The Smothers Brothers Show

Tom Smothers is an incompetent apprentice angel,sent back to earth by angel supervisor "Ralph" to earn his spurs(er..wings?),by helping people,using "angel powers",usually roping his frequently exasperated living brother Dick into his adventures. This was the first of the Smothers brothers TV shows of their own,a half hour black and white sitcom,which lasted a year,the premise of which was hardly uniquely "whacky" in the era of "I dream of Jeannie","the Munsters" and the notorious "My mother the car".The brothers' status in the TV comedy pantheon is based on their later "satirical" variety-sketch show "The Smothers brothers comedy hour",and they seem embarrassed about,and dismissive of this predecessor.However,the show is a perfectly acceptable example of the "fantasy" sitcom,so popular at this time,and is by no means unworthy as a showcase for their talents.Each episode starts with a short stand up routine by way of an introduction to the story.Then Tom-reluctant Dick often in tow-launches into his latest "angel assignment"-to end a hillbilly feud,make sure an ex con doesn't return to crime,or whatever.Like its contemporaries,sometimes silliness threatens to overwhelm the whole thing,and Tom's comic persona can become irritating if allowed too much leeway.But the presence of fine supporting casts,especially co-star Roland Winters-as Dick's blustering boss at "Pandora publications"-and guests like Edward Andrews,Gerald Mohr and Percy Helton,good production from the reliable "4 Star" television company and interesting stories,all complement the likable brothers,helping to make a very watchable show.

This sitcom may well wear better today than the "Smothers brothers comedy hour",where the agitprop comedy is very much anchored in the political and societal concerns of the late 60s(nothing dates like satire!).Modern audiences who enjoy the escapist fantasy sitcoms of the 60s,and have exhausted the likes of "Bewitched",might enjoy discovering this "lost" show-rarely seen since its original transmission.A colorized version would do no harm to the "integrity" of the series,and enhance the slick "Madison Avenue 60s" clothes.

I didn't think there were that many people who actually remembered this show. I do not recall too many of the episodes, but, yes, the theme song still sticks in my head......or most of it. I seem to remember it this way, but please, anyone feel free to correct:

Tonight you'll meet, two brothers who, Just happen to be us

Though Tommy is an angel, A problem we will now discuss.

Brother Tom was lost at sea, Without his water wings,

And now he is an angel, And tries to do amazing things.

That's right!.......

Brother Dick gets so sick as you'll see, Lot's of different people, Who look a lot like me!

.....and that's as far as I can go (out of useless brain cells, I guess)

...there was a sitcom.

A black and white half hour series on CBS. (I think it was the last season the networks had B&W during primetime). It lasted only one season, but had 32 episodes.

Drowned at sea many years earlier, Tom Smothers returns to earth as an apprentice angel, and takes up residence in the bachelor apartment of his living brother, Dick. Inept and ordered to assist people in distress, Tom reluctantly assisted by Dick, struggles to complete his assignments and acquire the status needed to become a full-fledged angel.

I barely remember this show. I remember looking forward to it, because the brothers were good when they did their musical stand-up routines.

This show was OK, but did not make the best use of their talents. It was not particularly popular, and only lasted one season; it appears that the Smothers Brothers were among the folks happy to see it go. Their later variety show format suited them much better.

On the other hand, other than a single episode of Burke's Law, this is the first acting exposure for the brothers, so was probably instrumental in their careers.

The rest of the cast - was there really a 'rest of the cast'? Roland Winters was in less than a third of the episodes. No one else in the credits comes close to that.

Props for the opening cartoon sequence, no biggy, but cute.

Perhaps this has potential for replay on Nickelodeon, but sixties sitcoms seem dated on replay - the pacing is slower, the acting and conversation stilted, the laugh track forced. Never again mainstream.

Try it once, if you've got nothing better to do.

Perhaps ADULTS in this time era did not enjoy the show as much as KIDS did! It was a shame children in this period of time did not have as much impact as children do today. There was not any show then, or now that carried these aspects of "Life after Death" in the same way that this show portrayed it.

The show also carried a special and personal meaning to me. This was due to my brother had drowned in March 1961, (I was 6 years old, and my brother was 7 at this time) and the thought that he was an Angel and could see me, helped me cope with his death.

When The Smothers Brothers became a variety show years later, I was already in tune to their type of comedy.

For this reason, I would like to thank this show and it's cast members.