This is a Journal entry by Dmitri Gheorgheni, Post Editor

Annoying the Establishment: 50 Years On

Post 1

Dmitri Gheorgheni, Post Editor

Yesterday's New York Times Opinion Page has a timely reminder for us about the anniversary of the first appearance of the 'Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour', which premiered 50 years ago tomorrow.

http://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/03/opinion/the-smothers-brothers-laughing-at-hard-truths.html?&moduleDetail=section-news-0&action=click&contentCollection=Opinion&region=Footer&module=MoreInSection&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&pgtype=article

As the article points out, the Smothers Brothers got their own show because the network (CBS):

- thought nobody could take on the opposition, namely the anodyne 'Bonanza', in that time slot, and
- like most grownups, they were fooled by the Smothers Brothers' deceptively clean-cut facade as goofy folk singers.

Also, the Smothers Brothers lulled our parents into complacency by boring them with their standard routine. This involved singing a folk song (or something that sounded like a folk song), and then constantly interrupting the singing to argue about everything from the plot of the song to whether their mom liked Dick best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQfdEekYVYs

Of course, once the grownups had gone away, bored, they put stuff like this on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9arYuMhf_A

Too much thinking for a Sunday evening. The grownups were now fully committed to ice cream, and we could watch the protest singers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYYCiaHhnx4

Of course, the show got wildly popular with us younger folk. And of course, the network managed to get rid of it after three seasons. Largely because it made important people feel uncomfortable. But as Lyndon Johnson wrote to them, after he'd got over being miffed at the jokes at his expense, 'May we never grow so somber or self-important that we fail to appreciate the humor in our lives.'

*************************************************

Fast forward to 2017. Fifty years later. I am just about to become officially Old. My Saturday morning is interrupted by teenagers at my door trying to peddle 'Awake!' and asking my opinion about teenage depression. No, I am not awake. I do not wish to be on Saturday morning. There are no depressed teenagers at my house. Go away and Witness elsewhere, please.

And I notice the story about the Smothers Brothers. And it takes me back again and forward. And I think: Maybe the teenagers are depressed because we're protesting the same problems in 2017 as we did in 1967?


smiley - dragon






Annoying the Establishment: 50 Years On

Post 2

Prof Animal Chaos.C.E.O..err! C.E.Idiot of H2G2 Fools Guild (Official).... A recipient of S.F.L and S.S.J.A.D.D...plus...S.N.A.F.U.

we never had them on our tv, but over the years the odd bits "emerged"
To me! these and certain others (on both sides of the pond) were the fore runners of true comedysmiley - smiley that "broke" the standards and "rules"smiley - smiley


Annoying the Establishment: 50 Years On

Post 3

Pierre de la Mer ~ sometimes slightly worried but never panicking ~

1967 was the summer of love

I wonder how 2017 will be remembered in 50 years from now smiley - erm

smiley - pirate


Annoying the Establishment: 50 Years On

Post 4

Dmitri Gheorgheni, Post Editor

Hm, good thought. smiley - laugh


Annoying the Establishment: 50 Years On

Post 5

Vip

There is still a lot of 2017 to go, but it hasn't started out too well.

One of my difficulties is the inability to switch away from the awfulness of the world. It's not just the paper in the morning, or the news in the evening, it's relentless.

smiley - fairy


Annoying the Establishment: 50 Years On

Post 6

Dmitri Gheorgheni, Post Editor

I know what you mean. smiley - hug Some doctors are telling people to avoid news.


Annoying the Establishment: 50 Years On

Post 7

Pierre de la Mer ~ sometimes slightly worried but never panicking ~

Aye. "My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane", as David Sipress wrote in a caption to one of his drawings. smiley - erm

smiley - pirate


Annoying the Establishment: 50 Years On

Post 8

Pierre de la Mer ~ sometimes slightly worried but never panicking ~

Here's a little light comedy to lighten up your moods:
http://occupydemocrats.com/2017/02/05/snl-just-shredded-trumps-press-secretary-sean-spicer/

smiley - pirate


Annoying the Establishment: 50 Years On

Post 9

Dmitri Gheorgheni, Post Editor

smiley - rofl Thanks, yes, I saw that one! Amazingly effective impersonation.


Annoying the Establishment: 50 Years On

Post 10

Pierre de la Mer ~ sometimes slightly worried but never panicking ~

Agreed smiley - ok

smiley - pirate


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