Jane Fonda and the Free The Army performances offered alternative messaging to the USO performances for the US Army during the Vietnam War Era.
Sarah King
On October 16, 1859, abolitionist John Brown led an interracial group of men on a raid on the armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Brown hoped to arm slaves and instigate a slave rebellion. The mission failed, and Brown became a villain in the South, but his trial and execution for treason made him a martyr in the North and inspired one of the United States’ most enduring national hymns.
Comedy Hour’s political and antiwar content made it too controversial for primetime. Despite their abrupt firing, the Smothers Brothers left behind an important legacy. In just three seasons, their show challenged television norms and opened the door for other television shows to wade into political commentary.