The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, starring the folk singing, comedy duo Tom and Dick Smothers, premiered on CBS in February 1967. The controversial television variety show featured regulars such as Pat Paulsen, Leigh French, and Bob Einstein and guest performers such as countercultural icons like the Jefferson Airplane and the Doors to established favorites such as Kate Smith and Jimmy Durante. The collection consists of bound volumes of scripts for The Smothers Brothers comedy hour television show.

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, featuring the folk singing, comedy team Tom and Dick Smothers, premiered on CBS in February 1967. The variety show attracted a younger, politically engaged audience. The show's content featured irreverent digs at many dominant institutions such as organized religion and the presidency. It also included sketches celebrating the hippie drug culture and material opposing the war in Vietnam. These elements made The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour one of the most controversial television shows in television history. The Smothers Brothers' oppositional politics led to very public battles over censorship. As CBS attempted to dictate what was appropriate prime time entertainment fare, the Smothers tried to push the boundaries of acceptable speech on the medium. The recurring skirmishes between the brothers and the network culminated on 4 April 1969, one week before the end of the season, when CBS summarily threw the show off the air. Network president Robert D. Wood charged that the Smothers had not submitted a review tape of the upcoming show to the network in a timely manner. The Smothers accused CBS of infringing on their First Amendment rights.

16.0 linear feet (16 boxes)

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