When I was growing up, my parents used to take me to the International House of Pancakes. That's what it said right on the sign. This was before the texting-friendly abbreviation IHOP cut it down to size.
They were easy restaurants to recognize, what with their powder-blue A-frame buildings. They had bottomless coffee pots (which meant nothing to me then or now), and all kinds of different flavored syrups on the tables, even though maple was the one that was always empty.
My best memory of IHOP - I'll call it that for expediency - wasn't the Half-Dollar pancakes, the sticky tabletops or the orange aprons the waitresses wore. It's the time I had breakfast there with Tommy Smothers.
Bet you didn't see that coming.
I'd met Tommy at a release party for Groucho's album, An Evening With Groucho. It was a star-studded release party in Beverly Hills, and my friend David Weitz and I were hired to dress as Groucho and work the room (if you're wondering how I met Groucho, you can read about it here).
At that party, I'd also met and spoken to Tommy Smothers. He was in fact the nicest person there. Fast forward months later. I walked into the IHOP on Fairfax just north of Wilshire, and sitting at a table by himself was Tommy Smothers. I debated for a second about bothering him. But then I realized this situation would never present itself again, so I went for it.
I introduced myself to him, and reminded him we'd met at the Groucho album release. Tommy invited me to sit and have breakfast with him.
I ordered, and we talked about the party, the Smothers Brothers and the state of comedy and television. It was an extraordinary morning. When the check came, he insisted on paying for my breakfast.
In the years since, I've been lucky enough to see the Smothers Brothers perform at both a private function, as well as the Cerritos Theater of Performing Arts. Sadly, since they're now retired, I won't have the chance again.
Since he joined Twitter, I've actually had a few exchanges with Dick Smothers. I asked Dick one time why Tommy wasn't online, and he told me Tommy is too busy with their vineyard and other things.
Whatever he's up to, I hope he's happy and healthy. I'll never forget my breakfast with him.
I'm not really sure who their mom liked best. But in my book, they're both great.
