The Red Skelton Show: Season 20
Season 20 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of The Red Skelton Show Season 19.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 20 Progress Shield
The Magic Act
Sep 14, 1970 · 60 min
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
Freddie's Desperate Hour
Sep 21, 1970 · 60 min
Introduced by Dean Martin Guests: Raymond Burr (Ironside) Barbara Anderson (Officer Eve Whitfield in Ironside) Main Comedy Sketch: "Freddie's Desperate Hour" An escaped convic
Superman and Son
Sep 28, 1970 · 60 min
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. Emmali
Clem’s Witness
Oct 5, 1970 · 60 min
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.
The Bad Guys and the Good Girls
Oct 12, 1970 · 60 min
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
The Census Taker
Oct 19, 1970 · 60 min
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 dome
Hiring the Secretary
Oct 26, 1970 · 60 min
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 deliv
A True Friend
Nov 9, 1970 · 60 min
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 gue
The Football Agent
Nov 16, 1970 · 60 min
Guest: Godfrey Cambridge * Main Comedy Sketch: San Fernando Red (Skelton) appoints himself manager of flamboyant football star Joe Broadway (Godfrey Cambridge). "The Silent Sp
Humperdoo’s Monster
Nov 23, 1970 · 60 min
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 age
The Yacht Club
Dec 7, 1970 · 60 min
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 Fernan
Stagecoach Hijack
Dec 14, 1970 · 60 min
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 Red Skelton Christmas Show
Dec 21, 1970 · 60 min
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 l
Junior and Sunday Morning
Jan 4, 1971 · 60 min
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 Sile
Humperdoo's Little Prescription
Jan 11, 1971 · 60 min
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 Ba
Instant Marriage Mill
Jan 18, 1971 · 60 min
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
The Auction
Jan 25, 1971 · 60 min
A county supervisor encounters unforeseen difficulties as he tries to auction off the Clem Kadiddlehopper farm.
Freddie's Country Home
Feb 1, 1971 · 60 min
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 Mugg
The Castaways
Feb 8, 1971 · 60 min
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 S
The Garage Sale
Feb 15, 1971 · 60 min
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 t
Humperdoo's Magic Tire
Feb 22, 1971 · 60 min
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
The Sheriff Hater
Mar 1, 1971 · 60 min
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 d
The Candidate's Director
Mar 8, 1971 · 60 min
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 R
Copperside
Mar 15, 1971 · 60 min
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 forc