Columnist Joe Delaney: No stopping the legendary Smothers Brothers

Joe Delaney

Friday, Jan. 12, 2001 | 9:18 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears om Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@lasvegassun.com

Tom and Dick Smothers, appearing at the Orleans through Sunday, are among the hardiest entertainment perennials, really sole survivors as LV headliners of the groups that came into prominence during the 1950s folk music revival ... Masters of comedy timing and experts at timeless comedy, as well as a first-classic singing duo, and like the finest wines, they improve with age.

"Boil That Cabbage Down" is their get-on song ... This is followed by a very funny series of starts and stops, off-the-wall digressions by Tom, an occasional complete song, the only acceptable version of "Impossible Dream," and a dynamite closer with Tom as "The Yo-Yo Man," and Dick narrating, instructing the audience on how to achieve the Zen-like state of "Yo."

Cutting-edge comedy, once the Smothers realized that this was their primary calling, made their mid-1960s television series a success and eventually lost it for them, thanks to finicky advertisers and lack of network courage.

It is significant that the Museum of Broadcasting, on both coasts, has honored the duo with retrospective showings and permanent installation of all of their TV shows in the museum archives, a well-deserved honor ... Those shows served as launching pads for the careers of Glen Campbell, the late Pat Paulsen and Mason Williams, and as an outlet for such controversial comedians as Professor Irwin C. Corey and unusual variety acts.

Rumors that Tom and Dick -- who both live very full lives with many active interests, authorities on good foods and good wines, successful vintners -- were to go their separate ways last year seem to be dispelled as the Smothers Brothers have 2001 commitments with both the Orleans and Suncoast.

Weekend wrap-up

Oops ... In doing an update of all the current magic shows in last Friday's column, we inadvertently omitted one of our personal favorites, Caesars Magical Empire, where the $75 tab gives one an excellent full meal, with a choice of fish, chicken or beef, entertainment during the meal plus three different forms of magic, including top-name entertainers such as Jeff McBride, there currently.

A real bargain: "Splash," a most-improved show at the Riviera, is offering two-for-one prices to Nevada residents with valid Nevada driver's licenses or Nevada student registration cards at the 10:30 p.m. shows only ... Just present your license or card when buying your ticket; the second ticket is free.

On Nov. 2 we asked why Rita Rudner, who did great business throughout last year at the MGM Grand Cabaret Theatre, "couldn't do early shows and the 'Crazy Horse' revue do late shows?" ... Look for this to happen soon.

The Carl Grove Combo plays for dancing, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Charleston Heights Center ... Jazz vet George Duke appears at 8 p.m. Saturday (Boulder Station) ... Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, part of UNLV's World Stage Series, performs at 2 p.m. Sunday (Artemus Ham Hall).

Speaking of jazz, try to catch Ken Burns' "Jazz" series on PBS (KLVX Channel 10), extremely well done, check for dates and times ... More jazz: the Nevada Jazz Orchestra is the 2 p.m. Sunday attraction, Winchester Center ... Still more good jazz: Top trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and Big Bop Nouveau Band plays two sets, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Riviera's La Cage Theatre.

Jackie Mason (MGM Grand Theatre) is one of the funniest comedians working today ... See you next Thursday.