What is it? The Red Skelton Hour in Color: Deluxe Collection, more than 65 hours on 22 discs from Time Life
When? Now
How much? $199.95
Who is Red Skelton? He was one of the pioneers of TV comedy as well as a popular comic in Vaudeville, radio and movies.
He was a master of goofy faces, silly voices, physical comedy, stunts and pratfalls. In short? He was a clown.
His Emmy-winning series ran for 20 years and was hugely popular with audiences. But because he owned the rights to the show and decided not to put it into syndication, his series isn't as well-known as some others of the era.
This set is actually made up of multiple sets:
• The Early Years: A collection of half-hour episodes from 1950-55 that's packed with classic characters like Clem Kaddiddlehopper, Willie Lump-Lump, Cauliflower McPugg, Freddie the Freeloader and Sheriff Deadeye.
• The Red Skelton Hour in Color: For those who are prejudiced against black-and-white, this set has 31 newly released episodes from 1966-69 that include guest stars such as Tim Conway, Phyllis Diller, John Wayne and Mickey Rooney and musical performances by Simon & Garfunkel, The Association and Lou Rawls. His favorite characters are also back. The set has interviews with Bobby Rydell and Vicki Lawrence and an 80-minute, thorough documentary, America's Clown.
• The Best of Red Skelton: The Complete 20th Season: Just as the title says, this is the complete final season of Skelton's show. There are more guest stars including Vincent Price and Robert Wagner and the usual skits.
• Red Skelton: The Farewell Specials: There are four specials in this set: Red Skelton's Christmas Dinner, a more narrative-driven special with Skelton as Freddie the Freeloader with Vincent Price and Imogene Coca; More Funny Faces with Marcel Marceau; Funny Faces III; and A Royal Command Performance with Skelton solo at Royal Albert Hall performing for members of Britain's royal family in 1984.
Who would be interested in this? Fans of Skelton. Fans of classic TV. Fans of old-fashioned entertainment.
The comedy here is much gentler and sillier than comedy today, but that doesn't mean it's not funny. And given the longevity of Skelton and the years covered here, one gets a nice look at the evolution of television.
New this week: East West 101, Season 1; The Pink Panther Show, Volume 1; Ray Donovan, Season 5; Steven Universe, Season 1; Victoria, Season 2
Next week: Ancient Aliens, Season 10, Volume 2; Bosom Buddies, complete series; Duckman, complete series; The Guardian, complete series; Homeland, Season 6; Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, Season 1; The Ren and Stimpy Show, The Mostly Complete Collection; Top Gear, Season 24; War of the Worlds, complete series
Style on 01/28/2018