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.
Episodes
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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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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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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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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.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.
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A county supervisor encounters unforeseen difficulties as he tries to auction off the Clem Kadiddlehopper farm.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.
