Speaking Freely: Tom Smothers

S02 E02
Originally aired on May 29, 2001

[@maryannchaisson6742]

Oh Tom, you are missed. RIP 🇨🇦❤️🙏🙏🇨🇦

[@loranv3435]

Thanks for Sharing 😊 And remembering. Good 👍times 😂Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦

[@marge9996]

Great program. It's a crying shame this type of conversational intelligence is nearly vanished from the public discourse.

[@thomastimlin1724]

Yes, keep them dumb and voting, and procreating....

[@DBEdwards]

IT'S GONE DAMN IT. Gone. Nothing to replace it.

[@SteveBrant55]

This was a fascinating interview! Thank you! I've never heard Tom talk in such detail about those times and how he felt overall about the First Amendment and our government... not even at the Paley Center for Media event that celebrated he and his brother's work not too many years ago. We lost a real pioneer. He may not have marched like Joan Baez, but he and Dick had a huge platform... national television in prime time... and used it to make the world a better, more socially aware place. God bless, Tom Smothers.

[@DBEdwards]

God help us for our loss

[@carenmontgomery2384]

lt was the Smothers Brothers that had the courage to have Pete Seeger on their show when noone else would.

[@billkarmetsky4003]

Seeger was a socialist unionist socialist where he was rightfully blacklisted from the mainstream. But the mainstream is communist propaganda 24/7 so was his blacklisting just another diversion? Some cold war stunt?

[@January.]

*no one

[@wonderrob3225]

Did you actually hear all of that and get nothing out of it but a chance to correct someone's spelling? @@January.

[@tomdickandharry7024]

january, obviously he must’ve been referring tommy noone of herman’s hermits & NO ONE else!

[@DBEdwards]

yes

[@blackhorse11thACR]

Rest In Peace Tommy. You are dearly missed. I always loved watching the show when it was on. Tommy is a comedic genius.💜

[@ridgerunner4943]

SO eloquent. I was a young 13 yo boy when I watched the show in the late 60s, and it formulated my political thoughts since. Thank you, Tom. RIP

[@pftittl]

Me too!

[@DBEdwards]

Same here. 13 then. 68 now. And I REMEMBER. I AM REVERENT. GOD BLESS TOM SMOTHERS.

[@beinghere1494]

Amen, we need him now. But now we just have to channel his inspiration through our own hearts. I’m trying to remind myself that we have the power if we have the courage. I’m really glad I found this now at 81. Better late than never. Blessings fellow travelers 👍🌈

[@simbad909]

Two of greatest minds and voices of high value and intelligent entertainment of the modern era.

[@jbholmes99]

"Fire hydrant of Truth."

[@marshanager9314]

What an amazing powerful interview to show how television has changed. Ken Paulsen is amazing in so many ways but as an interviewer, it doesn't get any better than this. Bravo.

[@gregorycoogle7621]

I love listening to the guy! They were ahead of their time… God bless for all the good times they gave us!

[@njjeff201]

The Brothers in my opinion are a National Treasure. I don’t know why they aren’t on Comedy Central or HBO.

[@mariarooney6262]

Beautiful interview, beautiful man. Thank you for putting this on. My life was right in the middle of this. What wonderful memories that are triggered Watching and listening to this interview. ❤️

[@patcavasin5947]

Very good interview...Ken Paulsen asks the questions and actually listens to the answer. Very few interviewers, these days, do that. Tom Smothers is intelligent and well spoken.

[@carlsaganlives5112]

Has Pat declared for the upcoming election? He might have a good chance this time.

[@leoandolino4668]

"... you aggravated at least two presidents..." a badge of honor few can claim.

[@JonWaters-pl2qk]

RIP Tommy , You shall be missed by Many ...

[@davidbrown7213]

He is a combination of Art, Intelligence, Passion and the endless journey to do better as human beings.

[@steveflor9942]

George Gobel: "The world is a Tuxedo and I'm a pair of brown shoes."

[@theveryhighminister867]

such a great line

[@stevesyphax]

Tommy Smothers is a genus and gave me direction in a time when I became an anti Vietnam protester. Thank you and God Bless.

[@January.]

*genius

[@DBEdwards]

AND GOD BLESS YOU

[@DBEdwards]

Brilliant. A revelation. Tom Smothers was a fantastic and progressive speaker. Funny and honest. A provocateur of free speech. You really entertained me as a lad and I am thankful. Your guests legion and genius. God rest yer soul.

[@KkBo15]

The Smother Brothers taught me how to think!

[@vleiratfilms2020]

Been a fan of theirs since their record at the Purple Onion. This confirms my sense that their comedy runs deep, like with all great comedians.🌹

[@nancycurtis488]

I agree. My oldest Smothers Brothers album is “The Smothers Brothers at the Purple Onion”…….I love these guys. How we need Tommy today. RIP Tommy

[@karenhynes217]

another great man ..... gone : (

[@honestlyyours1069]

If I could go back in time then I would definitely go back to the 1960's. What a great decade that was! As a child then I remember a kinder, gentler nation, where people smiled more and were more friendly to one another. No talk about major world problems or climate change. Most people didn't have much money then, but we made up for it in general contentment and happiness.

[@sharidyer4332]

That's the way it was. It makes me nostalgic.

[@leighbloom]

The best show on television ever before or since love the Smothers both Tom and Dick

[@usmale47374]

Our country is so much in need of political satire right now. Long live the Smothers Brothers!

[@brianjacob8728]

we need a LOT more than just satire. Everybody knows our country is a joke, but they don't realize how dire the situation is.

[@lilithrogers5204]

@@brianjacob8728 Yes I agree

[@DBEdwards]

WE LIVE IN A FASCIST AMERICA NOW. BACK THEN, WITH TOM, THERE WAS HOPE

[@NoPawn]

Just lost him. #RIP

[@lonerose99]

RIP he was among the best. 😔

[@msmith53]

Gotta get them back in the mix! Brilliant!

[@normhall1622]

Tom stood for the truth. Can you imagine what their show would look like now with our current president? Heads would explode.

[@stevegrayson4124]

Actually Biden's administration is the JOKE now. I just wish Biden would learn to TWEET so we could know what he heck HE is really THINKING .. if he is THINKING .. or Might be THINKING.

[@January.]

Someone you know very well is obviously a graduate of the University of Social Media, Gullibility, and Conspiracy Theories.

[@sshelget]

I am reading this in 2024 and our current “president” is Biden who is a complete joke and our country is in ruins. I bet the Smothers Brothers do NOT agree with our current government. We need a real PATRIOT, and yes, Trump is not a politician (who are all crooks) but he is a patriot and businessman and put AMERICANS FIRST - is proud of our country and wants to protect it.

[@rosu5726]

Smothers are awesome!

[@whiskeyriver4322]

RIP Tommy

[@lilithrogers5204]

Oh, thanks for this deep dive into Tom Smothers's strongly held beliefs into Freedom of Speech and defending Democracy.......And....sadly D.T. became President not long after this show....Tom must have felt awful about that.......We'll miss you Tom but we'll always love and appreciate you and your brother Dick......🥰

[@gwenniegirl50]

Sorry you’re referencing the wrong president. This show aired in May 2001. George W Bush was sworn into office in January 2001.

[@brahilly]

May the Lord bless and keep you dear, funny and caring Tommy Smothers.

[@dreyfalex]

How sad that he lived to see Bernie’s popularity but also the machine that shut him down.

[@2nostromo]

God speed Tommy. See you soon.

[@sirgalahad3574]

I would love a revisit with Tommy now. I respect his opinions.

[@eddiedunn476]

37216 ...I work with a cousin to the smothers (mothers side from Indiana) high intelligence and unique speech pattern......the most lovable guy...genetics are strange like unique flower

[@leoandolino4668]

Great man.

[@2nostromo]

I hear young people complain that we are so polarized now. I guess so but the way I remember it we were practically at war with each other then. Viet Nam was a terrible time for all. And I remember all my lost friends and thank god I didn't go. I could tell you some stories. It was a royal mess for many

[@user-fc6lt7cc7p]

America works better with two sides of the story being told. History will be tthe judge.

[@chaipup7045]

The skit with The Who is legendary. "you must be Roger", "I must be".

[@carlsaganlives5112]

Trivia tid-bit - Tom can be seen briefly in the extended version of the Woodstock film. He might have even taken the mic for a little bit too, been a while...

[@RethaGreen-ce5ve]

As a child I remember SOME of the Smothers Brothers-my sisters watched them; but in response to the First Amendment-it was not instituted to promote violence to spread hate towards others-it was instituted to let ones speak informative or to be able to voice an opinion, but to give grounds to hate and violence-racism or to gather ones together to harm others is not what First Amendment PROTECTS. To protect ones right to speak freely is a blessing from God, but to form a speech that will incite unjustified violence is not subject to protection for the one doing so. This type of speech is detrimental to innocent people, and therefore deserves no protection under a governing that gives the right to LIFE, LIBERTY AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. Its a fine line indeed, but The Bible clearly states that “from the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak”-hate speech comes from an hateful heart.

[@January.]

@@realitywave *fairy tales

[@dreyfalex]

Thank God our government decided upon a separation of church from state.

[@MagravatorMag]

I was a little girl when the Smothers Brothers had their show on CBS. I knew they were making political jokes, but I didn't always get it. I didn't realize that Tommy was such an activist. I had read that he was in the comment section on a vid about Tommy's death. I wasn't really surprised, but more curious. So I've been on an adventure to figure out if the Tommy was a commie or not, as I know that some back in the day thought he was. I'm very pleased to say that I don't have to crush my love for them due to their political beliefs, like I have with many musicians and actors. The entertainment industry, including sports, has lost their every hating minds, (not loving minds). I can't even stand to look at a picture of most of my music and actor favs any more. They are such obvious tyrants who are perpetually pushing the liberal hivemind on fans, saying outright, that if you don't agree with what they say, YOU are the problem. The tyrannical Uni-party must be stopped. There are more of us than there are of them, especially if you consider the population of Earth. It's exponential and they can't stop all of us. NCSWIC. Stay frosting folks. The invasion is complete. We have to resist to save America. Bless you all!

[@tomdickandharry7024]

magravator, my condolences, i understand it’s very painful to suffer from extreme ignorance & stupidity! sorry you have to go through this!

[@lilithrogers5204]

Oh and he ended on a hopeful note for our next President and that was eight years ago...He must have felt really bad about DT getting in!!....and I'm glad he lived to see him losing the next time.....Bigh Sigh....

[@workhorse7134]

So he would've been happy to live under Obama, who accelerated cancer culture and conspired with big tech to cancel and censor but unhappy about a president who believed in freedom of speech, and stood up to government and was eventually cancelled by the government who have full control over the msm and big tech? The cognitive dissonance is real.

[@anncottone3056]

This was taped 21 years ago not 8... It was posted on KZbin 8 years ago

[@sue7011]

RIP

[@lonerose99]

Another great one gone from us. 😔

[@johnseller3707]

mom always liked you best...

[@VoltiSubitoVideo]

fire hydrant of truth... no doubt!

[@evensenj5670]

at this time john wayne was criticising draft dodgers, when he himself draft dodged ww2. he had no room to say anything

[@jbholmes99]

Wish I'd caught him on his recent tours.

[@lamper2]

playing an interesting chord would've diverted attention from JOHN!

[@timothybradek3560]

You don't think that's why he did it... knowing how much that would've bothered Paul. I could see Tommy enjoying a little ribbing on someone once and awhile. Tommy had to of known exactly what he was doing.

[@nancycurtis488]

What is the world going to be like for Tommy’s young kids? Better, I hope.

[@Blues.Fusion]

8 years later and now anything you say will get you cancelled.

[@stephenpearson3875]

Ken bares a slight resemblance to Pat Paulson, presidential candidate in 1968 from the Smothers bros. Show

[@renedupont6116]

Where was the ACLU during Covid?

[@adoramassage]

Here here ... to our friend Tommy, a true brother of the people. There must be a 50 year historical pendulum -> from cresting liberal elation to conservative ... (whatever)

[@Sunfried1]

Is Ken Paulson the son of Pat Paulson?

[@gwenniegirl50]

No. Different spellings of last names BTW. Pat Paulsen had three children but Ken Paulson wasn’t among them.

[@JB-wh3we]

I'd have loved to have heard if Tommy evolved his views about 20 years later when there's been so much recent effort to decay 1st amendment protections

[@Gwen2010ish]

The wrong one tapped it!

[@brianmccall6492]

Tommy Smothers predicted Trump tapping the fire hydrant of truth.

[@playokay]

He said 'the fire hydrant of truth', not the infected colon of t(rump).

[@gwenniegirl50]

GW Bush was president when this show aired in May 2001. In 2001 D Trump was involved with Trump World Tower located in NYC, along with other commercial real estate. His involvement in politics didn’t come about till much later. Saying Tom Smothers was making any specific predictions is a stretch.

[@winstonsmith3070]

Kent State occurred in May 1970.The Smothers Brothers show was canceled in April 1969. So how could Kent State have affected his show a year after it was canceled?

[@communitygardener17]

True. However, the Chicago police riots at the Democratic National Convention occurred in 1968. There was no shortage of events to inspire people to call for the end to the War in Vietnam.

[@annademo]

The Second Amendment protects the First Amendment.

[@tomdickandharry7024]

annademo, i’m sorry, which well regulated militia has ever defended us from our tyrannical gov???

[@robertleslie2467]

Without the 2nd amendment the first amendment cannot stand. I love Tommy Smothers and don’t agree with him on everything but I reckon he was a pretty dang good guy that truly loved this country. Because National Policy.

[@dreyfalex]

You and your gun aren’t protecting me or my speech. Don’t kid yourself.

[@robertleslie2467]

And no one will come to save you.@@dreyfalex

[@classictvanimator2080]

I love the Smothers Brothers but Tommy is like so many others that want free speech when it is something HE agrees with but wants to limit it when HE doesn't agree with it... that is NOT Free Speech!

[@pftittl]

Disagree completely They spoke truth to power