My Brother the Angel

Tom Smothers is an incompetent apprentice angel,sent back to earth by angel supervisor "Ralph" to earn his spurs(er..wings?),by helping people,using "angel powers",usually roping his frequently exasperated living brother Dick into his adventures. This was the first of the Smothers brothers TV shows of their own,a half hour black and white sitcom,which lasted a year,the premise of which was hardly uniquely "whacky" in the era of "I dream of Jeannie","the Munsters" and the notorious "My mother the car".The brothers' status in the TV comedy pantheon is based on their later "satirical" variety-sketch show "The Smothers brothers comedy hour",and they seem embarrassed about,and dismissive of this predecessor.However,the show is a perfectly acceptable example of the "fantasy" sitcom,so popular at this time,and is by no means unworthy as a showcase for their talents.Each episode starts with a short stand up routine by way of an introduction to the story.Then Tom-reluctant Dick often in tow-launches into his latest "angel assignment"-to end a hillbilly feud,make sure an ex con doesn't return to crime,or whatever.Like its contemporaries,sometimes silliness threatens to overwhelm the whole thing,and Tom's comic persona can become irritating if allowed too much leeway.But the presence of fine supporting casts,especially co-star Roland Winters-as Dick's blustering boss at "Pandora publications"-and guests like Edward Andrews,Gerald Mohr and Percy Helton,good production from the reliable "4 Star" television company and interesting stories,all complement the likable brothers,helping to make a very watchable show.

This sitcom may well wear better today than the "Smothers brothers comedy hour",where the agitprop comedy is very much anchored in the political and societal concerns of the late 60s(nothing dates like satire!).Modern audiences who enjoy the escapist fantasy sitcoms of the 60s,and have exhausted the likes of "Bewitched",might enjoy discovering this "lost" show-rarely seen since its original transmission.A colorized version would do no harm to the "integrity" of the series,and enhance the slick "Madison Avenue 60s" clothes.

When I was in 5th grade, this was my favorite show, and I even wrote an essay about it for school. Great interaction between Tom and Dick, and Roland Winters's comic timing as Dickie's boss was an extra bonus, and Harriet McGibben as his wife was hilarious.

Would love to see it again, although I don't need to in order to sing the title song: "My brother Tom, was lost at sea, without his water wings . . . "

And the cartoon opening credits are forever etched in my memory, too. It wasn't political like the Comedy Hour, but it sure was fun. And Tom was the best angel since Henry Travers's Clarence in It's A Wonderful Life.

...there was a sitcom.

A black and white half hour series on CBS. (I think it was the last season the networks had B&W during primetime). It lasted only one season, but had 32 episodes.

Drowned at sea many years earlier, Tom Smothers returns to earth as an apprentice angel, and takes up residence in the bachelor apartment of his living brother, Dick. Inept and ordered to assist people in distress, Tom reluctantly assisted by Dick, struggles to complete his assignments and acquire the status needed to become a full-fledged angel.

I was also in the fifth grade when this show was on CBS and watched it every Friday night. Then I probably liked the angel gimmick but in the 1980s, when Nick at Nite reran the show, I found that the only funny parts are when Tom and Dick go into their basic routine--bickering with one another--which I had forgotten occurred at least once a show. However, the show does not appear as dated as "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," no doubt because the sitcom did not rely on political humor.

The way I remember the theme lyrics:

Tonight you'll meet two brothers who Just happen to be us. But Tom is slightly different, a problem we will now discuss. My brother Tom was lost at sea Without his water wings. And now he is an angel And he tries to do amazing things. That's right. Brother Dick, it's no trick if you see Lots of different faces that look a lot like me. An angel on a visit to his brother here below Can cause a lot of trouble. There's miracles to start but they always come apart On The Smothers Brothers Show. There's miracles to start but they always come apart On The Smothers Brothers Show.

Tommy Smothers, lost at sea and dead for two years shows up at Dick Smothers doorstep (with a life saver around his neck) saying he is an angel, sent back to earth to perform angel assignments every week in the hopes he can get into heaven. They play Tom and Dick Smothers.

I remember watching this half-hour sitcom when in second or third grade. It was my favorite show at the time, and came out right about the time their "Mom Always Liked You Best" comedy album did.

I seem to remember my Mom telling me at the time that this was originally a "summer replacement" program for Summer 1965 that proved so popular, they extended it (apparently into 1966). The popularity of the show also fueled the creation of their Variety Show, but as a kid I did not like the variety show near as much as the sitcom.

I was finally able to see the show 25 years later on British Satellite TV ("Lifestyle"?), and still remembered the theme song. I would imagine the shows are quite rare in the states seeing as how they only made one season of the sitcom and most people remembered their variety show that immediately followed.

All in all a good show featuring Roland "Charlie Chan" Winters as Dick Smothers boss in the advertising business.