A Smothers Brothers Hour

The following is an abbreviated list of the people whose career
lineage can be traced back to Tom Smothers: Bill Maher. Jon
Stewart. David Letterman. Stephen Colbert. Weird Al Yankovich.
Norman Lear. Steve Martin. George Carlin. Lorne Michaels. Penn
& Teller. The Dixie Chicks. The Who. Simon & Garfunkel.
Yeah, that’s all. All were either launched or deeply inspired by
Smothers and his pioneering work as creator and co-star of the
Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour from 1966 to 1969. That landmark
show, which was yanked from the air in its third season after
constant battles with CBS censors, blazed the trail and set the
standard for a mind-boggling list of innovative comedians and
social commentators. Smothers and brother Dick Smothers are the
subject of the brilliant new biography, “Dangerously Funny,” by
author and frequent guest host of NPR’s Fresh Air, David Bianculli.
The Smothers Brothers perform at the Orleans on May 15 and
16,  so we chatted with Tom Smothers about all the famous
people he helped launch – and those, like Bob Dylan and Steve
Martin, who he didn’t quite “get.” Plus, of course, Smothers has a
few thoughts on Vegas then and now.

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