David Bianculli

David Bianculli's DANGEROUSLY FUNNY was a recent gift from my daughter up on learning of the death of Tom Smothers at 86. It's not strictly a biography, as the subtitle indicates. I wish it was, because I found the early chapters very interesting. I hadn't known, for example, that the brothers' father was a career army officer who survived the Bataan Death March only to die as a POW. Or that their mother was an alcoholic who remarried multiple times. Or that they had a sister. Or that Tom was an undiagnosed dyslexic. Or that they were farmed out to be raised by various relatives, and even went to military schools as children. And I enjoyed reading of their earliest days as entertainers at the height of the folk music era when the Kingston Trio reigned supreme. But after these early chapters, when the author began dissecting their act and the instant success of their TV show, their fights with the censors, network and each other, it began to wear thin and soon became tedious. Because I was a fan of their show, and loved watching it on Sunday nights in the late sixties. Yes, they were against the Vietnam War. I'd already done my time in the service and I was anti-war too. Still am. I guess I didn't need Bianculli explaining that whole era to me. Because I lived through it. I felt sad that both brothers' marriages fell victim to their quick success. And I'm sad that Tommy is gone. But I guess I'm glad I know more about their early lives, and that they came out okay on the other side of their firing and subsequent lawsuits. Thanks for all those hilarious and sometimes outrageous Sunday nights, guys. Now I know about all the joy and pain behind it all. And RIP, Tom. As my old sergeant used to say, "You boys done good."

- Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER… (altro)

Great book! I was born in the 70's, so reading about the politics and morals of the 60's was fun. I learned some history, too, but don't tell anyone. ;-) The author details many sketches in the book, which could have made it dry and annoying, but because the sketches were hilarious in the first place, it only served to lighten up the oppressive mood brought on when CBS was mentioned. To find out that CBS "fired -not cancelled" The Smothers Brothers for being too edgy, then just a few months later made it a point to find shows that also walked a fine line, is pretty frustrating. Like most things, it all came down to politics and money. If you don't believe that the government controls what we see, you may not want to read this book. I'd hate to see you disillusioned.… (altro)