2/3/03

Smothers Brothers ~ Masters of comedy timing and experts at timeless comedy

BENTON TOWNSHIP, MI - The Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Mainstage will present the two best singing comedians, the Smothers Brothers, on Sunday, February 23, at 7:00 p.m.

With their own brand of musical comedy, dialogue, and rivalry, the Smothers Brothers are better than ever. Tom and Dick Smothers made a name for themselves by redefining TV comedy in the '60s on their hit comedy hour. Ever week millions tuned in to their variety show to see the many famous stars and to find out which of the brothers Mom liked best. Their biting humor was not appreciated by CBS, which canceled their show for being politically incorrect.

The difference time makes is that today none of their jokes seem vulgar. Their show broke ground for later comedy series such as Laugh-in and Saturday Night Live. The brother rivalry and smart-brother-embarrassed-by-the-dumb-brother routines are still fresh and crazy. Their perfect pattern of very funny series of starts and stops with Tommy rambling his nonsense while Dick stands by straight-faced, and leaning on his bass before uttering a brotherly biting insult appeals to everyone's funny bone.

Only the Smothers brothers can teach us how to achieve the Zen-like state of "YO" with Tom as "The Yo-Yo Man" and Dick as the narrator. With 42 years in show business, the Smothers Brothers are being saluted as time-honored legends whose lengthy career has surpassed all other comedy teams in history. Today, they are in great demand in concert throughout the U.S. and are regular headliners in Las Vegas, Reno, and Atlantic City.

Tickets for Smothers Brothers' performance at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Mainstage are available by calling (616) 927-1221. Students (kindergarten through college) and senior adults (60 and over) receive a 10-percent discount off single ticket prices. Special group rates are available to parties of 20 or more. These groups receive 15-percent savings on ticket prices. For further information about group rates and special arrangements, call the Group Coordinator at (616) 927-8109. Bank One is sponsoring the Smothers Brother's performance

The 1,505-seat Mendel Center Mainstage Theater offers state-of-the-art acoustics and comfortable seating in elegant surroundings. Other amenities include free, lighted parking; handicap accessibility (inside and out); an array of special services; and friendly ushers and support personnel.

The Mendel Center is located within 30 minutes of Niles and 40 minutes from Kalamazoo or South Bend. Located on the Napier Avenue campus of Lake Michigan College, the Mendel Center is one mile east of I-94 on Napier Avenue (Exit 30) in Benton Township, Michigan.