Ep 4. Clem's Barnyard Lecture
- October 19, 1952
- 26 min
The Red Skelton Show season 2 episode 4 titled "Clem's Barnyard Lecture" opens with a hilarious sketch featuring the show's titular star, Red Skelton, as Clem Kadiddlehopper. In this bit, Clem is giving a lecture on agriculture to a group of city slickers who have come to visit his farm.
As expected, Clem's lecture quickly goes off the rails, with him spouting a mishmash of information that includes everything from the proper way to milk a cow to tips for avoiding farmer's tan. Along the way, he gets some assistance from his trusty sidekick, the sarcastic and quick-witted Gertrude, who tries to keep him on track but ultimately fails.
After the barnyard lecture, the rest of the episode features a variety of sketches and routines that showcase Skelton's comic genius. In one memorable sketch, Skelton plays a bumbling bellhop who accidentally sets off a fire alarm in a hotel and struggles to put out the resulting blaze. In another, he performs a song-and-dance routine in which he pretends to be a one-man band.
Throughout the episode, Skelton's trademark charm and wit are on full display, as he engages in witty banter with both his on-screen guests and the studio audience. And as always, there are plenty of physical comedy bits, including a hilarious sequence in which Skelton tries to squeeze into a tiny airplane bathroom.
All in all, "Clem's Barnyard Lecture" is a classic episode of The Red Skelton Show, filled with laughs, music, and the irrepressible humor of one of America's greatest comedians. Whether you're a long-time fan of Skelton's work or just discovering it for the first time, this episode is sure to leave you in stitches.