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The world of comedy mourned the loss of a historic legend. Tom Smothers, one-half of the Smothers Brothers comedy and music duo, died on December 26 at the age of 86. Armed with the signature line of "Mom always liked you best," Tom would play the funny one beside older brother Dick as the straight man. On social media, celebrities have started to react to the passing of an entertainment icon. They made their first professional appearance as a duo in 1959 at The Purple Onion club in San Francisco; by the '60s, they were landing regular appearances on TV, crossing paths with many other big names in the process, countless of whom are mourning this tremendous loss of not just an entertainer but an inspiration. Celebrities in the world of comedy are mourning the death of Tom Smothers The Smothers Brothers solidified the variety show as something doable and fun / Gene Trindl / TV Guide / courtesy Everett Collection The world of entertainment owes a great deal to the Smothers Brothers. In a never-before-published interview with Rolling Stone, Tom Smothers outlined the intricacies of running a variety show. It isn't a matter of just hosting; "you have to have something special and keep moving pretty rapidly. You have to integrate yourself with the guest stars," he explained. "Every one of them you have to service a different way, and write sketches a certain way. It’s pretty stressful." RELATED: Tom Smothers, One Half Of Famous Comedy Duo, Dies At 86 But the brothers' relentless work on this tiring business paid off and variety shows reached an unprecedented level of success. After leaving such a mark on the entertainment format, Smothers is honored by the many celebrities who benefitted from his work. https://twitter.com/robreiner/status/1740068485609513206 "Tommy Smothers was the best," said actor and comedian Matt Besser on Twitter. "The brothers had the most unique style of comedy that still holds up." Television writer Mike Scully agreed, "nobody could make me laugh with a look the way Tommy Smothers could." Even established giants who themselves shaped comedy like Rob Reiner held Smothers in high regard. "In 1968, Tommy Smothers plucked me out of the improv group," shared Reiner. "The Committee, and gave me my first writing job for his show. Tommy was funny, smart, and a fighter. He created a ground breaking show that celebrated all that was good about American Democracy. We loved you best, Tommy." Tom Smothers transcended mediums too https://twitter.com/UnrealBluegrass/status/1740059312150782377 The Smothers Brothers successfully blended jokes and music in countless programs, leaving a mark on both mediums. A kindred spirit, banjo player Steve Martin took to social media to call him "Irreplaceable. Brilliant. Benefactor to free speech in the age of television. Greatly missed." Celebrities, including actors, singers, and other comedians, are mourning the loss of Tom Smothers / Twitter Actor Michael McKean spoke of the layered skill Tom Smothers brought to each performance and the integrity he displayed in his personal life. He called Smothers "a character within a character, and a nice guy beneath it all." Did you used to watch the Smothers Brothers? https://twitter.com/DaveSFoley/status/1740085624160538749 RELATED: In Memoriam — All The People We Lost In 2023