Mother Loved Tommy Best

PBS is currently running a fascinating retrospective on the cutting edge series The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Tom and Dick Smothers were, and still are, an extremely articulate and talented pair of folksingers/comedians to which CBS innocently gave a television voice in 1967. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour featured the duos' music, comedy sets and vignettes interspersed with other 'Sullivan'esque performers' and guest stars' appearances. The likes of Steve Martin, Glen Campbell, Mason Williams, and Rob Reiner were, in turn, writers for the show.

What's fascinating about this variety show is that Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Dennis Miller arguably owe their current livelihood to Tommy and Dick. Although their show started out as a direct descendant of Ed Sullivan, Red Skelton, and Milton Burle, the frighteningly familiar political climate at the time quickly seeped into the production. In 1967, mainstream television satire addressing current events did not exist. Tommy and Mason Williams were the driving forces that moved the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour from above-average Vaudeville homage to cutting-edge, political satire prototype. That in itself is an incredible accomplishment, but that it happened for more than one season during an era where the White House habitually had political censors on-site during production is even more astounding.

Comedian Pat Paulsen was a regular on the show. Mason Williams and Tom Smothers cleverly realized they could educate what was still a fairly innocent viewing public on the sordid details of the political process by running Paulsen for President in 1968. One gag had Dick Smothers interviewing Paulsen on the big issues of the time. Dick was off camera, and the close shot was of just Paulsen's head cut straight down the middle in vertical split-screen. Whenever Dick would ask Paulsen a question, the right half of the candidate's face answered one way, the left half in a completely different way.

The 'talking out of both sides of the mouth' piece was hilarious. Paulsen always had a utterly brilliant delivery. What smacked me upside the head while watching this was that Paulsen was somehow foreshadowing .... TOM LEBONG!

To wit, let's look at the vote earlier this week on the Cyclists Bill of Rights --

(quotes from LAStreetsblog.org)

July 2008 LeBong: "What we need to do first is get more people out of their cars and onto a bike. They need to feel confident that they are safe."

December 2008 ...However, Councilman Tom LaBonge had some changes he wanted to see. First, he found the Third Amendment which states, Cyclists have the right to the full support of educated law enforcement. While he didn't have a problem with the basic idea, he was worried that the language was inflammatory to the local police by implying that they were uneducated. LaBonge was also worried that children would get the wrong idea about cycling because the document fails to cover the responsibilities of cyclists as well as their rights.

Wow - and all that without a split-screen special effect, too! Amazing!


...Hey Tommy LeBong! Mother always loved you best!

CYCLISTS' BILL OF RIGHTS

WHEREAS, cyclists have the right to ride the streets of our communities and this right is formally articulated in the California Vehicle Code; and

WHEREAS, cyclists are considered to be the “indicator species” of a healthy community; and

WHEREAS, cyclists are both environmental and traffic congestion solutions; and
WHEREAS, cyclists are, first and foremost, people - with all of the rights and privileges that come from being members of this great society; and


NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE CYCLING COMMUNITY, do hereby claim the following rights:

1) Cyclists have the right to travel safely and free of fear.

2) Cyclists have the right to equal access to our public streets and to sufficient and significant road space.

3) Cyclists have the right to the full support of educated law enforcement.

4) Cyclists have the right to the full support of our judicial system and the right to expect that those who endanger, injure or kill cyclists be dealt with to the full extent of the law.

5) Cyclists have the right to routine accommodations in all roadway projects and improvements.

6) Cyclists have the right to urban and roadway planning, development and design that enable and support safe cycling.

7) Cyclists have the right to traffic signals, signage and maintenance standards that enable and support safe cycling.

8) Cyclists have the right to be actively engaged as a constituent group in the organization and administration of our communities.

9) Cyclists have the right to full access for themselves and their bicycles on all mass transit with no limitations.

10) Cyclists have the right to end-of-trip amenities that include safe and secure opportunities to park their bicycles.

11) Cyclists have the right to be secure in their persons and property, and be free from unreasonable search and seizure, as guaranteed by the 4th Amendment.

12) Cyclists have the right to peaceably assemble in the public space, as guaranteed by the 1st Amendment.

And further, we claim and assert these rights by taking to the streets and riding our bicycles, all in an expression of our inalienable right to ride!