Comedian Tom Smothers has died at the age of 86.

The National Comedy Center, on behalf of his family,
said in a statement Wednesday that Smothers died
Tuesday at home in Santa Rosa, California.   

In 2023, Smothers announced he had been diagnosed
with stage two lung cancer.

Tommy with brother Dick…The Smothers Brothers.

A Christmas Story is a 1983 Christmas comedy film directed by Bob Clark and based on Jean Shepherd‘s semi-fictional anecdotes in his
1966 book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash,

The film was released on November 18, 1983, and received positive reviews from critics.

1947

The semi – musical comedy Road to Rio was the fifth of the
"Road to …" series.

On October 11, 1975, Saturday Night Live (SNL),featuring Chevy
Chase, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris,
Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman, made its debut on NBC.

The 90-minute program, which from its inception has been
broadcast live from Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center, includes a
different guest host and musical act each week. The opening
sketch of each show ends with one actor saying, “Live from
New York, it’s Saturday Night!”

Created by the Canadian-born comedy writer Lorne Michaels,
SNL has introduced a long list of memorable characters and catchphrases.

A news update with Gilda Radner and Jane Curtin.

The Coneheads were (from left) Laraine Newman, Jane
Curtain and Dan Akyroyd.

.

Tonight Starring Steve Allen was a talk show hosted by
Steve Allen. It was the first version of what eventually
became known  as The Tonight Show. Tonight was the
first late-night talk show, as well as the first late night
television series of any kind to achieve long-term
success. Allen’s run as host of the show lasted for
two and a half seasons, beginning in fall 1954 and
ending with Allen’s departure in January 1957.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen
(December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000)