Despite this success, continual conflicts with network executives over content led to the show being abruptly pulled from the schedule in violation of the Smothers' contract in 1969.

[2][3] The roster of writers and performers included Hal Goldman and Al Gordon (who had written for The Jack Benny Program), Jim Stafford, Steve Martin, Don Novello, Rob Reiner, Lorenzo Music, perennial presidential candidate Pat Paulsen, Bob Einstein ("Officer Judy"), and Leigh French ("Share a Little Tea with Goldie").

[4] George Harrison, Joan Baez, Buffalo Springfield, Cass Elliot, Harry Belafonte, Cream, the Who, Donovan, the Doors, Janis Ian, Yank Barry, Jefferson Airplane, Peter, Paul and Mary, Spanky and Our Gang, Steppenwolf, Simon & Garfunkel, Ray Charles, Hello People, Pete Seeger and Ike and Tina Turner were showcased during the latter years of the show despite the advertiser-sensitive nature of their music.

His performance of "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" was dropped from the broadcast[5] after his refusal to comply with CBS's request to remove the sixth verse.

Whereas most older and more conservative audiences were tuning into shows such as the western Bonanza, the younger, more liberal generation—ages 15–25—were watching the Smothers' more socially relevant humor.

In the season premiere, CBS deleted an entire segment featuring Belafonte singing "Lord, Don't Stop the Carnival" against a backdrop of the havoc during the 1968 Democratic National Convention,[5] along with two lines from a satire of their main competitor, Bonanza.

In that program, Joan Baez paid tribute to her then-husband David Harris, who was entering jail after refusing military service,[4] while comedian Jackie Mason made a joke about children "playing doctor."

Network CEO and president William S. Paley abruptly canceled the show on April 4, 1969, citing the Smothers' failure to meet the contractual pre-air delivery dates required for local affiliate screening.

On April 6, 1973, after four years of litigation, a federal court ruled in favor of the Smotherses and ordered CBS to pay them US$776,300[14] (equivalent to $5.5 million in 2024[15]), and in 1975, the duo returned to television, hosting the tamer (and unsuccessful) The Smothers Brothers Show that aired on NBC.