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The Smothers Brothers Show

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Not to be confused with The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.
The Smothers Brothers Show
Tom and Dick Smothers, 1965
GenreFantasy sitcom
Created byAaron Spelling[1]
Richard Newton
Written byDee Caruso
Gerald Gardner
Lila Garrett
Alex Gottlieb
Bernie Kahn
Arnold Margolin
Jim Parker
Arthur Weingarten
Allan Burns (uncredited)
Chris Hayward (uncredited)
Directed byCharles Barton
Frederick De Cordova
Sidney Miller
H. Bruce Humberstone
StarringSmothers Brothers
Theme music composerPerry Botkin Jr.
ComposerPerry Botkin Jr.
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes32 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerAaron Spelling
ProducersFrederick De Cordova
Phil Sharp (uncredited)
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companyFour Star-Knave
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 17, 1965 (1965-09-17) –
April 22, 1966 (1966-04-22)

The Smothers Brothers Show is an American fantasy sitcom featuring the Smothers Brothers that aired on CBS on Friday nights at 9:30 p.m. ET from September 17, 1965, to April 22, 1966, co-sponsored by Alberto-Culver's VO5 hairdressing products and American Tobacco's Tareyton cigarettes. It was the first television show to feature the Smothers Brothers as regulars, following a series of night club and guest appearances.[2] It lasted one season, consisting of 32 episodes.

It was the network's last sitcom filmed in black-and-white; shortly after its final telecast, all CBS prime-time series were transmitted in color.[3] In 1986, two decades after cancellation, reruns were seen on Nick at Nite.[4]

Synopsis

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Dick Smothers played himself as a rising young executive at Pandora Publications, working for publisher Leonard J. Costello (Roland Winters). Brother Tom had been lost at sea two years earlier and now shows up as an apprentice angel assigned to do good deeds on Earth to earn his wings and become a full-fledged angel. Of course, Tom's efforts to help people never seem to work as planned and Dick had to help him clean up the mess. Tom received his orders from Ralph, his unseen and unheard boss. The series also featured Harriet MacGibbon as Mrs. Harriet Costello, and on occasion, Ann Elder as Dick's co-worker and girlfriend, Janet. Eileen O'Neill also appeared in several episodes as another of Dick's girlfriends, Wanda. As was typical of the Smothers Brothers in The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Dick was typically the straight man to Tom's humorous antics.

Creative control struggles

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The series was produced by Four Star Television in association with the brothers' Knave Productions (named for Tom's catchphrase "Curb Your Tongue, Knave!" and the title of their 1963 record album).

This series may have inspired the Brothers' more successful later series The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in that Tom Smothers had been critical of the series as not being compatible with the brothers' strengths (in fact, he fought with Four Star executives over more creative control of the series, earning an ulcer and irritating his marital relationship to the point of divorce at the end of the season).

For instance, neither brother played their instruments on the show (with one exception, at the beginning of "'Twas The Week Before Christmas" episode), and it was not until halfway through the season that they sang the theme song.

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"There's Something About a Sailor"Fred de CordovaAlex GottliebSeptember 17, 1965 (1965-09-17)
Dick's life is turned upside down when his dead brother Tommy returns to Earth as an apprentice angel. An uncredited Gary Owens narrates the opening.
2"Take a Tramp to Lunch This Week"Fred de CordovaArnold Margolin & Jim ParkerSeptember 24, 1965 (1965-09-24)
Tommy searches for a writer.
3"A Boarding House Is Not a Home"Charles T. BartonLila Garrett & Bernie KahnOctober 1, 1965 (1965-10-01)
Tommy tries to save a local boardinghouse. With Madge Blake and Charles Lane.
4"Is Your Wig Wam?"Charles T. BartonArthur WeingartenOctober 8, 1965 (1965-10-08)
Tommy's assigned to help a native tribe get permission to build a hospital.
5"Pay the Man the $27.95"Fred de CordovaAlex GottliebOctober 15, 1965 (1965-10-15)
Tommy gets a job selling magazine subscriptions.
6"Tear Out the Presses, Stop the Front Page"Sidney MillerGerald Gardner & Dee CarusoOctober 22, 1965 (1965-10-22)
Tommy tries to convince Dick's boss to invest in a failing newspaper.
7"You're Only Old Once"Sidney MillerJack RaymondOctober 29, 1965 (1965-10-29)
Tommy is aged 70 years in order to help the residents of a nursing home.
8"I Wouldn't Miss My Own Funeral for Anything"Charles T. BartonUnknownNovember 5, 1965 (1965-11-05)
Dick is presented with the death benefit from Tommy's policy -- $800.
9"Halo in the Ring"Fred de CordovaGerald Gardner & Dee CarusoNovember 12, 1965 (1965-11-12)
Tommy must track down a missing prizefighter.
10"It Don't Mean a Dang if It Ain't Got That Twang"H. Bruce HumberstoneArnold Margolin & Jim ParkerNovember 19, 1965 (1965-11-19)
Tommy tries to help a struggling songwriter.
11"Boys Will Be Playboys"H. Bruce HumberstoneRalph Goodman & Ray AllenNovember 26, 1965 (1965-11-26)
In order to protect a Texas millionaire, Tommy assumes the identity of a wealthy playboy. With Wayne Rogers.
12"Immaterial Witness"Fred de CordovaGene ThompsonDecember 3, 1965 (1965-12-03)
Tommy latest assignment is to help a reformed gangster.
13"Here Comes the Bridegroom"Sidney MillerJoseph HoffmanDecember 10, 1965 (1965-12-10)
Tommy tries his hand at matchmaking. With Betty Lynn.
14"'Twas the Week Before Christmas"Sidney MillerTeleplay: Alex Gottlieb
Story: David Zeitlin		December 17, 1965 (1965-12-17)
Dick and Tommy struggle to get toys for needy children at Christmas. Featuring a small role for a very young Eve Plumb.
15"Happiness Is a Guy Named Happy"UnknownUnknownDecember 24, 1965 (1965-12-24)
16"The Rise and Fall of the Wedding Cake"UnknownUnknownDecember 31, 1965 (1965-12-31)
17"Outside Inside Hollywood"Charles T. BartonGerald Gardner & Dee CarusoJanuary 7, 1966 (1966-01-07)
Tommy is assigned to save Dick from unemployment, as his job will be taken over by a machine. With Alan Reed.
18"The Hawaiian Caper"Charles T. BartonAlex GottliebJanuary 14, 1966 (1966-01-14)
When Mr. Costello vacations in Hawaii, he has to summon Dick when he gets himself into trouble -- and Tommy comes along to help. With Keye Luke.
19"Never Trust a Naked Rembrandt"Fred de CordovaArt WeingartenJanuary 21, 1966 (1966-01-21)
Tommy tries to reform a burglar, who still wants to pull off one last heist.
20"Harried, Italian Style"Norman FosterJim Parker & Arnold MargolinJanuary 28, 1966 (1966-01-28)
Dick's job involves him keeping watch over an impetuous and high-strung Italian movie actress; Tommy's help just makes things more chaotic.
21"The Big Newsboy War"Norman FosterJack RaymondFebruary 4, 1966 (1966-02-04)
In an effort to move beyond probationary angel status, Tommy poses as a newsboy so he can find deserving people to help.
22"We'd Rather Switch Than Fight"UnknownUnknownFebruary 11, 1966 (1966-02-11)
23"The Ghost Is Clear"UnknownUnknownFebruary 18, 1966 (1966-02-18)
24"Heaven Help the Dropout"UnknownUnknownFebruary 25, 1966 (1966-02-25)
25"His Honor, the Crook"UnknownUnknownMarch 4, 1966 (1966-03-04)
26"Her Number Is 36-22-35"UnknownUnknownMarch 11, 1966 (1966-03-11)
27"The Girl from R.A.L.P.H."UnknownUnknownMarch 18, 1966 (1966-03-18)
28"The Boss Who Came to Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner"UnknownUnknownMarch 25, 1966 (1966-03-25)
29"How to Succeed in Business and Be Really Trying"UnknownUnknownApril 1, 1966 (1966-04-01)
30"I'm in Love with a Mortal"UnknownUnknownApril 8, 1966 (1966-04-08)
31"A Wolf in Sheik's Clothing"UnknownUnknownApril 15, 1966 (1966-04-15)
32"Wash You Were Here"UnknownUnknownApril 22, 1966 (1966-04-22)

References

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  1. ^ Spelling, Aaron; Graham, Jefferson (2002). Aaron Spelling: A Prime-Time Life. Macmillan p. 54. ISBN 978-0-3123-1344-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ McKairnes, Jim (January 31, 2017). "50-year flashback: The rebellious 'Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour'". USA Today. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  3. ^ Dalton, Mary M.; Linder, Laura R. (2016). The Sitcom Reader, Second Edition: America Re-viewed, Still Skewed. SUNY Press p. 81. ISBN 978-1-4384-6131-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Mendoza, N. F. (June 25, 1995). "Nick's Nites to Remember". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
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