Entertainment
Comedian Tom Smothers, One-Half Of The Smothers Brothers, Dies At 86
Tom Smothers, half of the Smothers Brothers and co-host of one of television’s most socially conscious and revolutionary series, has died at age 86.
Smothers died Tuesday at home in Santa Rosa, California, after a cancer struggle, according to a statement released by the National Comedy Center on behalf of his family on Wednesday.
“Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner,” his brother and the other half of the partnership, Dick Smothers, said in a statement. “Our relationship was similar to a good marriage in that the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected each other.” We were very fortunate.”
When “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” aired on CBS in the fall of 1967, it was an instant hit, much to the astonishment of many who had felt the network’s expectations were so low that their show was positioned opposite the top-rated “Bonanza.”
Comedian Tom Smothers, One-Half Of The Smothers Brothers, Dies At 86
With its sharp eye for pop culture trends and young rock stars like the Who and Buffalo Springfield, the Smothers Brothers would prove a turning point in television history, and its daring sketches — mocking the Establishment, railing against the Vietnam War, and portraying members of the era’s hippie counterculture as gentle, fun-loving spirits — found an immediate audience with young baby boomers. In its debut season, the show ranked 16th in the ratings.
It also irritated network censors. After years of wrangling with the brothers over the creative substance of the show, the network abruptly cancelled it in 1970, accusing the siblings of failing to submit an episode in time for the censors to approve.
When Smothers was granted an honorary Emmy for his contributions to the program over 40 years later, he playfully praised the writers he said had gotten him fired. He also demonstrated that the passage of time had not blunted his candour.
“It’s difficult for me to remain silent when I keep hearing that peace can only be achieved through war,” Smothers stated at the 2008 Emmy Awards as his brother sat grinning in the audience. He dedicated his prize to individuals “who feel compelled to speak out and are not afraid to speak to power, won’t shut up, and refuse to be silenced.”
Comedian Tom Smothers, One-Half Of The Smothers Brothers, Dies At 86
Throughout the show’s three-year run, the brothers battled CBS censors and occasionally outraged viewers, most notably when Smothers joked that Easter “is when Jesus comes out of his tomb and if he sees his shadow, he goes back in and we get six more weeks of winter.” When other hosts delivered Christmas greetings to soldiers fighting overseas, Smothers sent his to draft dodgers who had relocated to Canada.
In another show, the brothers aired for the first time in years, blacklisted folk singer Pete Seeger. He sang “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy,” which was generally interpreted as a satire of President Lyndon B. Johnson. When CBS declined to broadcast the section, the brothers brought Seeger back for another episode, and he sang it again. It made the air this time.
Following the show’s cancellation, the brothers sued CBS for $31 million and were awarded $775,000. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour’s fights with the network were documented in the 2002 documentary “Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.”
“Tom Smothers was not only an extraordinary comedic talent, who, together with his brother Dick, became the most enduring comedy duo in history, entertaining the world for over six decades — but was a true champion for freedom of speech, harnessing the power of comedy to push boundaries and our political consciousness,” Journey Gunderson, the executive director of the National Comedy Center, said in a statement following the news.
Thomas Bolyn Smothers III was born on February 2, 1937, on Governors Island, New York, where his father was a Navy major. Two years later, his brother was born. Their father was transferred to the Philippines in 1940, along with his wife, two sons, and their sister, Sherry.
The family was returned home after the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor, but Maj. Smothers stayed. During the war, he was seized by the Japanese and perished in captivity. The family later relocated to Redondo Beach, a Los Angeles suburb, where Smothers assisted his mother in caring for his brother and sister while she worked.
Comedian Tom Smothers, One-Half Of The Smothers Brothers, Dies At 86
The brothers appeared unlikely to go down in television history. They’d spent years performing in nightclubs and colleges and making TV appearances, crafting an odd comic performance that mingled folk music with a fair dose of sibling rivalry.
They’d walk on stage, Tom holding a guitar and Dick holding an upright bass. They’d break into a traditional folk song, like “John Henry” or “Pretoria.” After a few bars, Tom, the dumb one, would make a mistake, then immediately say he didn’t mean to. “Mom always liked you best!” exclaimed Dick, the serious, short-tempered one, as he criticized him for failing to recognize his fault.
They carried on with that gag on their show but also surrounded themselves with a great ensemble of rookies, both writers and actors.
Smothers’ writing team included future actor-director Rob Reiner, musician Mason Williams, and comic Steve Martin, who presented Smothers with the lifetime Emmy. John Hartford, Glen Campbell, and Jennifer Warnes were among the regular musical guests.
Bob Einstein played Officer Judy, a glum Los Angeles cop who once fined guest Liberace for playing the piano too fast. Leigh French, who played the hippie earth mother in “Share a Little Tea With Goldie,” always seemed to be drinking something made with more than simply tea leaves.
When Tom, then a San Jose State University student, created the Casual Quintet and urged his younger brother to study the bass and join, the siblings began their own act. After the other musicians dropped out, the brothers remained as a pair but began interspersing comedy with their limited folk music repertoire.
Their big break came in 1959 when they performed at San Francisco’s Purple Onion, a hot spot for emerging talent. They were booked for two weeks and remained for a record 36 nights. They were booked into New York’s Blue Angel and were praised by The New York Times as “a pair of tart-tongued singing comedians.” However, they could not appear on “The Tonight Show,” which was then hosted by Jack Paar.
“Paar kept telling our agent that he didn’t like folk singers — except for Burl Ives,” Smothers said to The Associated Press in 1964. “But he had a cancellation one night, so we went on.” That night, everything worked perfectly.”
Comedian Tom Smothers, One-Half Of The Smothers Brothers, Dies At 86
The brothers went on to appear on Steve Allen, Ed Sullivan, Garry Moore, Andy Williams, Jack Benny, and Judy Garland’s TV shows. Their comedy albums sold well, and they toured the country, particularly colleges.
In 1965, they were cast in “The Smothers Brothers Show,” a sitcom about a businessman (Dick) plagued by his late brother (Tom), a budding guardian angel. It only lasted one season.
After CBS cancelled the “Comedy Hour,” ABC picked it up as a summer substitute but did not return in the fall. In 1975, NBC offered them a show, but it failed to establish an audience and lasted only one season. In the 1970s, the brothers went their separate ways. Among other things, Smothers ventured into the wine industry, establishing Remick Ridge Vineyards in Northern California’s wine district.
“Originally the winery was called Smothers Brothers, but I changed the name to Remick Ridge because when people heard Smothers Brothers wine, they thought something like Milton Berle Fine Wine or Larry, Curly and Mo Vineyards,” Smothers was quoted as saying.
They eventually reunited to star in the Broadway hit “I Love My Wife,” which lasted two years. They then went back on the road, performing at casinos, performing arts centres, and business meetings across the country, where they remained popular for decades.
“We just keep resurfacing,” said Smothers in 1997. “We’re just not in everyone’s face long enough to really get old.”
CBS buried the hatchet and brought them back after a successful 20th anniversary, “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” in 1988.
The show was swiftly cancelled, but it remained on the air long enough for Smothers to introduce the “Yo-Yo Man,” a routine in which he demonstrated his remarkable skills with a yo-yo as he and his brother maintained a regular pattern of comedy. The routine lasted in their act for many years.
Smothers has three children and married three times. His wife Marie, daughters Bo and Riley Rose, and brother Dick, as well as other family, survive him. His son Tom and sister Sherry predeceased him.
SOURCE – (AP)
(VOR News) – Grizzly 399, a renowned grizzly bear who has been cherished by a significant number of professional wildlife photographers for many years, has been discovered to have passed away as a result of a vehicle collision. This information was acquired during the investigation.
The grizzly bear, whose research number is 399, has resided in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming since 2007. Wyoming is the province in which this park is situated.
She has been permanently residing there since 2007. It is without a doubt that she is the grizzly bear that has garnered the most attention and is the subject of the most photographs in the world.
However, park officials have reported that a collision with a vehicle on Tuesday evening on Highway 26/89 in Snake River Canyon, which is situated south of Jackson, Wyoming, resulted in the deaths of 399 individuals. The collision occurred in the vicinity of the Mississippi River Canyon. The accident took place in the vicinity of Snake River Canyon, beyond the canyon.
One of the oldest grizzly bears currently breeding was 399, estimated to be 28 years old.
Grizzly bears are recognized as a genus of bears. At that time, it was believed that 399 individuals had reached this age. In order to ascertain the bear’s genuine identity, both ear tags and a microchip were implemented during the procedure.
The park’s administration has acknowledged that 399 was traveling with a cub that was in the yearling stage at the time of the journey. No information is available regarding the cub’s location, despite the fact that it is presumed that it did not sustain any injury.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service and authorities from Grand Teton National Park have issued statements that indicate they are closely monitoring the region.
The fact that animal vehicles are involved in collisions and collide with one another is disheartening. Angi Bruce, the Director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, released a statement in which she conveyed her gratitude to the community for the information that grizzly bear 399 had been relocated.
“We are thankful that the driver is okay, and we understand that the community is saddened to hear that grizzly bear 399 has passed away,” Bruce stated to media representatives.
The term “grand salesman” was frequently used to describe a grizzly bear in the context of Canon lenses. This was a frequently used expression. At present, the number 399 has become a genuine celebrity among wildlife photographers, despite the fact that there are an estimated 730 grizzlies that are believed to inhabit the Greater Yellowstone habitat.
The year 1996 was the year in which Grizzly 399 was born, and Grand Teton National Park was the location of the events. By the mid-2000s, a number of photographers had established lucrative professions as a direct consequence of the publication of 399, according to an article published in The Washington Post.
Chris Servheen, who had previously served as the coordinator for the rehabilitation of grizzly bears for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, disparaged 399 by characterizing him as a “grand salesman for Canon lenses.” The purpose of Servheen’s statement was to be amusing.
Photographers eagerly anticipated the grizzly’s escape during spring.
This was done to ascertain the total number of young that she had given birth to during the winter.
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem’s distinctive qualities are significantly influenced by the presence of the grizzly bear, a species that is frequently regarded as iconic.
“Grizzly bear 399 has been perhaps the most prominent ambassador for the species,” stated Chip Jenkins, superintendent of Grand Teton National Park. “Grizzly bears are representatives of the species.” “Grizzly bears are the most important ambassadors for the species.”
She will be greatly missed by a large number of individuals worldwide, as she inspired a significant number of individuals to actively engage in conservation initiatives. Consequently, a significant number of individuals will be profoundly affected by her absence.
Tom Mangelsen, a renowned wildlife photographer, was embroiled in a court conflict that had never been witnessed before at the outset of this year. He was endeavoring to acquire a traffic citation for a sum of twenty thousand dollars. Conversely, he was unsuccessful. He is the subject of the claim that has been filed against him because he slowed down his vehicle to inspect a 399 who was injured
SOURCE: PPN
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Taylor Swift Thanked Dave Portnoy For Support After Harris’ Endorsement In A Handwritten Letter.
“Smile 2” Outfit Expectations At Stellar Global Box Office Opening
Entertainment
Taylor Swift Thanked Dave Portnoy For Support After Harris’ Endorsement In A Handwritten Letter.
(VOR News) – There is a way in which Taylor Swift is making an effort to interact with people who are on opposite sides of the political spectrum.
Dave Portnoy, the founder and owner of Barstool Sports, received a letter from Taylor Swift before one of her performances. The letter was addressed to Dave Portnoy. Dave was the recipient of the handwritten message that was mailed to him.
In response to Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris for the presidency in the year 2024, this letter was produced as a rebuttal.
Beginning with a quick history lesson is important since Taylor Swift is usually associated with a law.
This is the case because of the fact that she is a musician. As a result of the fact that Portnoy has indicated in recent statements that he intends to vote for Donald Trump, the nominee of the Republican Party, it is now abundantly clear that he intends to cast his ballot for Trump.
Additionally, he is a huge lover of Taylor Swift, to the point where he has proclaimed himself to be the “King of the Swifties.” This is what he has to say about his admiration for Swift.
A significant number of individuals questioned Harris’s feelings regarding Swift after pop sensation Taylor Swift made a public declaration of her support for Democratic candidate Harris in the middle of September. This occurred as a consequence of a variety of distinct circumstances.
Regarding the matter at hand, I couldn’t care less about it. In contemporary democracies, individuals are granted the liberty to cast their ballots for anybody they like, regardless of the party that they are representing.
The manner in which a person casts their ballot will in no way, shape, or form have any bearing on my assessment of that individual. Over the course of the month of September, Portnoy posted the following comment on the website of X:
“I’m voting the other way, but to each their own.” Having fully embraced his fondness for the celebrity, the head of Barstool Sports has not been shy in expressing his affection for Taylor Swift. He has not held back from expressing his feelings for her.
Taylor Swift gave Portnoy a handwritten note at the Eras Tour performance in Miami on Sunday.
This was a nice surprise for Portnoy. In the letter, he was the recipient of the personal address. In particular, the communication was addressed to him with regard to his individuality. The letter was addressed to “Dave!” and was sealed with a wax seal that highlighted the number 13, which is considered to be Taylor Swift’s lucky number.
The recipient of the letter was Dave! One of the recipients of the letter was Dave! In addition to this, it appeared as though the note was making a reference to Portnoy’s support of Taylor Swift after Swift had already received her political endorsement.
The event that is going to take place tonight is going to take place, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have you here with us! For the goal of expressing my gratitude, I would want to bring to your attention my appreciation for your unwavering support and loyalty, as well as for having my back when a great number of other people did not.
I hope you have a wonderful evening and that you do not experience any difficulties. According to Swift’s own words.
A photograph of the letter was uploaded to the Instagram account that Portnoy uses for his podcast, which is referred to as “BFFs.” The photograph was shared on the account.
The message that was sent on Twitter stated, “What a gift from @taylorswift to @stoolpresidente at last night’s Eras Tour,” and it was shared on the social networking platform. Portnoy then proceeded to describe the concert that took place on Sunday night as “spectacular” in a different video clip that he had previously shared with the audience.
At the time of its first publication, the article titled “Taylor Swift Sends Dave Portnoy a Handwritten Letter Thanking Him for Support After Harris’ Endorsement” was published on TheWrap.
SOURCE: YFN
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“Smile 2” Outfit Expectations At Stellar Global Box Office Opening
(VOR News) – Beginning on the heels of Terrifier 3, which had a wonderful showing the previous week, Smile 2, a much more mainstream horror offering from Paramount, produced a decent opening weekend haul.
This came after Terrifier 3, which had a fantastic showing the previous week. The second picture was met with favorable reviews and an even more robust reception from the general audience.
Smile 2 outperformed its predecessor in several key ways at the box office.
The film achieved the highest position on the domestic charts with around $23 million, and it also acquired an additional $23 million from markets outside of the United States, bringing its overall debut internationally to a total of $46 million.
It has been stated that Smile 2, which is a direct sequel to the original picture that was released in 2022 and became a huge hit, was created on a budget that was less than $30 million. Parker Finn is the director of both of these films.
He has served in that capacity. With the help of a unique viral marketing campaign and the enthusiastic reception it garnered from audiences, the first Smile 2 was able to successfully complete its tour around the world with a total of more than $215 million.
It was reported that the movie had a price tag of roughly $17 million, and the popularity of the film gave Paramount the impression that it would be able to produce another horror series in the near future. The company had already gained a great deal of success with the A Quiet Place films directed by John Krasinski when they came up with this notion.
On the first day of its release, Smile 2 scored a high B CinemaScore from audiences, which indicates that it was successful at the box office. In comparison to the B- rating that the first film was given, this is a slight improvement, and it positions Smile 2 in a category that is entirely its own when it comes to horror movies.
Throughout its history, the genre has been known to evoke responses from audiences that are primarily unfavorable. According to the website Rotten Tomatoes, the second part of Smile 2 has been given a “fresh” approval rating of 83%. This score is higher than the score of 80% that the first film received.
Within the context of his review of the movie, Jeff Ewing of Collider described it as “an exceptional sequel that improves almost every aspect of the original.”
After a spate of disappointing 2024 flicks, “Smile 2” is changing horror.
In the year 2024, the horror genre has not been particularly successful, as a number of highly hyped studio releases have failed to fulfill expectations in terms of their commercial performance. This has been a particularly unfortunate situation for the horror genre.
There were a few films that were unable to exceed the barrier of $35 million in American box office receipts. These films include Abigail, Imaginary, Night Swim, and The First Omen. The other side of the coin is that there are just a few titles that can be considered real hits.
While Terrifier 3 has already gotten approximately twenty times the amount of money that was supposed to be given for its budget of two million dollars, Longlegs has defied the odds on its approach to a lifetime domestic total of seventy-four million dollars.
While Smile 2 revisits the same themes as the original film, it also boasts a new cast that includes Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo, Dylan Gelula, Ray Nicholson, and Kyle Gallner, who is also returning to the picture.
It is presently possible to watch the film in theaters, and you can remain tuned to Collider for any additional updates that may be forthcoming
SOURCE: CN
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