Classic Television - Prime Time

The Smothers Summer Show

Original Network

ABC

Original Run

July 8, 1970 - September 16, 1970

Starring

Tom Smothers

Dick Smothers

Sally Struthers

In July-September, 1970, 'The Smothers Summer Show' was mounted on ABC. The alphabet network (and the brothers) hoped they could pick up where everyone left off, eleven new episodes were ordered, but ratings were light from the beginning.

Bold experiments were tried, including some mellow shows with no studio audience. "They really didn't care" Tommy Smothers said about working with ABC, "They're not interested in new shows. They're not conditioned that way. One young writer said to me in amazement 'How could you possibly do a show without an audience?'" One series highlight was a short film by Academy Award winning designer Saul Bass.

It was hoped that the Wednesday night series would catch on and ABC would exercise its option to renew the show in January, but the show was no match for Hawaii Five-0 on CBS. It didn't help that the Smothers show followed another variety hour, one hosted by the Everly Brothers. The audience was brothered out by the time the Smothers came on at ten.

Tommy Smothers had this to say about the Smothers Brothers Summer Show in The Saturday Review: "We compromised. Everybody knew the situation. The network wanted the same kind of stand-up variety show - but without the satire. The budget was low, the network's concept was singers and dancers. There was no fun in it anymore; our momentum was broken. I was embarrassed to see the early shows, but the network liked them."

The last episode of the series was a rousing show with guests Edwin Hawkins Singers ("Oh Happy Day"), John Denver and Pat Paulsen singing "There's no Business like Show Business" as the cast members said goodbye.