Tom Smothers
Although best known as his on-stage persona of "Tommy," the gentle but easily irked half of the folk singing duo The Smothers Brothers, actor, writer and musician Tom Smothers was also one of the most socially conscious talents in Hollywood during the 1960s. With younger brother Dick, he formed a musical act that combined easy-going humor with traditional folk songs; their popularity on the nightclub circuit led to their own series, "The Smothers Brothers Show" (CBS, 1965-66). Smothers hit his true stride as an entertainer and social commentator with "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" (CBS, 1967-69), which began life as a typical variety program based around the duo's act. But Smothers moved the focus of the show to satiric jabs at the social and political ills of the day, including the war in Vietnam and civil rights. The show came under heavy fire from the network, which censored performances by politically-charged performers and even whole episodes before pulling the plug on the program in 1969. Smothers continued to return to television over the next three decades, both as a solo act and with his brother, though none of his subsequent efforts met the same level of quality as their 1960s variety show. Their contributions to television were largely overshadowed by their enduring popularity as a comedy act, but the 2002 documentary "Smothered" and a special Emmy Award in 2008 served as excellent reminders that Tom Smothers' contributions to the level of political discourse on American television were immeasurable.
Photos
Tom Smothers
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
100% |
|
Live at Mister Kelly's | Self | - | 2021 |
60% |
|
Roseanne for President! | Self | $3.7K | 2015 |
80% |
|
The Informant! | Dwayne Andreas (Character) | $33.3M | 2009 |
No Score Yet |
|
Once Upon a Mattress | King Sextimus (Character) | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet |
|
Smothered: The Great Smothers Brothers Censorship Wars | Unknown (Character) | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
Pandemonium | Cooper (Character) | - | 1982 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Terror at Alcatraz | Bones Howard (Character) | - | 1982 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | There Goes the Bride | Timothy Westerby (Character) | - | 1980 |
60% |
|
Serial | Reverend Spike (Character) | - | 1980 |
100% |
|
The Kids Are Alright | Self | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet |
|
Silver Bears | Donald Luckman (Character) | - | 1978 |
No Score Yet |
|
Bear Who Slept Through Christmas | Unknown (Character) | - | 1973 |
60% |
|
Get to Know Your Rabbit | Donald Beeman (Character) | - | 1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Another Nice Mess | Producer | - | 1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Andy's Love Concert | Self | - | 1969 |
No Score Yet |
|
Alice Through the Looking Glass | Tweedledum (Character) | - | 1966 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
85% | 76% | The Simpsons | imself (Guest Voice) | 2009 |
71% | No Score Yet | Life With Bonnie | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003 |
67% | No Score Yet | Norm | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2001 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Maggie | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Suddenly Susan | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997-1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tales of the Unexpected | Marvin Castlemore (Character) | 1984 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hotel | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1984 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Fantasy Island | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1982 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Van Dyke & Company | Guest | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Love, American Style | The Kidnapper (Character) | 1971 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour | Unknown (Character) | 1967-1969 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | What's My Line? | Guest | 1967 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Smothers Brothers Show | Self | 1965-1966 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | I've Got a Secret | Guest | 1964 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Judy Garland Show | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1963 |