Smothered - The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

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Sociopolitical, Arts Documentary directed by Maureen Muldaur and published by Bravo in 2002 - English narration

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"The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" (1967-1969) started out as a typical American comedy/variety program. When the show became popular and began to use humor and satire to criticize the American involvement in the Vietnam War, CBS network censors and executives became uneasy and sought to modify or remove the show. This Bravo cable channel documentary tells what happened behind the scenes at the network, how the people involved were affected, and why the show was ultimately cancelled.

Chock full of hilarious, outrageous, and rarely seen clips from the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, "Smothered" features interviews and appearances by a who's who of celebrity writers, performers and network honchos, including Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, Pete Seeger, Rob Reiner, Steve Martin, Bill Maher and the Smothers Brothers themselves. Together, they reveal how this groundbreaking television program became a hot bed of controversy, where media, politics, and the two funny guys clashed together - igniting laughter and social consciousness across the USA.

More than a film, "Smothered" is an incredible slice of American media and pop-culture history. It tells the story of the censorship struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, broadcast on CBS from 1967 until it was prematurely struck from the airwaves in 1969. As beloved hosts of the infamously funny variety show, Tom and Dick Smothers pioneered a turning point in American television history, using friendly folk music and wholesome charm to bring a new brand of political commentary to the American public. In the years of such escapist entertainment as Bewitched, Bonanza and The Beverly Hillbillies, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour broke all the rules and captured the nation's attention, paving the way for such hit television shows as Saturday Night Live and Late Night with David Letterman.