Tommy Smothers disses GW Bush on national TV (AT&T Golf Tournament)

[Purrfessor]

Near the end of an interview after he'd hit his tee shot on the 15th hole at Pebble Beach on Thursday-- during the first round of the AT&T National Pro Am--Tommy Smothers dissed GW Bush.

Asked about missing the cut so often, and his chances of making the cut this year, Smothers said he believed he'll get the chance to play on Sunday. "Right now we're eight under par," he said.

The interviewer promptly noted that that's not what the scoreboard said.

"Then ask me why I lied," said Smothers.

"OK, why did you lie?" asked the interviewer.

"National Policy," replied Smothers, walking away and smiling to the camera.

Tommy Smothers: This week's American Patriot

[Wilms]

1. !

:wow:

[Bjornsdotter]

2. ROFLMAO

They need to bring back the Smothers Brothers....could you imagine what their show would be like now?

Cheers

[WePurrsevere]

18. Heck I'd even start watching more TV if they had a show again. They were

the best although I also loved Laugh In... they got some pretty good digs in now and then as well.

[glitch]

3. Adore him! nt

[AzDar]

4. Sweet.....and very good to hear! n/t

[Auntie Bush]

5. So our new national policy is to lie...that's a good one! n/t

[LiberalAndProud]

6. If Tommy had a show with his brother on ABC ...

I would watch it.

(How I long for yesteryear...)

[calimary]

23. Tell me about it! I loved that show - even before I was all that

politically awake. Still knew, deep down, that this was good stuff.

Tommy Smothers has spoken out about the Snotnose-in-chief before, if I'm not mistaken.

[bluerum]

7. I always did like that guy. eom

[otohara]

8. Ha, ha, ha,....Good for Him

do you have a link?

[Purrfessor]

24. Sorry I don't have a link........

I saw it on TV when it happened.

I apologize for not responding sooner. I just walked in from playing golf all afternoon.

[MoJoWorkin]

9. Love it! The Smother's Brothers---I am glad to see they are still at it.

It is deja vu for Tommy, I am sure, as they were blacklisted during the Nixon regime.

[DanCa]

10. Roflmao.

Man I am now currious as too what pro bowlers think of Georgie porgie :D JK

[acmavm]

11. Shows like the Smothers Brothers did a lot of damage to the repukes

and the Nixon admin. The awareness it spread is impossible to describe. Then so did All in the Family (I still watch the reruns). We need a Norman Lear right now.

[demosincebirth]

13. thats why their show was pulled off the air even though it was

popular.

[Steely_Dan]

29. You're Right, But...

There is little doubt that they were pulled off the air because of their anti-war position...

However, there was a specific incident that caused them to be pulled. If I remember correctly, it was because they had told a joke concerning God and religion. I don't recall the joke, but it was the reason they used to terminate their show,

I recall an interview with Tommy days after the show was cancelled. He was responding to those who felt offended by the joke they told. He said something to the effect ...that if we are made in God's image then I have to assume that He has a sense of humor...In fact, if He has a sense of humor, it must be the greatest sense of humor in the cosmos.

I thought that it was a great response. It was like saying that if anyone understood the joke, God certainly did.

-Paige

[demosincebirth]

35. You have a good memory. I barely remember an incident like the

one you mentioned. I do remember Geo Carlin as the Hipidy dipidy mailman

[BlueEyedSon]

38. Much more here

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about.aspx?id=12267

Paulson: If I could talk about one final chapter on the television show — because I think a lot of people miss the direct correlation between the First Amendment and government — in the case of your being fired from CBS, and it's a remarkable story in that the show is profitable, the ratings are good, and suddenly we have a new president, Richard Nixon, and within six weeks you're off the air. The controversy builds around a show to be broadcast on Easter. One of the most frequently cited reasons for CBS' objecting was a sermonette to be done by David Steinberg. But less often reported is that you took the opportunity in this show to make fun of a senator.

Smothers: Pastore?

Paulson: Yes, who was holding hearings on the content of television. Oddly enough, just weeks before your firing, Frank Stanton at CBS took a very strong stand and said to Senator Pastore, "We are not going to submit our programming to this industry organization to have them do pre-screening." That was the proposal. The theme always is the government doesn't want to censor you. "We don't want to have to censor you so please censor yourself." And CBS took a very strong First Amendment position. And then, like that, you're gone.

Smothers: They also took a position and turned around and had all of our shows pre-screened for every single affiliate. But we got some of these Nixon tapes and it was very powerful. It's a different dynamic now, media versus government. It's reversed. But then, when Nixon said, "I want those guys off," they're off. Now if Humphrey had been elected, we would have been on. So those are just the way things happen.

Paulson: And you think Richard Nixon had something to do with —

Smothers: Oh, absolutely.

And here (we really don't realize how edgy TV was then, and how groundbreaking the 'Brothers were):
http://campus.queens.edu/depts/english/smothers%20brothers.htm

I highly recommend the documentary "Smothered", which talks about the rise and fall of the show:
http://dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=5479
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007CVSP/ref=ase_dvdtalk/104-6047043-2304755?s=dvd&v=glance&n=130&tagActionCode=dvdtalk



It's like deja vu of Nixon & Vietnam all over again.... we could sure use a modern-day Tom & Dickie right now!

[tabasco]

12. I remember the Smothers Brothers when I was a kid.

They were so funny, even for a little kid.

Good for Tommy. I hope his brother is just as smart.

[DemoTex]

14. Ain't it the truth!

Thanks Tommy!

[OneTwentyoNine]

15. Him and his brother had REAL guts on TV during VN

They took on the VN War on National TV and took the heat for it. Those guys are something else!

[mark11727]

16. "Mom always liked you best...!"

[LiberalAndProud]

21. : snicker :

Good one!

[NoFederales]

17. Now I am in a "state of Yo"

NoFederales

[virgdem]

19. This does not surprise me one bit...

Hubby and I saw the Smothers Brothers back in November here in Norfolk, VA and they were wonderful. Tommy also had many funny comments on this disastrous admin. They were political in the 60's, hence their firing by CBS, and they haven't changed at all. For those who remembered and loved them, if they play in your area, go and see them. They still look the same, only a little older and grayer.

[hootinholler]

20. That deserves the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate!

Wish I had a pic.

-Hoot

[HeeBGBz]

22. Love that Smo Bro

Both then and now.

[distantearlywarning]

25. I used to like the Smothers Brothers when I was a kid.

Glad to see at least one of them is still around and kicking!

[Gloria]

26. Boy, I remember the Smothers Bros. and Viet Nam...and how they

were kicked off. Keep talking, Tommy!!!!

[chieftain]

27. "Knee Deep in the Big Muddy and the Big Fool Said Push On'

It was a great moment on the Smothers Brothers, when Pete Seegar sang that song as a warning on Vietnam. Change of time, change of war front, change of fools, but the truth remains the same. Those that speak out against the idiocy of national policy are destined to be canceled, villified and surveiled.

[ProudDad]

30. NBC censored that song the first time

When Pete sang it on the Brother's show -- his first national appearance since being blacklisted in the early 50's -- they cut it out of the show. The brothers went ballistic and the following week, the network had to show it...

The brothers had to get ballistic nearly every week... They were only on for two seasons as I remember...

Today's mass media would NEVER let them on the air unless they were cartoon figures on the Simpsons.

[buddysmellgood]

28. I hope Can o Fun or someone will post it.

[blue neen]

31. We could sure use the Smothers Brothers show right now!

They always tell it like it is. :)

Remember Pat Paulsen for President?

[Blue_In_AK]

34. I saw him in Denver when he was running...

It was great. So many people turned out in the streets, you would have thought it was a "real" campaign.

[ClassWarrior]

32. I luvs the YoYo Man!!

Go Tommy!

NGU.

[Blue_In_AK]

33. The Smothers Brothers have always been right on it...

I wish they were still on TV.

[zeemike]

36. That's our Tommy

He is a master of the subtle biting humor.
I have a lot of good memories of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

[ngGale]

37. Perfect....

as always, Tommy!:)

[BlueEyedSon]

39. Hope he watches out for the pumas in the crevasses.

[yorkiemommie1]

40. LOL !!!!

good shot, tommy ! loved you back in the day, love you now!!

[Ned_Devine]

41. Cheers Tommy Smothers!