George Clooney and Sony to Make a Smothers Brothers Biopic

 

George Clooney (The Descendants) and his Smokehouse Pictures are teaming up with Sony to tell the behind-the-scenes story of one of America’s most famous television shows.  According to Deadline, Clooney and his producing partner, Grant Heslov had already optioned the rights to, Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story Of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, before seeking a deal with Sony.  Brian Hecker and Craig Sherman have been hired to write the adapted screenplay from the book was written by television critic, David Bianculli.

Bianculli’s book is described as;

A behind-the-scenes look at the rise and fall of "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" -- the provocative, politically charged program that shocked the censors, outraged the White House, and forever changed the face of television.

In the late 1960s, the brothers Smother, Tom and Dick, were two 30-year-old singing comedian brothers and considered to be one of the most controversial acts around.  They had a show on CBS called The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour that poked fun at youth culture, the Vietnam War and racism in America.  Think of it as an old time version of The Daily Show, but with musical acts.  Anyway, their show also introduced some of the best young talent in the likes of; Steve Martin, Albert Brooks, Bob Einstein The Doors, Jefferson Airplane and The Who.   

I’m not sure how I feel about this project as I was too young to appreciate any of the biting and sarcastic political commentary.  Apparently it was their constant barrage of anti-establishment satire that led to their show being canceled, with a special thanks to tricky Dick Nixon.