Early in the 60s I was obsessed with monsters. I'd read the monster magazines, watched the monster movies on the local tv station, see monster movies at the movies. Later it was spies, Bond, Get Smart, Man from UNCLE, read the books ( who read the Oy -Oy Seven parody?), Comic books. Then it was UFOs.

Bea Benaderet the original voice of Betty rubble Four seasons thru 4.

It's easy to forget just how groundbreaking The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour really was. When the show premiered in 1967, CBS executives expected a fairly conventional variety show. Instead, Tom and Dick Smothers gradually transformed it into one of television's sharpest political and social satires.

Television historian David Bianculli told me that the show's writers—including Steve Martin, Rob Reiner, Mason Williams and Bob Einstein—were constantly pushing boundaries. As the Vietnam War escalated and the country became increasingly divided, so did the show's comedy. That led to an ongoing battle with CBS Standards and Practices over sketches, guest performers and political commentary. The network frequently demanded cuts, while the Smothers Brothers fought to keep material intact.

The conflict ultimately contributed to CBS canceling one of its highest-rated shows in 1969. Today it's easy to see the DNA of Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show and other late-night satire in what the Smothers Brothers were doing nearly 60 years ago. Bianculli believes the show permanently changed television comedy.

It’s a very whimsical show and I hope that I can be part of it