The Red Skelton Show 183c5l

1951

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The Red Skelton Show 183c5l

8.1 | TV-G | en | Comedy

The Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television staple for two decades, from 1951 to 1971. It was second to Gunsmoke and third to The Ed Sullivan Show in the ratings during that time. Skelton, who had previously been a radio star, had appeared in several motion pictures as well. Although his television series is largely associated with CBS, where it appeared for more than fifteen years, it actually began and ended on NBC. During its run, the program received three Emmy Awards, for Skelton as best comedian and the program as best comedy show during its initial season, and an award for comedy writing in 1961.

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EP1 The Magic Act

Dec. 31,1969

Introduced by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew Guest: Jerry Lewis Musical Highlights: Robin Wilson (regular) sings "For Once in My Life." "The Silent Spot": Silent Spot pantomime segment with Jerry Lewis.

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EP2 Freddie's Desperate Hour

Dec. 31,1969

Introduced by Dean Martin Guests: Raymond Burr (Ironside) Barbara Anderson (Officer Eve Whitfield in Ironside) Main Comedy Sketch: "Freddie's Desperate Hour" An escaped convict (Raymond) and his moll (Barbara) hide out in the City Dump shack inhabited by Freddie the Freeloader (Red). "The Silent Spot" (no details)

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EP3 Superman and Son

Dec. 31,1969

Introduced by Jack Benny Guest: Robert Wagner Main Comedy Sketch: Super-hero Colossal Man (Red) insists that his wimpy son (Robert Wagner) take over the family business. Emmaline Henry also appears as "Mr. Man." "The Silent Spot" George Appleby (Red) has a run-in with a tough guy.

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EP4 Clem’s Witness

Dec. 31,1969

Introduced by Johnny Carson (received his first big network-TV break by subbing for Red Skelton way back in 1954) Guest: Mike Connors (Mannix) Main Comedy Sketch: Clumsy Clem Kadiddlehopper (Red) is hired to protect federal witness Mike Connors. Cashing in on his Mannix image, Mike also gives Red advice on becoming a private eye. Musical Highlights: Robin Wilson (regular) sings "I've Gotta Be Me". "The Silent Spot" A mouse (Red) tries to steal a piece of cheese from a trap.

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EP5 The Bad Guys and the Good Girls

Dec. 31,1969

Guest: Walter Brennan Main Comedy Sketch: In a takeoff of High Noon, Sheriff Deadeye (Red Skelton) faces a showdown with Sheriff Hawkeye (Walter Brennan). On a more serious note, Red reads his own poem about being a grandparent (his daughter Valentina had presented him with a granddaughter some three months before this program aired). "The Silent Spot" Two outdoorsmen (Red, Jan Arvan) duke it out at a campsite.

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EP6 The Census Taker

Dec. 31,1969

Guest: Gene Barry (one of the three rotating stars on NBC's The Name of the Game) Main Comedy Sketch: Census taker Clem Kadiddlehopper (Red) finds himself in the middle of a domestic quarrel. "The Silent Spot" Red plays a taxidermist saddled with a contentious mother-in-law.

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EP7 Hiring the Secretary

Dec. 31,1969

Guest: Van Johnson Main Comedy Sketch: An Executive (Van Johnson) decides that hobo Freddie the Freeloader (Red) is the ideal person to locate a responsible secretary. Red delivers a monologue about trick-or-treating "The Silent Spot" Red plays a man pestered by ghoulies and ghosties.

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EP8 Episode 8

Dec. 31,1969

We don't have an overview of this episode, please check back later.

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We don't have an overview of this episode, please check back later.

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EP9 A True Friend

Dec. 31,1969

Main Comedy Sketch: George Appleby (Red) is hoping to prove to wife Clara (Emmaline Henry) that he's the head of the household, timid George tries to get rid of annoying house guest Little Willie (Dan Blocker). "The Silent Spot" Red pantomimically portrays a drunken barber.

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EP10 The Football Agent

Dec. 31,1969

Guest: Godfrey Cambridge * Main Comedy Sketch: San Fernando Red (Skelton) appoints himself manager of flamboyant football star Joe Broadway (Godfrey Cambridge). "The Silent Spot" Diamond Jim Grady (Skelton) goes dining in a plush New York restaurant.

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EP11 Humperdoo’s Monster

Dec. 31,1969

Guest: Mickey Rooney Main Comedy Sketch: Red Skelton introduces a new character: Absent-minded professor Ludwick Von Humperdoo, "the world's oldest youngters." A a government agent (Mickey Rooney) is assigned to check out Von Humperdoo's latest invention. "The Silent Spot" A house detective (Skelton) tries to ferret out a crook from among three likely suspects.

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EP12 The Yacht Club

Dec. 31,1969

Guest: Michael Landon (Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza) Main Comedy Sketch: "The Richest boy in the world" (Michael Landon), is ripe for plucking by con artist supreme San Fernando Red (Skelton). "The Silent Spot" Skelton reprises his curmudgeonly character "Mr. Haight", who herein declares war on kids. Note: This episode was originally scheduled to air on 02-Nov-1970

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EP13 Stagecoach Hijack

Dec. 31,1969

Guest: Telly Savalas Main Comedy Sketch: "The Stagecoach Hijack". Sheriff Deadeye (Skelton) suspects that a bald-headed stranger (Telly Savalas) is the leader of an outlaw gang. The Silent Spot: "The Gift of Giving" A shabby old man (Skelton) finds a wallet.

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EP14 The Red Skelton Christmas Show

Dec. 31,1969

Guest: Leslie Nielsen Main Comedy Sketch: written by Red Skelton A duty-bound cop (Leslie Nielsen) arrests hobo Freddie the Freeloader (Skelton) for selling chestnuts without a license. But when the cop finds out that Freddie is trying to raise money for a homeless orphan, he has a change of heart. "The Silent Spot" (no details)

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EP15 Junior and Sunday Morning

Jan. 04,1971

Guest: Audrey Meadows Main Comedy Sketch: Mean Widdle Kid, Junior Cavendish (Skelton) drives his mom (Audrey Meadows) crazy during an otherwise peaceful Sunday morning. "The Silent Spot" An old man (Skelton) recalls a youthful romance.

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EP16 Humperdoo's Little Prescription

Jan. 11,1971

Guests: Jill St. John Main Comedy Sketch: A sexy spy (Jill St. John) tries to steal a new secret formula concocted by Ludwick Von Humperdoo (Red Skelton). Series regular Billy Barty appears as the "shrunken" Ludwick. "The Silent Spot" A man (Skelton) nurses a whopper of a hangover after his bachelor party.

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EP17 Instant Marriage Mill

Jan. 18,1971

Guests: Chad Everett, Cass Elliot Main Comedy Sketch: A crooked marriage broker San Fernando Red (Skelton) matches a bachelor (Chad Everett) with a bachelorette (Mama Cass). "The Silent Spot" Skelton's trained-flea act is undermined by a ing dog.

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EP18 The Auction

Jan. 25,1971

Guest: James Drury (The Virginian) Main Comedy Sketch: A county supervisor (James Drury) encounters unforeseen difficulties as he tries to auction off the Clem Kadiddlehopper farm. "The Silent Spot" A nervous TV repairman (Skelton) fends off an amorous housewife (series regular Chanin Hale).

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EP19 Freddie's Country Home

Feb. 01,1971

Guests: Eva Gabor (Green Acres); Wally Cox Main Comedy Sketch: A philanthropist (Eva Gabor) wants to bestow one million dollars upon bums Freddie the Freeloader (Skelton) and Muggsy (Wally Cox). "The Silent Spot" Skelton plays a rotten chef at a greasy-spoon diner.

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EP20 The Castaways

Feb. 08,1971

Guest: Vincent Price Main Comedy Sketch: A fastidious gourmet Claude Casserole (Vincent Price) is marooned on a desert island with dimwitted Clem Kadiddlehopper (Skelton). "The Silent Spot" A prison inmate (Skelton) prefers life in jail to the nagging of his wife (series regular Peggy Rhea).

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EP21 The Garage Sale

Feb. 15,1971

Guest: Martha Raye Main Comedy Sketch: "The Garage Sale." There's heck to pay when George Appleby (Skelton) sells the old guitar in which his wife Clara (Martha Raye) has hidden their live savings. "The Silent Spot" Skelton plays a stockboy in a teddy-bear factory.

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EP22 Humperdoo's Magic Tire

Feb. 22,1971

Guest: George Gobel Main Comedy Sketch: Professor Ludwick Von Humperdoo (Skelton) invents a cement tire, much to the dismay of millionaire tire manufacturer Tom Treadwell (George Gobel). "The Silent Spot" A sailor (Skelton) tries to pick up a cute blonde (series regular Chanin Hale).

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EP23 The Sheriff Hater

Mar. 01,1971

Guest: Phyllis Diller Main Comedy Sketch: Slow-draw Sheriff Deadeye (Skelton) is terrorized by a female fugitive killer (Phyllis Diller). "The Silent Spot" A satire on computer dating (still a relatively new concept in 1971!)

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EP24 The Candidate's Director

Mar. 08,1971

Guest: Tony Randall; Regulars: The Burgundy Street Singers Main Comedy Sketch: A TV director (Tony Randall), appoints himself image consultant to corrupt politician San Fernando Red (Skelton). Musical Highlight: The Burgundy Street Singers (series regulars) perform "Rainmaker." "The Silent Spot": A toothache victim (Skelton) is terrified of his dentist (series regular Jan Arvan). T

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EP25 Copperside

Mar. 15,1971

Guest: Sebastian Cabot; Regulars: The Burgundy Street Singers Main Comedy Sketch: A spoof of the TV series Ironside. A wheelchair-bound private detective (Sebastian Cabot) is forced to put his life in the hands of clumsy assistant Clem Kadiddlehopper (Skelton). Musical Highlight: The Burgundy Street Singers (series regulars) perform "Let's Get Together." "The Silent Spot": Skelton plays a butterfingered race-car mechanic during a championship race.

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8.1 | TV-G | en | Talk | More Info

Released: 1951-09-30 | Released Producted By: NBC , CBS Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:

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Talk

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The Red Skelton Show (1951) is now streaming with subscription on Prime Video

Cast

Red Skelton

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NBC , CBS

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The Red Skelton Show Audience Reviews 3s6a3w

Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Delight Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

bkoganbing Red Skelton was one of the first to recognize that television was a coming medium of entertainment. He was not the only Hollywood personality to do this, but the difference between them and him is that he was on top on the big screen. Many had careers extended or a new lease on life was given to Hollywood names that no longer had box office pull. That was not true with Red Skelton, when he debuted in 1951 on CBS television he was on top of his box office appeal.What a rich array of characters he brought to the small screen. Anyone my age and a bit younger re Clem Kadiddlehopper, San Fernando Red, Freddie the Freeloader and so many more. These are indelible impressions formed on America's consciousness when it needed a laugh or two.The thing that always impresses me about Red Skelton is that he was so good at all types of comedy, he was quick with some unwritten dialog, he could do standup, he was a pantomimist the equal of Harpo Marx in my opinion. No less an authority than Groucho Marx thought that. I think Red Skelton would have been a big star on the silent screen when pantomime was what it was all about.He was the son of a former circus clown turned druggist and that's where he got his love for entertaining. He always described himself as a first and foremost a clown. But he was the proverbial sad clown, he had a lot of troubles in life with the substance abuse of his wife Georgia, and the death of their son Richard from leukemia. I well that being a big news item when I was a lad.He said he was put on earth to make people laugh, and Red, so you did.

edwagreen Red Skelton was still another major star who made the transition from movies to television with ease.His shows certainly brought a laughter to the American households of years back.He would begin the show with an opening monologue. Afterwards, we would have a variety of characters. Gertrude and Heathcliff in the monologue? How can we ever forget San Fernando Red? I one episode where as a king Red introduced his queen by referring to her as your fatness.Go know that Red would use his comedic talents to really hide from his tragic life. He lost a son to leukemia at age 11 or so. His wife, Georgia, died by suicide.

DKosty123 The networks always took the trouble until the very end with Red to write scripts & provide an orchestra (Nelson Riddle) & create an outstanding forum for Red to perform on. In turn Red showed how he could clown in every direction. Each show would open with some music & dancing. Then Red would do a monologue & he could do a monologue very well. Johnny Carson, as a writer for Red, went to school & learned from Red how to do monologues which served Johnny well for 30 years when he took over the Tonight Show & late night TV. He had learned from the best. In fact, Red taught Johnny how to ad-lib and Red was the master of the ad-lib. No matter what part of the show something went wrong in, Red would ad-lib something & make it funnier for his viewers. After the monologue, there would always be a sketch with Red as one of his characters. This is usually when his guest stars for that show would appear. Almost everybody appeared as a guest on his shows. It didn't matter if they were other comedians or serious dramatic actors, they would appear with Red and he would play off all of them with his unique comedy. After the sketch, some shows would then feature either a musical guest or a Nelson Riddle number.Then would come the "silent spot". These were classic sketches in which you hoped the picture on your screen (pre TV cable) wasn't too snowy so you could see what was so funny. In a way, the Silent Spot & Jackie Gleason's "The Poor Sole" who also did silent comedy were the only silent comedy the Vietnam Generation were really exposed too. Then Red would close the show by coming on stage & politely wishing all a "good night & God bless." He was right, God did bless us that his talent was with us so many years on this show. Skelton's comedy was never cerebral, just always funny.His prowess with Physical Comedy was only rivaled by Jackie Gleason, but Red was just a little better at the physical. Even in later years when Johnny Carson did sketches on TONIGHT which he tried physical comedy, a lot of his inspiration came from working with Red. This was an era of kinder, gentler comedy. There were no dirt, or lewd routines. Red did do political humor. Johnny Carson picked up on that too.I wish they would produce some of the entire seasons of The Red Skelton show on DVD. The singlets I have seen on VHS & DVD so far don't do overall justice to him. Red's movies were too few, though some of them were quite good. If the seasons came out, a couple of Red's shows that would be interesting would be the night Johnny Carson replaced an injured Red, & the often forgotten show where Red was ill & Ed Sullivan stepped in to replace Red!!. Red later returned the favor on the ED SULLIVAN SHOW when Ed was ill too. Those were the days, & now all these folks are gone. If DVDs get far enough into the Skelton archives, they won't be forgotten.

lonnadams Red Skelton was watched weekly even before I was born. As I watched the shows, it was if he was part of our family. My father would laugh and giggle along with the rest of us. What made the show funny was not only the rehearsed script, but the ad lib comments. He included us as if we were right there with him. While some considered him as unprofessional by causing others to crack up on stage, we the audience found it funny to see the serious characters laughing and smiling on screen. I am sure the performers came on the program to enjoy a bit of lighthearted performing. If the program had been a professional polished perfect performance, I don't think the program would have lasted as long. It was funny, entertaining, and at times, very poignant. I think one of my most memorable performances was Freddy the freeloader with the Raggedy Ann doll that changed to a 'live' partner. It taught me that all people crave someone. It touched my heart then and every time I think of it. It was a Yuletide performance and it is in my memory as a child. Red Skelton wasn't only a performer, but a human being to share his humor and wit. It is one of the programs such as Leave it to Beaver, Father knows Best, and others to build a set of standards that make me a better man today! The statement God Bless was a statement at the end to wish everyone in every aspect of life to have their life improved.