Tom Smothers’ Organic Prime Time Space Ride

1 9 7 1 (USA)
12 x 30 minute episodes

This syndicated half-hour show was produced by Westinghouse Broadcasting (Group W) and marked Tom Smothers’ first return to television after CBS unceremoniously axed The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in April 1969.

Ironically, the show was taped in the very CBS Television City studio in Hollywood from which CBS fired the Smothers in 1969.

Tom Smothers was assisted by the comedy teams of Clair and McMahon, and Bob Hudson and Ron Landry, with the show unapologetically tailored to the young and hip.

Episodes mixed short comedy sketches with quirky foreign cartoons, innovative films and musical performances from the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Linda Ronstadt, The Everly Brothers, Bread, Seals & Crofts and Black Oak Arkansas. Tom’s brother Dick appeared sporadically.

The debut episode ended with a full minute of silence as Tom and his brother walked off the set and left the camera pointed at two empty stools as they encouraged the viewing audience to go “go look at the sunset or something”.

Host
Tom Smothers
Clair & McMahon
Themselves
Hudson & Landry
Themselves