The Red Skelton Hour in Color: Unreleased Seasons

This set collects 12 episodes from Red Skelton's classic TV variety show that have not been seen since their initial broadcasts during the mid-to-late 1960s. For those unfamiliar with Skelton's brand of comedy, the episodes will be revelation: Skelton (1913-1997) was a brilliant performer equally at home with sharp commentary, broad physical comedy, and skillful pantomime in his sketches. Granted, by contemporary standards many of Skelton's one-liners are corny—and one sketch in an Irish bar occupied with brawlers could be considered politically incorrect. But for sheer energy and enthusiasm, Skelton was a remarkable force, and even when lines were flubbed, he saved scenes with rapid ad-libs that created even more laughs. Some highlights in this collection include Boris Karloff and Vincent Price as mad scientists who mistake Skelton's lovable dimwitted character Clem Kadiddlehopper for a robot, John Wayne doing a good-natured parody of his Rooster Cogburn character from True Grit, a young and nervous Simon & Garfunkel politely explaining why they can't perform songs created for them by Skelton, and Phyllis Diller as a has-been silent film vamp scheming for a comeback (and nearly having a major wardrobe malfunction in a too-short skirt, to Skelton's delight). Extras include interviews with Bobby Rydell and Vicki Lawrence. Highly recommended. (P. Hall)