RIP Tommy Smothers

[Rob Hanesworth]

Controversial, but genius in my opinion.

[Cosmic Wonder]

The Smother Brothers spoke truth to power.

Mike

[dradtke]

Damn.

[billhammond]

I always admired the looks (and sound) of his Guild D-55.

[howard lee]

Sigh. Another one.

[t-bob]

I liked/drank his wine - cab and mer - a looooong time


Anonymous Writer - “You are welcome to use my words, and, as you see, I prefer not to be quoted. Rewrite it anyway you like and claim it in whatever fashion makes sense to you."

"The secret is out, one of the premier vineyard properties in Sonoma County belongs to Remick Ridge. This vineyard and the Remick Ridge brand belong to Tommy Smothers of the Smothers Brothers fame. When Tommy and his grandfather Ed Remick started looking for vineyards in the early 70's they came upon this property in the hills of Sonoma and as Tom explains; his grandfather stuck out his finger and said "this is it" once you taste these wines you'll know that the finger pointed in the right direction. Tommy Smothers say's, "Making wine is so close to to show business. Wine like comedy, is subjective. Either people like your wine, or your songs, or your comedy, or they don't. Each is a creative process and you're only as good as your last effort."

[martinfever]

Yep, that gorgeous Guild was the first thing I thought of. He was a fine player and one funny guy.

[howard lee]

"Mom always liked you best!"

[Russell Letson]

Chocolate!

[billhammond]

I'm pretty sure I've posted this on SH previously, but it never gets old.

[millring]

I have so many wonderful Smothers Brothers memories. I got to see them live -- I was in my 40s and they came to the Wagon Wheel Playhouse here in Warsaw. They did not disappoint.

When I was just starting out as a potter I apprenticed with my friend, Doug. Doug had a reel-to-reel tape deck and had recently come into possession of several Smothers Brothers tapes. We sat wheel-by-wheel turning pots and laughing for hours.

"Comic Genius" is thrown about too freely, but in the case of Tommy, it's appropriate.

[millring]

This from Christine Lavin on facebook

Another one bites the dust. I was lucky enough to open for the Smothers Brothers twice, and then even got to visit them backstage in Las Vegas (where Tommy insisted we call John Platt at WFUV and leave him a crank call message).

Tommy did a yoyo demo in the show I opened for them and I told them if they had yoyos to sell at the merch table they'd become billionaires! So they looked me straight in the eye and offered me the opening act gig for the rest of their tour if I would sell yo-yos at the merch table. They were SERIOUS! But I told them I had other shows booked so I couldn't, and again they looked me straight in the eye and said, "Cancel them!" But I told them that's not the folk music way, so it never happened. But Tommy was some great yoyoist, too. He played an idiot onstage, but he was the brains behind the act. I loved their TV show, too, and I wrote a fan letter to their musical director, Mason Williams, when I was 12 years old and he wrote back!

One of the Smothers Brothers shows I opened was in Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA, and during their set I sat right in front of an extended family -- grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren. One of the children had a multi-color Mohawk hairdo -- and you know what? They ALL laughed at ALL the same stuff. That's how funny the Smothers Brothers were -- their humor crossed generations, it was clean, it was just so damn smart and funny. And to think I coulda been their yo-yo seller!!!

[Village Idiot]

I was a kid and I remember by folks watching the show laughing. When the interweb was invented I learned about the Smothers Brothers, and very much understand what they were laughing about. And agree with what they were laughing about. RIP to a guy I wish I was old enough to truly appreciate.

[Russell Letson]

I have a particular weakness for goofball/idiot comics and when I was teaching I noticed myself stealing their mannerisms as part of my pedagogical stagecraft. Tommy Smothers and Bill Daily (who played the nitwit airline pilot on The Bob Newhart Show) were particularly useful--great takes.

[billhammond]

Dec 27, 2023 19:39:26 GMT -5 Russell Letson said:

I have a particular weakness for goofball/idiot comics and when I was teaching I noticed myself stealing their mannerisms as part of my pedagogical stagecraft. Tommy Smothers and Bill Daily (who played the nitwit airline pilot on The Bob Newhart Show) were particularly useful--great takes.

Ah, beloved Howard. I remember an episode where he threw a party at his apartment, and asked his just-arrived guests what they would like to drink, ticking off an impressive list of libations, and after everyone told him their preference, he disappeared briefly and soon returned, pushing an airline cart rattling with miniature booze bottles.

[drlj]

I loved the Smothers Brothers. Like Bill, I really liked the looks of that Guild guitar.
I was surprised he was 86 but, then, I am surprised I am the age I am, too.
RIP Tommy.

[Tamarack]

May he rest in peace.

The Smothers Brothers introduced many baby boomers to the concept of speaking truth to power, and indeed to satire in general.

Not long after he left office, LBJ had a gracious comment:

"It is part of the price of leadership of this great and free nation to be the target of clever satirists. You have given the gift of laughter to our people. May we never grow so somber or self-important that we fail to appreciate the humor in our lives."

[coachdoc]

Dec 27, 2023 18:16:15 GMT -5 billhammond said:

I'm pretty sure I've posted this on SH previously, but it never gets old.

Hysterical.

[Marshall]

86. Not a bad run.

[TKennedy]

Hangman hangman slack your rope- slack it for a arrrrrg