The Other Smothers

About a decade ago, I wrote a piece here about the Smothers Brothers where I mentioned that few people remember that their first TV series was not their famous Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour variety show that ran from 1967-69 before getting into ongoing censorship problems with CBS.  Rather, I noted that they’d had a sitcom called The Smothers Brothers Show that was on for a season in 1965.  It was about Tom returning to earth as an angel and getting involved with brother Dick’s life.  I mentioned, too, that I even still remembered the theme song and quoted the lyrics. 

Tonight you'll meet

Two brothers who

Just happen to be us.

Though Tom is slightly different --

A problem we will now discuss.

My brother Tom

Was lost at sea

Without his water wings.

And now he is an angel

And tries to do amazing things.

That's right!

Brother Dick,

It's no trick

If you see

Lots of different people

Who look a lot like me.

An angel on

A visit to

His brother her below.

There's miracles astart

But they always come apart

On the Smothers Brothers Show.

There's miracles astart

But they always come apart

On the Smothers Brothers Show.

Well, it turns out that I’ve found an episode of that show!  It’s not a particularly great one, it’s their Christmas episode that has to do with donating toys to Marines.  But it’s still fun to see something long-forgotten.  The show always began with a little dialogue between the two before the theme song kicks in, and you’ll get to see that I came pretty close.  (I think I got one word wrong – it’s “faces”, not “people.)  They also sing a number in the opening scene, which I don’t remember if that was always the case or not. 

Of note, as well, as is that near the end, around the 18-19 minute mark, there’s a scene in a department store, and a very little girl has a smart part and a line.  Watching the credits at the end, it happens that she’s Eve Plumb, who four years later would play ‘Jan Brady’ on The Brady Bunch. 

Also worth mentioning is that the show was co-created by Aaron Spelling, who later would executive produce such series as Beverly Hills, 90210; Melrose Place, Dynasty and Charlie’s Angels.  (Well, at least he got one show with angels to succeed…)  And it was produced by Fred DeCordova, who would produce The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Anyway, here’s the episode from their other show –