An Incidental Easter Weekend Anniversary: 41 Years Ago, CBS Fired the Smothers Brothers

On Easter Weekend in 1969, CBS refused to air the program Tom and Dick Smothers had supplied for telecast on Easter Sunday -- the one containing David Steinberg's second comic sermonette -- and fired off a memo which also fired the Smothers Brothers. So unhappy anniversary, guys, but thanks for letting me tell your story...

I'm a bit premature in wrapping up the entire post-publication experience of Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.' Even though it's been out for four months now, I'm still doing media interviews and the occasional lecture and book signing. But I can say, even at this point, that for a guy whose default setting is "worst-case scenario," I'm very, very happy with how the book was published, publicized and received.

I'm happier still that the brothers themselves, Tom and Dick, are pleased with the results. Well, Tom is -- Dick still hasn't read it, though he says it's the fourth book in the pile on his night stand. (I'm kind of amazed, and amused, and enchanted by that lack of vanity.)

But I'm sad that, at least for a while, the Smothers Brothers have decided to disband, after 50 years as a performing duo. According to Tom, their last concert appearances will be next month, May 15-16, at the Orleans hotel and casino in Las Vegas. That's 50 years, and a few months, since they stopped being a trio, and went to Aspen to perform as a duo at the Limelite.

Thanks for the ride, gentlemen. Be proud of yourselves.