
Upon hearing of Tom’s
death, I retrieved the audio
file of my interview with the
guys that took place after the
event had concluded. I was
in the press tent gathering
up my recording equipment

when by a stroke of luck in
walked the brothers.
I was awestruck and
thanked the comedic Gods
for blessing me with this
opportunity to interview
them. Tom and Dick could
not have been more gracious
and gave me all the time I
desired. It turns out they
had very vivid memories of
appearing in Detroit, which
they shared in detail.
“We remember going to
Detroit,” Dick said. “The last
time we were there was the
fabulous Fox, beautiful. And
the symphony is one of the
best in the world.”
“And the first time we were
there was at the Roostertail,”
said Tom recalling the long-
time event venue on the
Detroit River. “The very first
time was 1962, and it was
only one of two jobs in the
47 years we’ve been in the
business that they didn’t ask
us back. They didn’t pick up
our option.”
“It was worse than that,”
added Dick, which generated

laughter from some
onlookers to our interview.
“We were singing ‘Down in
the Valley’ and the people
were looking at the boats and
we were in their way. And
they wanted us out of their
way.”
“Move over, move over!”
Tom recalled the audience
yelling.
“Move over, there’s a boat!”
Dick added, describing the
crowd’s obvious interest in
seeing a passing boat more
than paying attention to their
act.
And what can only be
described as an amazing bit
of irony, I concluded the
interview with the brothers
18 years ago by saying: “I’ll
tell ya what, you’re going to
be invited back as soon as
the Lions make the playoffs.
You’re my guest.”
I was thinking of sending
Dick Smothers a copy of my
interview but considering
what the cost of playoff
tickets will be going for, I
don’t want to be forced to
make good on that offer.
It took some arm twisting,
but after Tom’s passing, I got
my reluctant son to agree to
sit down with me and watch
some Smothers Brothers bits
on YouTube. I wanted him
to experience their unique
brand of humor. And guess
what? He liked it!
It got me to thinking. What
a shame it is that there are
so many comedic talents that
remain unknown to younger
generations that I’m certain,
if given the chance, would
be thoroughly entertained by

Alan
Muskovitz
Contributing
Writer

Alan interviewing Tom Smothers

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