Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour coming to DVD

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If you enjoyed the way that "WKRP in Cincinnati"´s Dr. Johnny Fever couldn´t keep from taunting the FCC by saying "booger" on the air, or if you thought that the whole thing with Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, and "Nipplegate" was a farce, then you might want to check out this new DVD featuring highlights from the contentious third season of "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour." They took a stand against censors like no one else on television . . . and lost, but eventually won.

Time Life is bringing out a 4-DVD boxed set which will include 11 star-packed episodes from the third and final season of the hour-long variety show--uncensored.

The guest list for the 1968-69 season included George Harrison, Harry Belafonte, Bob Newhart, Steve Martin, George Carlin, The Doors, Donovan, Ray Charles, Jackie Mason, "Mama" Cass Elliot, Jonathan Winters, Joan Baez, and David Steinberg. It´s a Sixties time capsule that also still stands as the biggest entertainment industry challenge to censorship. One memorable segment features Belafonte singing "Don´t Stop the Carnival" against a backdrop of footage of the riots and police brutality at the 1968 Chicago Democratic National Convention. Another politically charged moment features anti-war activist and famed baby doctor Benjamin Spock. There are also gems in the uncensored snippets that never made it past the censors, seen here for the first time. Time Life has uncovered never-before-seen footage of Robert F. Kennedy originally taped for the "Pat Paulsen for President" special, cut because of Kennedy´s assassination. This season, Tom and Dick Smothers boldly sing about political unrest, network censors, and Richard Nixon, with many rare segments restored.

The DVD set is produced by Paul Brownstein ("The Dick Van Dyke Show").

"The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" premiered in February 1967 and lasted three seasons on CBS. The brothers were fired by the network, later challenged the network, were vindicated, but decided against returning to television. The show pushed the boundaries of what was considered permissible in television satire, with writers that included Rob Reiner.

The boxed set will be available in stores September 16 at the suggested retail price of $49.95.

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