Red Skelton launched his 17th TV season on September 5, 1967 with the help of guest stars Eve Arden, Robert Stack, and Johnny Rivers. The main comedy sketch anticipates the theatrical feature The Ref by nearly three decades, as an escaped convict (Robert) learns to regret his decision to kidnap the bickering Applebys (Red, Eve) and spirit them away to his Mexican hideout. Johnny Rivers sings "Help" and "The Tracks of My Tears". A new segment is introduced tonight: "One Minute Dramas," a series of quickie blackout sketches a la Laugh-In (which hadn't yet premiered). And in the Silent Spot, Red plays a tourist on a Hawaiian vacation.
17.09 10/31/1967 "Hippie Days Are Here Again" Freddie GS: Tim Conway - Cherub Sweetface, Jackie Coogan - The Police Officer, Nancy Ames - Handsoff Hanna
Silent Spot: "The Poor Old Man"
Plot Synopsis
by Hal Erickson
In tonight's "Freddie the Freeloader" sketch, Freddie (Red Skelton) stumbles into a love-in, where he is readily accepted as an equal by hippies Tim Conway and Nancy Ames. In the One-Minute Drama, scientists Red and Nancy plant a weird growth in Tim's head. Nancy sings "I Feel Fine" and "Meditation", while the Singing and Dancing ensemble perform "Up Up and Away. And in the Silent Spot, an elderly bum (Red) tries to cadge a meal from a voracious diner (Jackie Coogan). This episode aired October 31, 1967.
Note: Show # 0701, VTR 8/7-8-9. Silent Spot revised 7/19/67, Scheduled to air 9/5 [1][2]
On this November 7, 1967 telecast, Wally Cox appears with Red Skelton in a "Sheriff Deadeye" comedy sketch. Wally plays a big-game hunter who hires Deadeye (Red) and Indian maiden Sitting Pretty (Chanin Hale) as mountain guides. Kathy Gale, a member of the Tom Hansen Dancers, solos to "Blues in the Night". In the Silent Spot, Red plays the manager of a movie house. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Red Skelton's guests on this episode from November 14, 1967 are Vincent Price and Dionne Warwick. In a "Clem Kadiddlehopper" comedy sketch, Clem (Red) helps Dr. Flygrabber (Vincent) hunt for giant lightning bugs. Dionne sings "I Say a Little Prayer", "He Loves Me" and "I Dig Rock'n'Roll Music". In the Silent Spot, a Thanksgiving turkey (Red) begins to suspect that his owner is up to no good. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
17.12 1967/11/21 "Red's Relatives " Many Skeltons GS: Polly Bergen, Pat Carroll, Reta Shaw, Billy Barty
Cast: Brad Logan - Chief/Slugger
Plot Synopsis
by Hal Erickson
On this telecast from November 21, 1967, Red Skelton plays several of his favorite characters in a five-act comedy sketch. Ageing Methuselah Skelton (Red) must decide which of his heirs will receive his fortune. In order to qualify, Bolivar Shagnasty (Red) must propose to his longtime fiance (Polly Bergen); boxer Cauliflower McPugg (Red) must win a championship bout with the Glendale Mauler; Willy Lump-Lump (Red) has to stop drinking; and Chalrie the Swinger (Red again!) must find a bride. Pat Carroll appears as Willy's long-suffering wife, while the rest of the cast includes Reta Shaw, Jan Arvan and Billy Barty. In addition, Polly Bergen sings "Put Your Arms Around Me Honey" and "They Go Wild Simply Wild Over Me".
Red Skelton welcomes another celebrated redhead, Arthur Godfrey, to this telecast from November 28, 1967. In a comedy sketch, phony rainmaker San Fernando Red (Skelton) tries to fleece a cagey farmer (Godfrey). Musical guests Harpers Bizarre sing "Chattanooga Choo Choo", backed up with a genuine miniature train from the collection of orchestra leader David Rose, and also perform "Anything Goes". Adding to the musical merriment is the Tom Hansen Dancers' interpretation of "The Biggest Night of the Year".
Note: Show #0711, VTR 373, 10/16-17-18, Air 11/14/67 [4]. VTR 11/20-21, Air 11/28/67 [5]
12/05/1967 George Gobel, the Four Seasons
12/12/1967
Plot Synopsis
by Hal Erickson
In a "George Appleby" comedy sketch, Nutty Nougat (guest star Milton Berle) helps George out of a jam by posing as Mrs. Appleby (Gee. . .Berle in a dress. What a novelty!) In a series of One-Minute Dramas, Red and Uncle Miltie, dedicate a dam, visit a topless-waitress club, and agonize in the waiting room of a doctor's office. Musical guest star Dustry Springfield sings "The Look of Love" and "Sunny". In the Silent Spot, Santa Claus (Red) negotiates an extremely slippery rooftop. This episode was shown on December 12, 1967.
17.16 12/19/1967 "The Christmas Urchin " Guest: Howard Keel - Officer McGoogle, Jillana
Plot: Freddie and a police officer trys to help a little girl and her mother during Christmas
Dance: Jillana
Music: Howard Keel Christmas medley including Red Skelton's "The Night Before Christmas".
Cast: Linda Sue Risk - Urchin, Joan Freeman - Widowed mother.
12/26/1967 - "Sheriffs Are Bought Not Made" Deadeye GS: Burl Ives
Silent Spot: 12/26/1967 "The Day After Christmas" [6]
Note: Was not broadcasted. See 02/13/1968
Plot Synopsis
by Hal Erickson
On this telecast from January 9, 1968, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans join Red Skelton in a rootin', tootin' "Sheriff Deadeye" comedy sketch. Singer Gilbert Price performs "It Ain't Necessarily So" and "The Impossible Dream". And in the Silent Spot, an old man (Red) spends his last buck on a chain letter.
Plot Synopsis
by Hal Erickson
In a virtuoso episode of The Red Skelton Hour, Red recalls his 39 years in show business. He recreates his classic routines "Guzzlers Gin", "Dunking Doughnuts" and "Bathing the Baby", then turns serious as he sings "Scarlet Ribbons". As a bonus, Skelton introduces his own composition, "The Everett McKinley Dirksen March", in honor of the venerable Illinois Republican senator. Originally scheduled for January 9, 1968, this One-Man Show was moved to January 16 to take advantage of a better ratings slot.
Plot Synopsis
by Hal Erickson
Phyllis Diller appears with Red Skelton in a "Clem Kadiddlehopper" comedy sketch. A washed-up actress (Phyllis) casts Clem (Red) as a bullfighter in her comeback film. Lou Rawls sings "Three O'Clock in the Morning" and "On a Clear Day". And in the closing Silent Spot, Red plays an inept store detective.This episode aired January 23, 1968.
17.20 01/30/1968 "Fairy Tales for Old Children"
GS: Cyril Ritchard - Aladdin/Beast/Witch, Jane Powell - Natasha/Mrs. Peter Peter Pumking Eater/Beauty/Sleeping Beauty
Opening: Junior tells stories to his little baby brother Gregory.
Dance: "Three Blind Mice" (Jane Powell)
Act 1: "Aladdin" Forsooth as the Genie
Silent Spot: "Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater"
Act 2: "Rip Van Winkle"
Music: "Beauty and the Beast"
Act 3: "Sleeping Beauty" Junior
Cast: David Sharpe, Dick Winslow, Eve Brent, Janos Prohaska, Randy Whipple, Brad Trumbull, Ruth Scott
Note: Red Skelton Special. Next week annouced Terry-Thomas, Shani Wallis, McPugg, Bolivar
1968/04/09 [Postponed due to CBS coverage of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.]
17.30 04/23/1968 Mickey Rooney, Lana Cantrell
Way back in 1939, Mickey Rooney urged his bosses at MGM to sign Red Skelton to a movie contract. This may be the reason Rooney appeared in so many of Red's TV programs of the 1950s and 1960s. In this episode from April 23, 1968, the Mick plays Julius Caesar, whose fatal rendezvous at the Senate is briefly forestalled by his slave Forsooth (Red). Singer Lana Cantrell performs "I'm Falling in Love Again" and "Bonnie and Clyde", while the Singers and Dancers team up for "Big Beautiful Doll". In the Silent Spot, a man (Red) squares off against his battleaxe mother-in-law. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
(Music number) (Dance number)
17.31 04/30/1968 [TV] "Rings On Her Fingers Also Go Through Your Nose " Appleby GS: Nipsey Russell, the Association