My Brother the Angel

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.

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.

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.

I didn't think there were that many people who actually remembered this show. I do not recall too many of the episodes, but, yes, the theme song still sticks in my head......or most of it. I seem to remember it this way, but please, anyone feel free to correct:

Tonight you'll meet, two brothers who, Just happen to be us

Though Tommy is an angel, A problem we will now discuss.

Brother Tom was lost at sea, Without his water wings,

And now he is an angel, And tries to do amazing things.

That's right!.......

Brother Dick gets so sick as you'll see, Lot's of different people, Who look a lot like me!

.....and that's as far as I can go (out of useless brain cells, I guess)

Perhaps ADULTS in this time era did not enjoy the show as much as KIDS did! It was a shame children in this period of time did not have as much impact as children do today. There was not any show then, or now that carried these aspects of "Life after Death" in the same way that this show portrayed it.

The show also carried a special and personal meaning to me. This was due to my brother had drowned in March 1961, (I was 6 years old, and my brother was 7 at this time) and the thought that he was an Angel and could see me, helped me cope with his death.

When The Smothers Brothers became a variety show years later, I was already in tune to their type of comedy.

For this reason, I would like to thank this show and it's cast members.