The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Editorial in April 1969 issue of TV Guide: This publication has in the past wholeheartedly defended the right of even the Smothers Brothers to have their say on the issues of the day. We are in full accord, however, with the Columbia Broadcasting System in its wise, determined and wholly justified insistence on meeting its responsibilities by retaining the right to preview what it will telecast over its facilities. CBS, however, found out that it could not carry out this duty because the Smothers Brothers, in their arrogance, made it impossible by delaying the delivery of their finished shows. This prevented the tapes from being previewed by the network’s Program Practices Department, the office that speaks for CBS in matters of taste. So CBS has dropped the program. CBS justly holds that it should and must set its own criteria in matters of taste and that it is both its privilege and responsibility to do so. After all, the network is open to censure from the public for its teleca...
