Simpleton? Genius? Who was Tom Smothers?

I learn the news as we speak, oh boy.

John Lennon’s lyric popped into my head Tuesday as quickly as I learn the texts from my good friend Marcy Carriker Smothers. The first was a photograph of a guitar subsequent to a fireplace and Christmas poinsettia. The second included the news. “Beautiful and peaceful passing today at 1:40P. We had a lovely Christmas.”

Tom Smothers had been in hospice for months so phrase of his passing induced a sigh not a pant. I considered the “Day in the Life” lyric not due to the circumstances of his loss of life — Tom was 86 and died of lung most cancers — however as a result of Lennon and Tom have been shut. At the 1969 Montreal recording of “Give Peace a Chance,” solely two acoustic guitars strum alongside. One is held by Lennon; the opposite by Tom.

Tom got here to the antiwar motion with unhappy bona fides. His father was a West Pointer who mentioned goodbye to his namesake son in 1940, earlier than heading to the Pacific to defend liberty. He by no means returned.

Nothing humorous about that origin story. Still, by way of music, Tom and his youthful brother, Dick, discovered their method to comedy and created an act that immediately impressed Jack Paar, the “Tonight” present host, who remarked in 1961, “I don’t know what you guys have but no one’s going to steal it.”

Six years later, the brothers debuted “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” their seminal selection present that used comedy to satirize points just like the Vietnam War, racial politics and medicines.

Despite the heavy subjects, Tom got here throughout as lighthearted and easy. During an viewers question-and-answer session, a lady as soon as requested, “Are you both married?”

“No, ma’am. We’re just brothers,” Tom mentioned.

In actual life, Tom thought and felt deeply. He cared about social justice and the artistic course of. He labored over particulars. The largest contradiction was Tom’s onstage persona. A traditional Smothers Brothers sketch would start with the 2 singing a track till Tom interrupted or screwed up the phrases so badly that Dick pulled the plug. This would result in wry observations or an argument that constructed to a punchline. The brothers would then return to the track, offering the sketch with a pure and satisfying end. At coronary heart, this was character comedy with Dick enjoying the bass and the straight man and Tom enjoying the guitar and the idiot.

In an early episode, the brothers got here out singing the Maurice Chevalier hit “Louise” whereas sporting boater hats. They paused to debate the French and romance, and Tom immediately claimed familiarity. “You really know about those French wines and women?” Dick challenged Tom.

“Oh I know all about that stuff.”

The viewers laughed, doubting his declare.

Dick was not about to let Tom off the hook. “French wine — what do you know about it?” he pressed.

“It gets you drunk,” Tom replied, nailing the punchline with beautiful timing.

In actual life, Tom knew all the pieces about wine. For many years, he owned and operated a winery in Sonoma that produced award-winning merlot and cabernet sauvignon. At first, he lived in a barn on the property, then later designed a principal home with an enormous stone fire and views in each path in order that you may comply with the solar all through the day. If the recent tub may discuss, it will inform spicy tales about events within the Sixties and ’70s and possibly be the one one that might bear in mind what occurred.

By the time I visited Smothers-Remick Ridge Ranch, the recent tub was a spot for teenagers to splash round. I’d first met Tom in 1988, once I was employed as a author for the variability present’s second life. While engaged on the reboot, I roomed with the affiliate producer, Marcy Carriker, who married Tom in 1990. Their two youngsters — Bo and Riley Rose — would play with my very own two children. Marcy co-hosted a meals and wine radio present with Guy Fieri, so dinner was at all times scrumptious. After the meal, Tom would sit by the fireplace, studying a thick novel.

It was an image of domesticity that didn’t final. Soaking in wine nation meant plenty of ingesting, and the extra Tom drank, the much less enjoyable he turned. Knowing how good and beneficiant he might be, I discovered it painful to observe his habits shift. If this appears harsh, I point out it as a result of the reality mattered to Tom. Marcy and I’d go on lengthy walks to debate the scenario. We got here up with a phrase that summed issues up: “It’s tomplicated.”

Tom and Marcy separated 15 years in the past however by no means divorced. And when Tom grew sick, she was there for him together with their youngsters. “They have been rocks,” Marcy texted me hours after he died. She advised me that over the previous few months, Tom had by no means had a stranger look after him. She, Bo, Riley Rose and Marty Tryon, Tom’s former street supervisor, watched over him.

And so Tom spent a stunning Christmas Eve and Day surrounded by his household. He slipped away the following afternoon. As at all times, beautiful timing.

I hope Tom might be remembered. He was final on TV three many years in the past, so aside from comedy nerds, nobody beneath 40 would have motive to acknowledge him. If you’re curious, there’s a sensible 2002 documentary, “Smothered,” concerning the brothers’ getting fired from CBS, and a very good e book by David Bianculli, “Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” Both the movie and e book reiterate what historical past has made clear: Tom was completely proper about conflict being silly and civil rights being price combating for. In his personal manner, he, too, defended liberty.

Or strive sliding down a YouTube rabbit gap the place you’ll stumble over early routines from Steve Martin, whom Tom employed as a author earlier than encouraging him to carry out. I by no means met an entertainer who was extra respectful of different individuals’s skills than Tom. He adored so many fellow artists, together with Harry Belafonte, Harry Nilsson, Martin Mull, and (Mama) Cass Elliot, who lights up considered one of my favourite sketches from the 1968-69 season.

The idea is just Elliot singing her hit “Dream a Little Dream” to Tom as he tries to go to sleep in a giant brass mattress. Tom doesn’t say a phrase however will get loads of laughs. The bit is nice, authentic, musical and humorous. When you strip away the tomplications, Tom was all these issues.