The latter part of last year, a day after Christmas to be exact, Tom Smothers passed away after a brief battle with cancer. He was 86 years old. One half of the legendary Smothers Brothers comedy team, Tom, along with his younger brother, Dick, entertained audiences for six decades. They were an extraordinary comedy duo, leading the way for other comedians to use their voices to speak up about issues that are far from funny — things like politics, racism, war. They championed free speech and stood up to censorship.
While Tom made his home in California, Dick ended up marrying “a girl from Niagara Falls, NY” and settled down in Western New York. My old boss lit up when he realized they were members of the same golf club. He called me into his office to tell me the news.
“Do you know who The Smothers Brothers are?” He asked.
“Yes,” I replied, “why?”
He explained he had seen Dick Smothers at the course and commented how wonderful it would be if we somehow managed to land an interview with him.
“Well,” I began, “he’s a member at your club. Ask him!”
The interview never happened but I remember thinking about the questions I might ask and musing about how marvelous it was to have someone like that — a television legend — quietly enjoying a round of golf more than 2,000 miles away from Hollywood.
After years on opposite coasts, The National Comedy Center brought the Smothers Brothers together again at the museum in Jamestown, NY in 2019. They cut the ribbon on an exhibit honoring their careers and contributions to comedy. It sparked a revival of sorts — the brothers once again performing together for the first time in about a decade.
Fast forward to this spring in Santa Rosa, California, a place about 90 minutes north of San Francisco. That’s where Tom had lived and where his family and friends had decided to hold a special celebration of life. The National Comedy Center was invited to help with the program and, wanting to immerse me in my new role, they invited me to come along.
I won’t share the details, as it was a private event, but suffice to say it was a beautiful tribute by the people who knew Tom Smothers best, loved him most and shared many laughs and memories with him over the years.
I will, however, share one personal story.
The attendees had started to file in, find their seats, chatting with one another. I recognized more than a few faces. Being so new to it all, I tried my best to be a cordial ambassador, helping out where I could, while also trying to stay out of everyone’s way.
Shortly before the program started, my new boss asked if I had met Dick Smothers. I told her no and she led the way to make the introductions. She told him a lot of very lovely, complimentary things about my previous life in television and then left us to chat.
We joked about his golf game, how love led him to Buffalo and then he started talking about his life, his career and his brother. He was warm and very kind.
“We didn’t set out to be what we were,” he offered, “it was an accident.” He emphasized the word “accident.”
“We did one thing, one time,” he continued, “and the audience laughed and so we kept doing it.”
Then, he said something I think I’ll hang onto forever. He said he believes he and Tom were successful not necessarily because they were good, but because they were different.
“That’s what matters,” he said, “that you are unique, that you are different, something people haven’t seen before.”
I offered that they were a great combination of both good and unique, conscious that tears had started to well up in my eyes.
“And then to see my brother up there,” he trailed off, looking up to the stage where a large black and white photo of a young Tom Smothers, eyes sparkling, gazed down at us both.
I offered my condolences, thanked him for his time and said goodbye.
Standing in the back of that room, I more than once contemplated how I had ended up there, the path we follow, the breadcrumbs life leaves.
It couldn’t all be an accident, could it?
This essay originally appeared in my column in the June 13, 2024 edition of the Perry Herald in Perry, NY under the title Legendary Chat.
I just watched them on a NCC YouTube the other day!
Being only just a kid, of about seven or so, I didn't perceive them to be controversial. I watched bits of the show at a friend's house from time to time - his parents watched it. His parents were a touch more "progressive" or "mod" than mine. The most memorable thing about them to me was the petty arguing and Tom's ditsy-aloof demeanor. I too, think they were good - singers, musicians, comedians, and MC/hosts - all in one. I believe they were in the right place in the right times with the right "schtick."
Great column! Once again, I go off on a deep-dive!