Tom Smothers, half of the provocative Smothers Brothers comedy duo, dies at 86

Tom Smothers, one-half of the comedy duo Smothers Brothers, has died "following a recent battle with cancer." He was 86.

In a statement via the National Comedy Center, the comedian's brother and "Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" co-host, Dick Smothers remembered Tom Smothers as "a one-of-a-kind creative partner."

"I am forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with him, on and off stage, for over 60 years. Our relationship was like a good marriage – the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another," Dick Smothers concluded. "We were truly blessed."

Together, Tom and Dick Smothers helmed the highly controversial comedy hour on CBS from 1967 to 1969. The hot takes on American life paved the way for sketch shows like "Saturday Night Live" and cultural commentary in modern late night television such as "The Daily Show" and "Late Night with Seth Meyers."

"Tom Smothers was not only an extraordinary comedic talent, who, together with his brother Dick, became the most enduring comedy duo in history, entertaining the world for over six decades – but was a true champion for freedom of speech, harnessing the power of comedy to push boundaries and our political consciousness," Journey Gunderson, National Comedy Center Executive Director, said in a statement. "Tom was a true pioneer who changed the face of television and transformed our culture."

Viewer complaints grew as Smothers' ratings did, and conflicts with the network became routine as CBS, perhaps influenced by chief Frank Stanton’s relationship with President Lyndon Johnson, tried to reign in the stars. (One issue: Calling the Vietnam War a folly as the sons and daughters of viewers were dying there.) But given creative control of their series early on, the brothers dug in their heels.

As David Letterman would do decades later, they frequently targeted network bosses in their monologues: After a sketch about TV censors was deemed unacceptable by CBS’s own censors,  Tom Smothers poked fun at the action during a subsequent episode and then showed close-ups of the offending script’s pages to the audience.

Eventually, CBS demanded delivery of shows well in advance for review. The Smothers cried foul. (By the third season, advance screeners were offered as appeasement to local stations, too, since some were refusing to air the show.) War was declared. The press, often tipped by Tom, ate it up. By the spring of 1969, in the wake of one showdown too many, CBS finally pulled the plug, citing a technicality (failure to deliver episodes).

He changed television forever.Why we all owe thanks to the genius of Norman Lear.

A breach-of-contract suit against the network followed. It was a battle the brothers eventually won more than four years later, after CBS had much earlier won the war. "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" was ancient history, but it also made history.

The brothers were voted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2008.

Tom Smothers is survived by his children Bo and Riley Rose Smothers as well as his grandchildren.

Contributing: Jim McKairnes

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