Original title
The Red Skelton Show
Released
9/30/1951
Origin country
US
Genre
Comedy, Family, Talk
Production companies
NBC, CBS, Van Bernard Productions, Sursum Corporation
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
20
Number of episodes
672
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.
Ed Sullivan takes over for Red Skelton and introduces several celebrity guests before interviewing famous boxer Cauliflower McPugg. Red's cowboy character Deadeye plays cards and gets in trouble at the Golden Nugget saloon.
Red Skelton and Jamie Farr appear as navy men under the watchful eye of Buster Crabbe. Skelton and Farr accidentally go overboard in a life boat, and end up marooned on a desert island...or so they think.
In this spoof of the Miles Standish-John Alden-Priscilla Mullins legend, Red plays John in a broad, farcical manner, given to slapstick clumsiness and cigar chomping anachronisms. The filmed quality of the show cuts out most of the spontaneous gags and asides expected of Red.
The Kadiddlehopper's at first dismayed at the black gooey stuff on their land learn that it is worth a fortune with which Clem uses to create a financial empire that employs to make Daisy June a star so she will marry him.
Clem Kadiddlehopper paints what he considers a masterpiece, and wants to exhibit it in New York.
Three U.S. Navy men have been marooned on a small South Pacific island since World War II and don't know whether or not the war is over. On the other side of the island is a group of Japanese soldiers that is in the same predicament. Eventually, the two confused groups meet.
Crooked Mayor San Fernando runs off with his accomplice Ruby (Adams)to Alaska, the one state they haven't hidden in yet, where they set up business again with their usual graft, corruption, and hilarity.
Appleby predicts the World Series. His wife wants him to predict the presidential election.
Two political party bosses try to come up with a perfect presidential candidate by using a massive "electronic brain".(A Univac) It decides that man would be Clem Kadiddlehopper. The public adores him and he's well on his way toward victory, despite that the brain was shown to be defective. One of the bosses has a dream of what a goof Clem would be in the white house.
Red as George Appleby tries to drive his hated wife insane with the help of crooked "door-to-door Psychiatrist" Dr. Sigmund Fraud.(Vincent Price).In the monologue, Red enacts an encounter between a prospector and a rattlesnake, and in the silent spot, he's a musician searching for quiet inspiration in a tumbledown, desolate cabin, and finding anything but.
Sheriff Deadeye is determined to get the lead role in a motion picture being made in town - even to the extent of wearing a corset to appear thinner. However, he finds he has been beaten out by Nathan Nothing (guest Robert Goulet), who is younger and more handsome. In "The Silent Spot," Red plays a crotchety old man who hates children, but finds he has been promoted to a store's toy department during the Christmas rush.
In this WW II parody, the stars of "Hogan's Heroes" (Bob Crane and John Banner) appear as their characters of Col. Hogan and Sgt. Schultz. Red (as Freddie the Freeloader) is assigned to assist in their escape from Stalag 13. In "The Silent Spot," Red plays a bungling 19th century suitor who must meet his girlfriend's parents.
Clem Kadiddlehopper meets down on his luck Loser Lumpkin (guest Tennessee Ernie Ford), a once-great champion chicken-plucker who was in the Olympics. Observing that Clem has the fingers for it, Lumpkin takes him to the Olympics to break the world chicken plucking record. In "The Silent Spot," it's the day after Christmas and Red plays a man dealing with his contentious wife, who demands he take down the tree and the decorations.
Skelton as Freddie the Freeloader is a surprise participant in a fashion show to the exasperation of Emcee Terry-Thomas and Store Detective Nancy Wilson.
A love-in finds Freddie the Freeloader interacting with hippies. Tim finds a bizarre growth on his head courtesy of Nancy and Red. Jackie overeats at a restaurant.
Barbara Bain plays a journalist who is hired by a newspaper to locate and expose the infamous San Fernando Red, operating at a nearby carnival. In "The Silent Spot," Red "helps" his wife prepare for a New Year's eve party and causes nothing but trouble.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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)
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.
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.
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 passing dog.
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).
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.
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).
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.
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).
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!)
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
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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