List Price: $49.98You Pay Only: $24.99 You Save: $24.99 (50%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0610583346398
Format: Box set, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Label: Time Life Entertainment
Manufacturer: Time Life Entertainment
Number Of Items: 4
Publisher: Time Life Entertainment
Region Code: 1
Release Date: September 16, 2008
Running Time: 840 minutes
Sales Rank: 745
Studio: Time Life Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
This 4 DVD set includes 11 star packed episodes from the third and final season of the hour-long variety show, uncensored, just as they were originally meant to be aired. The guest list reads like a '60s who's who, including comedy stars like George Carlin, Bob Newhart, Steve Martin, Jackie Mason, Jonathan Winters, David Steinberg and musical performances by The Doors, Ike & Tina Turner, Donovan, Harry Belafonte, Ray Charles, Judy Collins, Liberace, Joan Baez, the cast of Hair and more.
Amazon.com:
O, Brothers, where art thou? That's what fans have long asked about the DVD release of the controversial, infamously cancelled The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. In his thoughtful and candid audio introduction, Tommy Smothers admits he was reluctant to release the show on DVD, thinking it might be best left to memory as 'a fantastic show of its time.' He needn't have worried. No mere '60s time capsule relic, these 11 episodes from The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour's final season are still as funny and entertaining as remembered. After 40 years, the political and social satire and bold anti-war stance are still sharp. With its mix of old-school show business and counterculture comedy, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour revolutionized the staid variety show format for a new generation, and ultimately paved the way for shows such as Saturday Night Live. When the clean-cut brothers got their own variety series, no one expected them to make waves. But at a time when TV's most popular programs offered pure escapism, head writer Mason Williams (and a staff that included Steve Martin and Bob 'Officer Judy' Einstein) wanted to push the show in a more subversive direction, and Tommy, who only played dumb opposite his brother, sought and was granted (he thought) creative control from the network. By this third season in the tumultuous year of 1968, the brothers and the show were fully and unapologetically politicized. In the season opener that kicks off this set, their appearance has radically changed. Gone are their signature blazers, and both sport mustaches. With 'beeping censors lurking in the wings,' the Smothers defiantly sing, 'We're still here.' Among this set's many highlights: Harry Belafonte's performance of 'Don't Stop the Carnival' juxtaposed with footage of the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention, which the censors did cut, forcing a noticeably upset Tom and Dick to fill in with an audience Q&A (also included as an extra); the benchmark sketch, 'A Fable for Our Time,' featuring impressionist David Frye going medieval on Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, George Wallace, and Richard Nixon; a surprise appearance by George Harrison; a charming Donovan sing-along to 'Happiness Runs'; and the episode never aired by CBS (and the one said to have gotten the show cancelled) featuring David Steinberg's 'Jonah' sermonette. The fourth disc is devoted to deadpan ensemble member Pat Paulsen, whose grass-roots campaign for the White House is chronicled in 'Pat Paulsen for President,' a special narrated by Henry Fonda. Many happy hours will be spent watching the treasure trove of bonus features, including the Comedy Hour reunion at the 2000 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, never-before-seen 'Paulsen for President' outtakes with Robert F. Kennedy (his footage was cut in the wake of his assassination), a delightful bit in which performers from Barbara Feldon and Nancy Sinatra to Jackie Mason hum the Hour's cheerful theme song; contemporary interviews with performers, and footage of the brothers' post-cancellation press conference. Worth the wait, this is one of the year's best DVD sets, and one that does this landmark show justice. --Donald Liebenson
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - SJSU & ATO Alumni make good!!!
Not only do I follow in the mightly footsteps of Tommy and Dicky as an ATO brother and SJSU alumni, but I grew up watching this show...without knowing all the strife going on behind the scenes (I was about 12 at the time). So I appreciated it then and now for how funny and well written the shows were (heck, look at the writers!), through the eyes of a 12 year old. This is an amazing release I had been wishing and hoping for...for years and years. I am so happy to finally see this and cannot wait for Seasons 1&2. If you appreciate great humor, wonderful and timeless musical performances, historical treasures, and the wonder of Tom and Dick Smothers, buy this box set immediately!!!
Rating:  - Duh! Can we READ, people!? --
The packaging reads: "The BEST of . . . ."
That obviously means "incomplete," DUH!
I'll wait for the complete.
Rating: - Smothers Brothers good but dated
I am thoroughly enjoying seeing the Smothers Brothers Shows with my family. However, we frequently have to stop the show to explain to our children (22,20, 13)why certain things are funny. We were there and all we have to do is look at the screen or the clothes and it's funny. People who werent' there miss a lot of the context. I had forgotten over the years just how incredibly talented Tom & Dick Smothers are.
Rating:  - "better than nothing... but not very good" sums it up perfectly
Definitely worth reading the reviews on this one. "julia "bluebird1028"" & "feltonfan" are on the money here.
The material itself takes its place among the greatest variety-comedy shows ever produced. It's too bad the producers of this set didn't treat it as such.
It most certainly is NOT uncensored - the prior reviewers fleshed that out well. BUT - there are some very jarring and puzzling edits here. In several places a performer's line is actually removed (bleeped) - as in lips moving but no sound - which leads one to question what exactly was used as the source material. There are a few awful edits - David Frye's routine has a particularly rough cut.
This is quite unlike the other DVD revisits to old series. In those, all episodes of a season are presented in chronological order. Not even close here. For example, at the end of episode 1, the Smothers tell us the Beatles will be on the next show. Great! Except, that episode is nowhere to be seen (music rights?), as we skip from "#202" (season 3, episode 1) to "#212" (season 3, episode 10?). Greeeeattt...
Quality is strange - vertical green sync bars on the left margin sometimes. Other times arced lines at the corners, as though we were watching on a 1950's TV. While it is reasonable to expect quality issues with material this old, compared to other DVD sets of the same era (e.g. "That Girl") the quality here is quite below average.
For those of us that grew up looking ... Read More
Rating: - Politically incorrect humor at its best
Other reviewers have covered quite well details of the Smothers Brothers TV series as well as this DVD set of the third season, so I won't repeat them here. I will though heartily praise this ground breaking program and say how happy I am that its third season is now available on DVD. I'll also add to the requests for the release of the first two seasons. Caustic and unfettered programs mocking politics and various human foibles are common on television these days but they weren't before the Smother Brothers pioneered such programing. Tom and Dick Smothers didn't just invent a new format, they showed that it could be hilariously funny. If you enjoy politically incorrect humor, please get this set and see how well it can be done.
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