In real life, Tom Smothers, who has died, was the exact opposite of the naïf he played on television. He was a sophisticated comedian, writer and political satirist, but he was more than that.
He was a competitive unicyclist - you read that correctly - and owned and operated a successful Sonoma County winery. I encountered him in the otherwise empty lobby of the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel years ago at 1 am or so and he was less than sober.
He was surrounded by three couples who watched as he performed spectacular tricks with not one, but two, yo-yos.
But that wasn’t the best bit. The best bit was his completely improv banter with his tiny, impromptu audience - who were charmed beyond measure.
There are some show business people to whom a dazzling array of talent is given. Tom Smothers was one of them.
I heard Tom said mom liked Dick best,
but Tom got to see her first.
competitive unicycling... now that's something you don't hear very often...r.i.p., mom always liked you best...