Once upon a time there was a satirical comedy show that aired on CBS. It was fun. It was edgy. It had a habit of poking at power with the good-natured grin of a clean-cut, handsome host. It had amazing musical guests and covered controversial issues. It aired during a time of political upheaval and was one of the few shows on network television that dared to ask uncomfortable questions. It also had a habit of irritating and, occasionally, enraging the president so much that he wanted it cancelled.
Eventually, CBS would decide to take it off the air.
No, I’m not referring to “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” I’m thinking of “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” which was abruptly cancelled by CBS on April 4, 1969.
Like Stephen Colbert, the Smothers Brothers enjoyed top ratings, and they had a history of refusing to avoid sensitive topics, regularly airing anti-Vietnam War and pro-civil rights segments at a time when such material was scarce on network television.
Like Stephen Colbert, the Smothers Brothers enjoyed top ratings, and they had a history of refusing to avoid sensitive topics, regularly airing anti-Vietnam War and pro-civil rights segments at a time when such material was scarce on network television. CBS explained their decision to cancel the program by noting that Tommy and Dick Smothers, the show’s hosts, had “failed to submit an episode in time for the censors to review.” But the real issue with the show was the way it critiqued prevailing power structures — in particular, how it bothered President Lyndon Johnson, who reportedly called CBS head William Paley and demanded that the TV executive “get those bastards off my back.” After receiving similar complaints from newly-inaugurated President Richard Nixon, Paley did as he was told.
Revisiting this story helps put into context CBS’s recent decision to cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” which often features sharp critiques of President Donald Trump, and it offers a chance to consider what this means for the future of political comedy in this country.
Does the CBS decision signal the end of late-night comedy? What does this mean for televised satire? Will edgy comedy simply move to other media outlets, or will it die entirely? What does all of this tell us about the role of satire in a nation that seems to need it now more than ever?
For perspective, it is worth remembering that versions of these questions also circulated in 1969 when CBS took “The Smothers Brothers” off the air. There were debates about whether the corporation’s decision would have a chilling effect on political speech, and whether it would lead to self-censorship or worse.
In fact, despite the long history of satire’s resilience, these questions arise each time a comedian is pressured, silenced, sued, fired or attacked. Shows get cancelled, comedians get persecuted and media genres become obsolete, but those setbacks never have and never will signal the end of the art.
Satire never dies when it comes under attack. It just transforms.
“The Smothers Brothers” debuted in February 1967 and featured a blend of comedy and variety entertainment. In contrast to “Bonanza,” a western drama series that aired in the same time slot on NBC, “The Smothers Brothers” appealed to a younger demographic and featured biting satirical wit, social and political commentary, and popular musical guests like Pete Seeger and Joan Baez that reflected 1960s counterculture.
Unlike the case of Colbert, who has largely been given relatively free rein to cover controversial topics without network oversight, “The Smothers Brothers” was almost always in conflict with CBS’s censors. Tommy Smothers recounted how he regularly pushed back against CBS censors, often asking why a particular joke was being flagged. And like all good political comedians, Tommy reacted to censorship by leaning in. “I became extra stubborn,” he explained.
Later, he adopted a habit of submitting the master tape of an episode so late there wasn’t proper time to review it. CBS would use that habit to justify abruptly terminating the show.
As the brothers’ former publicist Micheal Levine said, the program “was more than just a television show — it was a groundbreaking social phenomenon that challenged societal norms and sparked essential conversations during a tumultuous period in American history.”
Sound familiar? We could use that same sentence to describe the cultural relevance of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
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Since CBS announced its plan to cancel “The Late Show” franchise entirely, it has been hard to not think of the impact of ending one of the most noteworthy late-night comedy shows in U.S. television history. “The Late Show” was created as a vehicle for comedian David Letterman, who hosted from 1993 to 2015, until he retired and Colbert took over. Letterman offered viewers a signature blend of self-deprecating humor, a penchant for pushing boundaries, a contrarian sensibility and an uncanny ability to make even his most famous guests uncomfortable.
Despite Colbert’s description of Letterman as a mentor and influence, there are far more parallels between Colbert and the Smothers brothers. Letterman generally avoided diving into contemporary politics, and his satirical bite was more often aimed at the human condition in general. He did, however, have a long history of mocking his bosses and his network — a trend Colbert happily continued.
While there are certainly similarities in Colbert and Letterman as hosts, the former’s charismatic wit, satirical edge and performative range have far more in common with those of Tommy and Dick Smothers. Perhaps the greatest parallel was the fact that both shows used their platform on network television to elevate the political conversation by using satirical entertainment to spark reasoned critique and question the status quo.
Viewers of “The Smothers Brothers” laughed at the same time they were asked to ponder pressing social and political issues during a particularly complex period in American history. According to Levine, “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” may have run for only two years, but its mix of political satire, countercultural music and discussions on civil rights and freedom of speech “left an indelible mark on the fabric of American society.”
Colbert, too, has already left an indelible mark. This was true well before he even started working for CBS, when he hosted Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” from 2005 to 2014. Appearing in-character as a bloviating pundit, Colbert made satire history on that show in a number of ways: He coined the term “truthiness” on the opening episode in October 2005, which not only entered the public lexicon, but became Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year; he roasted President George W. Bush to his face in a viral performance at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in 2006; he educated viewers on campaign finance by starting his own super PAC; he testified before Congress in character to support migrant farm workers and he appeared alongside Jon Stewart in a rally on the National Mall to encourage midterm voting in 2010. These are only a few highlights of his impact as a political comedian prior to taking the helm of “The Late Show.”
Unlike “The Smothers Brothers” — which was taken off the air immediately following CBS’s decision — Colbert has until May 2026 to continue his stint as host, offering him plenty of time to leave an even bigger mark.
In another striking parallel, Colbert and his team recently learned they have been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series in recognition of a show that will cease to exist the same year the awards are presented. The nomination would allow Colbert, who already has 10 Emmys to his name, to finally pick up a win for “The Late Show,” which has been nominated 33 times since he took over as host but has yet to secure a win.
When Tommy Smothers received an honorary Emmy in 2008, he dedicated his award to those “who feel compelled to speak out and are not afraid to speak to power and won’t shut up.” Sounds a lot like he could have been talking about Stephen Colbert.
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