Thanks for posting this. Thank you you for demonstrating how the battle for free expressions has a history. God bless Tommy and Pete, may they rest in peace.
I was blessed to meet Pete and be able to introduce my children to a real American hero and citizen of the World. How we need Pete today as a beacon of morality and social justice in these divisive cruel times!
The citizens of U.S of A were truly blessed to have had a generational calibre of people, the likes of Pete Seeger, Fred Rogers and Robert Kennedy to name just a few. Men to have revered, admired as role models and to have used as inspiration. It is truly sad today to hear and witness narcissistic, morally decaying behaviours of future generations since. Where have all the flowers gone. When did America lose its moral compass.
As someone who is anti-war and very much opposed to the United States’ military industrial complex, I thank you and appreciate you for your service. ✊🏼
I would imagine it would have made a big change of mood. My father ensured I knew what it was about and to never be cannon fodder for the military industrial machine
I get chills watching it, thats what real art does it makes you think and it makes you feel. Imagine seeing this in 68, im sure it left alot of living rooms speechless
On Seeger’s first appearance, he played this song but it got edited out, so only the studio audience got to hear it. Tommy Smothers pushed hard enough, and CBS let Seeger come back and Waist Deep made it on the air. For the Smothers Brothers, that was a huge victory.
This wasn't the one that got the show canceled. This was from one of the earlier seasons. CBS originally censored "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" from Pete's first appearance because the song was believed to be a shot at Lyndon Johnson. The brothers demanded that Pete be allowed to return and got their wish. The show got canceled during the third season (and had been approved for a fourth season) because the Smothers supposedly did not turn in a show to the network for review (even though no other show was required to do so). Tom and Dick sued and won around $750,000 for breach of contract (which they could easily prove, as if they tried for freedom of speech there would have been enough wiggle room for CBS to win). Coincidentally, the show that CBS picked up to replace the Smothers Brothers was Hee Haw, which lasted a year on CBS before the Rural Purge (where "every show that had a tree ... including Lassie" was canceled as an attempt to get a younger demographic. Hee Haw got picked up in Syndication and ran for 20-plus years) Green Acres, Petticoat Junction, Mayberry RFD and Lassie all got canned (Beverly Hillbillies had already announced they were stop filming that season). All In the Family and Mary Tyler Moore began the wave of more urbane shows (Bob Newhart, Sonny and Cher, Rhoda, Maude, etc.)
I too saw this and halfway through realized he was calling LBJ a big fool! Many years later, at the Clearwater Fair on the Hudson(started by Seeger) walked into a small craft tent and when my eyes adjusted, spied an older man napping in a folding chair. I realized it was Pete; I just let him sleep.
I remember seeing this on our B&W TV. We loved it. Pete kicked LBJ, The Big Fool, right in the balls. I am convinced that this pushed LBJ to decide not to seek re-election.
What really drove LBJ to quit was when CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite criticized the war after the Tet Offense of early 1968, and declared the Vietnam War as "unwinnable." LBJ declared in despair, "If I lost Cronkite, then I lost America's votes." LBJ announced his decision not to run for the 1968 election in March-April of that year.
I was born at the tail end of a lot of this music and activism (I remember how desperately I wanted to go to Woodstock -- at 10) Now at 65 in a couple days I realized how much talent we had (and lost) At least I caught up and now I play pretty much all music that's either funny or which has something to say, and like Tom knew there's a SHITLOAD of things we need to talk about these days, the more things change the more they stay the same 😪
I remember when this aired.(I was thirteen.)Pete Seeger had been on the show before, but one of his songs had been censored. He returned on this show and this time sang the song; Waist Deep in the Big Muddy.
The Big Muddy was the song that had been censored. Tom Smothers went public with what the network did. There was so much public outcry, the network had to relent and told them they could book him later in the season and allowed the song to air.
I was thirteen, watched it live, and it was the most shocking thing I had seen up to that time in my sheltered life. I'll never forget it, and props to the Smothers and to Seeger. ETA: I had lots of family that fought in Vietnam; it was very clear to me that he was talking about President Johnson and the war. Got chills again watching it.
@@Maggie-iv3st The network relented because Pete's album 'Waist Deep in the Big Muddy' just came out and they wanted to promote it and make money. It wasn't because they believed in what he said or wanted his view to be heard.
3:26 I remember this song. Marcos was a was into his second year as president. We knew later the atrocities of the Americans and how they confiscated the bells of Samar. It was said that the American forces in Samar gave the order to kill everyone (all Filipinos in the barrio) until all they can hear are the "howling of dogs". To the Americans, they got the Philippines by default because they defeated Spain. Like other colonists, we were beneath the dogs and monkeys. 1898 Mckinley should have been boiled in oil (like Mark Twain said) because it was at the same time he cut down the monarchy in Hawaii. The Hawaiians were treated as bad because they were forbidden to speak their language. Thank you, Pete wherever you are, for the true feeling of history in songs.
a fine line, Pete sang the songs of them, and didnt glamorize at all, just presented them as melodies of previous needless blood spilling and listen to how quaint and boring glamorizing war is.
The 'Big Fool' was LBJ and Pete knew just like I did in 1968 even though I was only16 the Viet Nam War was a tremendous waste of American men and women.
I remember Dad hated the SBCH, not the least of reasons was that it was on at the same time as Bonanza. There was always a brief argument about which show to watch on the only color tv in the house. We wound up watching the Smos Bros in Mom and Dad's bedroom where a 13" black & white TV was the only option we had to choose from to control the dial (that's right, a channel dial with no remote control). We had four channels so arguments over the TV were brief. Parents 1 - 0 kids every time.
My father told me in the 1990s how stupid 'Johnson's war' (Vietnam) was. I mentioned this to my brother as being a bit ironic. Ironic? He laughed. Did you forget the time he chased you into the back yard and ripped the peace symbol off your neck?
@@imannonymous7707 my dad must have been pretty liberal because I do remember parts of the show even as a 3 year old. Not this, but I do remember it being on in the house. He was never a hardcore fan of any show in particular. Even if there was something on he liked, he checked the other channels to see if there was anything better. Right to the present day, as he only passed on a couple of years ago.
I think it is about a good deal than that. For one thing there was an actual training accident in the 1950s of this type. Did you ever hear Pete Seegar explain how he came to write this?
This did air. I remember it well. I was 16, and it hit me like a load of bricks. In 1968, you watched the show live, or you couldn't watch it at all - no reruns, no internet, no VCRs or DVDs or any other after-the-fact. It's true that CBS censored this song from broadcasting, but that was on a show a couple months earlier. Because of The Smothers insistence, and public backlash, Seeger was invited back and performed it again. It's that repeat that is shown here, and this time aired without censorship. It's tough to express, in these days of media overload, just how impactful that single performance was at the time.
lee shafer Funny how many uninformed jack-offs comment here. It was censored in 1967. Because of the backlash CBS relented and he came back on in ‘68. This is what aired.
Thank you, Tommy Smothers, for fighting to get Pete on the air in 1968. And rest in peace.
Thanks for posting this. Thank you you for demonstrating how the battle for free expressions has a history. God bless Tommy and Pete, may they rest in peace.
Rest In Power and In Peace, Tommy Smothers
(February 2, 1937 - December 26, 2023)
I was blessed to meet Pete and be able to introduce my children to a real American hero and citizen of the World. How we need Pete today as a beacon of morality and social justice in these divisive cruel times!
The citizens of U.S of A were truly blessed to have had a generational calibre of people, the likes of Pete Seeger, Fred Rogers and Robert Kennedy to name just a few. Men to have revered, admired as role models and to have used as inspiration. It is truly sad today to hear and witness narcissistic, morally decaying behaviours of future generations since. Where have all the flowers gone. When did America lose its moral compass.
Rest in power Tommy Smothers.
54 years later and still in the Big Muddy...
2022; where ?
Saw this show the night before I went into the Army. Totally changed my outlook on what I was getting into ...
How so? if you don't mind sharing.
Thank you for your service. Love Pete's songs.
As someone who is anti-war and very much opposed to the United States’ military industrial complex, I thank you and appreciate you for your service. ✊🏼
I would imagine it would have made a big change of mood.
My father ensured I knew what it was about and to never be cannon fodder for the military industrial machine
Glad you came back, sir.
I get chills watching it, thats what real art does it makes you think and it makes you feel.
Imagine seeing this in 68, im sure it left alot of living rooms speechless
Including the one in the White House.
On Seeger’s first appearance, he played this song but it got edited out, so only the studio audience got to hear it.
Tommy Smothers pushed hard enough, and CBS let Seeger come back and Waist Deep made it on the air.
For the Smothers Brothers, that was a huge victory.
I think this is what got the Smothers Brothers show canned from CBS. I love that they were willing to put Seeger on knowing this would happen.
This wasn't the one that got the show canceled. This was from one of the earlier seasons. CBS originally censored "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" from Pete's first appearance because the song was believed to be a shot at Lyndon Johnson. The brothers demanded that Pete be allowed to return and got their wish. The show got canceled during the third season (and had been approved for a fourth season) because the Smothers supposedly did not turn in a show to the network for review (even though no other show was required to do so). Tom and Dick sued and won around $750,000 for breach of contract (which they could easily prove, as if they tried for freedom of speech there would have been enough wiggle room for CBS to win).
Coincidentally, the show that CBS picked up to replace the Smothers Brothers was Hee Haw, which lasted a year on CBS before the Rural Purge (where "every show that had a tree ... including Lassie" was canceled as an attempt to get a younger demographic. Hee Haw got picked up in Syndication and ran for 20-plus years) Green Acres, Petticoat Junction, Mayberry RFD and Lassie all got canned (Beverly Hillbillies had already announced they were stop filming that season). All In the Family and Mary Tyler Moore began the wave of more urbane shows (Bob Newhart, Sonny and Cher, Rhoda, Maude, etc.)
Pete Seeger....miss him. Hopefully people watch and learn about quality and integrity.
One of the best protest songs...ever.
Brilliant man, great performance. Thank you to the Smotgers Brothers
I too saw this and halfway through realized he was calling LBJ a big fool! Many years later, at the Clearwater Fair on the Hudson(started by Seeger) walked into a small craft tent and when my eyes adjusted, spied an older man napping in a folding chair. I realized it was Pete; I just let him sleep.
Timeless and meaningful, thank you Pete Seeger.
We need to remember what war really is the next time the big fool says to push on. Peace
Gotta love Seeger's voice. Definitely miss him.
One of the greatest folk singers ever. RIP Pete
One of the few great Americans
I remember seeing this on our B&W TV. We loved it. Pete kicked LBJ, The Big Fool, right in the balls. I am convinced that this pushed LBJ to decide not to seek re-election.
Pretty much.
interesting, that god damn war , left so many families torn apart , and for what
@@imannonymous7707 For what? My underwear is made in Vietnam.
What really drove LBJ to quit was when CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite criticized the war after the Tet Offense of early 1968, and declared the Vietnam War as "unwinnable." LBJ declared in despair, "If I lost Cronkite, then I lost America's votes." LBJ announced his decision not to run for the 1968 election in March-April of that year.
Wow that is a wonderful example of folk music speaking to American political power.
That's some mighty fine pickin'.
One of the most important performances in TV history ... Thank you, Pete, for standing up for peace !
God damn right
He has carried on with freedom and quality life for America as long as we observe civil rights and liberal idea life
I was born at the tail end of a lot of this music and activism (I remember how desperately I wanted to go to Woodstock -- at 10) Now at 65 in a couple days I realized how much talent we had (and lost) At least I caught up and now I play pretty much all music that's either funny or which has something to say, and like Tom knew there's a SHITLOAD of things we need to talk about these days, the more things change the more they stay the same 😪
I remember when this aired.(I was thirteen.)Pete Seeger had been on the show before, but one of his songs had been censored. He returned on this show and this time sang the song; Waist Deep in the Big Muddy.
The Big Muddy was the song that had been censored. Tom Smothers went public with what the network did. There was so much public outcry, the network had to relent and told them they could book him later in the season and allowed the song to air.
I was thirteen, watched it live, and it was the most shocking thing I had seen up to that time in my sheltered life. I'll never forget it, and props to the Smothers and to Seeger. ETA: I had lots of family that fought in Vietnam; it was very clear to me that he was talking about President Johnson and the war. Got chills again watching it.
@@Maggie-iv3st The network relented because Pete's album 'Waist Deep in the Big Muddy' just came out and they wanted to promote it and make money. It wasn't because they believed in what he said or wanted his view to be heard.
@@757boing50/50.
Bob Dylan brought me here. The second to the last chapter of The Philosophy of Modern Song.
3:26 I remember this song. Marcos was a was into his second year as president. We knew later the atrocities of the Americans and how they confiscated the bells of Samar. It was said that the American forces in Samar gave the order to kill everyone (all Filipinos in the barrio) until all they can hear are the "howling of dogs". To the Americans, they got the Philippines by default because they defeated Spain. Like other colonists, we were beneath the dogs and monkeys. 1898 Mckinley should have been boiled in oil (like Mark Twain said) because it was at the same time he cut down the monarchy in Hawaii. The Hawaiians were treated as bad because they were forbidden to speak their language.
Thank you, Pete wherever you are, for the true feeling of history in songs.
Hey I know this is a weird question, but how to you feel about another Marcos takin' up the presidency?
@@MrLeGeNdCast It couldn't worse than what America is going through. Let's see how he can handle the Chinese and the economy
Last time TV was relevant.
I’ve been looking for this! 😆 Such an amazing song. I love story songs. Thank you for sharing! 👍
That little banjo Pete plays sings the tune while Pete is playin' or so it seems.
Thank-you Tommy and Dick - Blows Against the Empire
I'm here after watching episode 1278 of WTF with Marc Maron I hope yall listen to it. It's great history lesson.
This song blended well with episode 5 of the Ken Burns' Viet doc
Ironically, this was broadcast less than one month before the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam. "The big fool said to push on."
This is a list of USA wars. Not just a medley of songs.
a fine line, Pete sang the songs of them, and didnt glamorize at all, just presented them as melodies of previous needless blood spilling and listen to how quaint and boring glamorizing war is.
I remember this show and boy a this time Pete was certainly not politically correct and I so admire him.
I remembererd this at the war.
The 'Big Fool' was LBJ and Pete knew just like I did in 1968 even though I was only16 the Viet Nam War was a tremendous waste of American men and women.
I remember Dad hated the SBCH, not the least of reasons was that it was on at the same time as Bonanza. There was always a brief argument about which show to watch on the only color tv in the house. We wound up watching the Smos Bros in Mom and Dad's bedroom where a 13" black & white TV was the only option we had to choose from to control the dial (that's right, a channel dial with no remote control). We had four channels so arguments over the TV were brief. Parents 1 - 0 kids every time.
My father told me in the 1990s how stupid 'Johnson's war' (Vietnam) was. I mentioned this to my brother as being a bit ironic. Ironic? He laughed. Did you forget the time he chased you into the back yard and ripped the peace symbol off your neck?
i remember those days , most houses had 1 tv and father called the shots....who knew we would be here today...with tv screens tethered to our souls
@@imannonymous7707 my dad must have been pretty liberal because I do remember parts of the show even as a 3 year old. Not this, but I do remember it being on in the house.
He was never a hardcore fan of any show in particular. Even if there was something on he liked, he checked the other channels to see if there was anything better. Right to the present day, as he only passed on a couple of years ago.
Wow
Very talented, very cool. Can someone please post the song names
This is the song that was too much for Richard Nixon. Soon after this the Smothers Brothers were gone from tv
You mean LBJ. No way to tell if it had an influence, but he would soon announce he was not running for reelection in 1968.
True incident at Parris Island 1956. DI sergeant led platoon into swamp.
anybody know the songs?a songlist?
I wonder how the captain really died…
That "controversial song" begins at 4:20. The song is about a WWII soldier, nothing more.
Arguments can be found on the basement floor.
You're not good with metaphores a are you?
I think it is about a good deal than that. For one thing there was an actual training accident in the 1950s of this type. Did you ever hear Pete Seegar explain how he came to write this?
Laugh out loud. You must have missed the English class that discussed allegories and analogies didn't you?
funny how people remember a show segment that never aired
This did air. I remember it well. I was 16, and it hit me like a load of bricks. In 1968, you watched the show live, or you couldn't watch it at all - no reruns, no internet, no VCRs or DVDs or any other after-the-fact. It's true that CBS censored this song from broadcasting, but that was on a show a couple months earlier. Because of The Smothers insistence, and public backlash, Seeger was invited back and performed it again. It's that repeat that is shown here, and this time aired without censorship. It's tough to express, in these days of media overload, just how impactful that single performance was at the time.
lee shafer Funny how many uninformed jack-offs comment here. It was censored in 1967. Because of the backlash CBS relented and he came back on in ‘68. This is what aired.
It was on a DVD produced by TimeLife of the shows that were cancelled .
The 2002 documentary shows this
The first time Seeger sang Big Muddy, the sound went out during the final section. This is the second time and it played without censorship.
Wow