
Dangerously Funny
The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour'
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Narrated by:
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Johnny Heller
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By:
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David Bianculli
Decades before The Daily Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour proved there was a place on television for no-holds-barred political comedy with a decidedly antiauthoritarian point of view. In this explosive, revealing history of the show, veteran entertainment journalist David Bianculli tells the fascinating story of its three-year network run---and the cultural impact that's still being felt today.
Before it was suddenly removed from the CBS lineup (reportedly under pressure from the Nixon administration), The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was a ratings powerhouse. It helped launch the careers of such comedy legends as Steve Martin and Rob Reiner, featured groundbreaking musical acts like the Beatles and the Who, and served as a cultural touchstone for the antiwar movement of the late 1960s.
Drawing on extensive original interviews with Tom and Dick Smothers and dozens of other key players---as well as more than a decade's worth of original research---Dangerously Funny brings listeners behind the scenes for all the battles over censorship, mind-blowing musical performances, and unforgettable sketches that defined the show and its era. David Bianculli delves deep into this riveting story to find out what really happened and to reveal why this show remains so significant to this day.
©2009 David Bianculli (P)2010 TantorListeners also enjoyed...




















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Should be taught in history classes. Amazing.
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Great topic, well written, poorly narrated
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Important
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Interesting to read behind the scenes
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Well, Bianculli makes a valiant effort to argue that the answer should be yes, and the truth is I found this story remarkably interesting. There are deep questions here about the role of speech and censorship and media and national political divisions and youth culture, and drugs and all of that, and I'm amazed at how much this story comes off as an archetypal story of rebellious free spirits fighting for their freedom of expression against a tyrannical corporate and political structure trying to restrain them. Certainly that's how Tom Smothers saw things. Somehow "freedom" has become a watchword of the right; this book helps remind us that it's properly the province of the left.
That being said, it's still the inside story of a fight over what to put on television 45 years ago, and I can't help but think that it was not worth my time. Moreover to round out the book, there's a fair amount of filler on things like the Smothers' early career, earlier battles over television censorship by Jack Parr and others, and the Smothers' influence on later comedians. Honestly, I think this could have been a really good magazine article. But it's not a great audiobook.
Good story, but just not significant enough
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First, the book gives exactly what the title says, except, well... Censorship just isn't as good as it used to be, so 'uncensored' means more like 'I let my 8 year old listen to this'. And I did just that while we were on a trip with his grandparents (who by the way LOVED the book). Don't be concerned about catching a crude joke by today's standards. Second, it is accurate through multiple sources in all accounts, and explains conflicting accounts as points of view, which endeared me, personally.
Lastly, while the reader was very good, there were points (probably between takes) where the readers volume rose and fell. I didn't notice it so much while listening with headphones, but through a car stereo I had to adjust the volume up and down a hair every so often.
****
Not super funny, but well worth the money
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great book q
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Great Memories
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Great story well-told
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If you could sum up Dangerously Funny in three words, what would they be?
Comprehensive. Engaging. Historical.Have you listened to any of Johnny Heller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
This is my first for Mr. Heller. Terriffic, terriffic job.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No -- this one needs to be parsed out.Any additional comments?
I was too young for the Smothers Brothers show, but the albums are among my favorites, so getting to hear the details of the rumors/stories about the show I'd always heard was the fascinating part for me. The relationship TV creators and networks had then was fascinating given the era we live in now, and that's the real hidden gem of interest in this book. In the light of history of the SB show itself, it's easy to see who the heroes were -- but the tactics of Tommy Smothers are properly characterized as brave, but also, well, not so bright. I can't speak too much to anyone who is not a SB fan, but the balance of power in that day and age is really explored and puts that aspect of this book on, at the very least, an American historical level, and well worth learning if you like television.Well done
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