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April 3, 1969 -- CBS Fired the Smothers Brothers
April 3, 2009  | By David Bianculli  | 2 comments
 
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Today, in 1969, CBS fired the Smothers Brothers.

Their variety series already had been renewed for a fourth season when CBS pulled the plug. "Fired, not cancelled," is what Tom always says when talking about the show, and it's a crucial distinction. Ostensibly, the brothers were fired for not delivering tapes of their shows in time for preview by affiliates, but what really did them in was using their prime time show to say something that mattered.

Or try to.

The show that was pulled by CBS and never shown, the one with the second comic sermonette by David Steinberg, ended with Tom acknowledging something no other prime-time TV was prepared to do that weekend. He noted the first anniversary of the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr., and said, "Let's hope his dream will someday come true."

In prime time, on broadcast TV, that type of political passion from an entertainment program was as rare then as it is now. 

 
 
 
 
 
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2 Comments
 
 
Thank you for sharing this amazing piece of content. You are doing a great job, thanks for it.
Oct 28, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Karen D Pearson
How backward people were then (and still). I was born August 1945 in the city of Lawrence KS; where basket ball was invented Univ of KS. I grew up with people from other countries and from different states. I'm glad I grew up in Lawrence in the 50's & 60's. Also with great parents and LOTS of Aunts, Uncles and cousins I had. Back in my father's days he was manager of B.F. Goodrich and everyone knew and liked him (he was born and raised in Iowa and Neb.) My mother was born and raised her early years in a small town close to Lawrence. The other half of the town knew her. As the saying goes: "Those were the days". I REALLY am sorry for other people who are so STUPID, they really miss out on knowing some really nice people. KDP
Jul 16, 2019   |  Reply
 
Kim from SK
Just googled because of your basketball comment...just as an FYI - "James Naismith, a Canadian who moved to the United States, invented basketball in Springfield, Massachusetts in the 1890s. This new sport soon became popular as an indoor sport that needed a minimal equipment, gaining popularity at high schools and colleges in Canada."
Aug 14, 2019
 
 
 
 
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