Martin Ragaway Movies
- 1971
The latest publicity stunt dreamed up by Reuben (Dave Madden) is a "Win a Week with the Partridge Family" contest. The winner turns out to be Gloria Neugast (Kay Medford), a 60-year-old Jewish mama who not only moves in with the Partridges but completely takes over the family! Mrs. Neugast's well-intentioned medlling all but wrecks the clan's showbiz career, forcing Reuben to rechannel the old lady's energy in an entirely different direction. Song: "Echo Valley 2-6809". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
Future M*A*S*H regular Harry Morgan guest stars as angry motorist Willie Larkin, who sues the Partridges for $500,000, claiming to have suffered whiplash in a minor fender-bender. After several failed attempts to prove that Willie isn't injured, the family takes a brand new approach, smothering the crotchety Larkin in a surfeit of courtesy and kindness. Watch for Farrah Fawcett in a minor role. Song: "I'll Leave Myself a Little Time". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Preparing to embark on a three-week trip to Rome, Tony (Larry Hagman) orders Jeannie (Barbara Eden) to remain home. Certain that Tony will succumb to the charms of some fair senorina or other, Jeannie resorts to every trick in the book to force Tony to stay in Cocoa Beach. Finally, Tony gives up and tells her she can go along--but only if she can obtain a passport legally, something that her "genie" will not permit her to do. Meanwhile, Roger (Bill Daily) eagerly awaits the opportunity to have Jeannie all to himself...as if! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Against his better judgment, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) allows his son Ritchie (Larry Mathews) and the Helpers' son Freddie (Peter Oliphant) to be cast in a TV commercial. Just as Rob had feared, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) and Millie Helper (Ann Morgan Guilbert) transform into the Stage Mothers from Hell, arguing over billing, number of lines, and which of the two boys' faces will be obscured by a catcher's mask. Colin Male, the announcer heard introducing the cast at the beginning of every Dick Van Dyke Show episode, makes a rare onscreen appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1965
In this lighthearted variation on the "Lysistrata" theme, Gidget (Sally Field) and her female friends are of the opinion that men in their lives are taking them for granted. At Gidge's institigation, the girls stage a "date boycott" , which will remain in effect until the boys learn some proper manners. Originally scheduled to air on November 10, 1965, this episode features early appearance by future stars Barbara Hershey and Bonnie Franklin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
During a lunchtime interview with Diane Moseby (Valerie Yerke) a reporter from "Newstime" who is doing a cover story on Alan Brady, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) is joined by Laura (Mary Tyler Moore). Thereafter, no matter how hard Rob tries to convince Diane that most of the credit for "The Alan Brady Show"'s success should go to the star and co-writers Buddy (Morey Amsterdam) and Sally (Rose Marie), Laura can't keep herself from butting in, insisting that Rob and Rob alone is the most important person on the show. When the article is published, Rob is spotlighted, with Buddy and Sally (and even Alan!) shunted to the background. It goes without saying that the air gets pretty thick around "The Alan Brady Show" after that...and Rob's efforts to remedy the situation only serve to make matters worse! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Valerie Yerke, Richard Deacon, (more)
- 1964
A pre-I Dream of Jeannie Hayden Rorke guests in this episode as Herbie Grant, a former schoolmate of Kate Bradley (Bea Benadaret). Now known as "H.B. Grant", Herbie arrives at the Shady Rest announcing that he is a millionaire--and that he is very, very interested in renewing his friendship with Kate. But Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan), evidently operating on the theory that it takes one to know one, is convinced that Grant is a con artist, and he intends to break up the budding romance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Lazy Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan) is faced with two problems: How to bring customers to the Shady Rest, and how to dig a drainage ditch at the lowest possible cost. Joe ends up tackling both problems by speading the rumor that there's been a valuable silver strike on the Shady Rest property. Glenn Strange, whose other roles include the Frankenstein monster and Gunsmoke's Sam the Bartender, is seen as would-be prospector Hawley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
The friendship between Rob (Dick Van Dyke) and Jerry (Jerry Paris) is sorely strained when the two decide to buy a sailboat. Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) is totally against this transaction, warning that nothing good will come of it. Turns out she was right -- but despite the fact that they are on the verge of killing one another, neither Rob nor Jerry will admit to having made a mistake, until a disaster of near-Titanic dimensions scuttles the whole project. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Paris, Ann Morgan Guilbert, (more)
- 1963
Stuck for a comedy sketch for his boss Alan Brady, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) is delighted when his son Ritchie, with seemingly total spontaneity, comes up with a brilliant routine about a talking bowling pin. Only after Rob and his fellow writers submit the script do they discover that Ritchie had previously seen the bowling-pin bit on a popular kiddie program, "The Uncle Spunky Show." Even worse, Uncle Spunky has a reputation for suing anyone who dares lift a single line from one of his scripts! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Deacon, Herbie Faye, (more)
- 1962
At least half of this 60-minute episode from December 25, 1962 is devoted to a rerun of Red Skelton's pantomime sketch "Freddie and the Yuletide Doll", which first aired on December 19, 1961. Cara Williams joins Red in a story about Freddie the Freeloader's brief fling with a real live dancing doll. A newly taped segment features a classic spoof of Michael Fokine's ballet "Spectre of the Rose" with Red (imitating Nijinsky!) and Roberta Lubell. The musical highlights include a medey of Christmas carols, peformed by The Mitchell Boys Choir, who also join Red for "Joy to the World" and "Deck the Halls"; Roberta Lubell's dance solo "The Christmas Tree"; and "At Christmas", featuring the Modernaires and The Skelton Dancers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
In flashback, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) explains to Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) why he intends to avoid speaking to local PTA president Mrs. Billings (Eleanor Audley) at all costs. It seems that the previous year, the unctuous Mrs. Billings had dragooned Rob in directing the PTA's annual fundraising variety show. What sticks most vividly in Rob's mind is not Laura's sexy tango number, but the monumental headaches he accrued while trying to properly cast a sketch based on the then-current film Cleopatra -- especially since "Cleo" (aka Laura) would have to be kissed by a handsome neighbor (played by a pre-Hogan's Heroes Bob Crane). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Tonight's comedy sketch is "Freddie and the Daily Freeloader." It all begins when hoboes Freddie the Freeloader and Muggsy decide to go into the newspaper business. When the boys decide to use their rag to attack the current political administration, Boss O'Bigg (guest star Mickey Rooney) tries to buy Freddie off. This episode was first shown on June 12, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Sebastian Cabot joins Red Skelton in the comedy sketch "This Goon for Hire. Cabot plays Dr. Pomerantz, the inventor of a computer which can match any person to the right profession. But Pomerantz had reckoned without the insurmountable ineptitude of his first client: Hayseed Clem Kadiddlehopper (Skelton). This episode aired on May 29, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Dick Foran is Red Skelton's guest on this episode from May 22, 1962. In the comedy sketch "Best Man Blues", self-made millionaire Howard Snyder (Dick Foran) prepares to marry a dizzy socialite named Goo Goo. But the wedding may well be sabotaged by Howard's choice for Best Man: his old hobo pal Freddie the Freeloader (Red). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Pat Carroll returns to the role of Clara Appleby in the comedy sketch "Go Van Gogh." Clara has taken up painting under the patronage of wealthy Mrs. Wellington (Barbara Morrison). On the eve of the unveiling of Clara's latest masterpiece, the canvas is accidentally wrecked by her cloddish husband George (Red Skelton). This episode aired on May 15, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
On this episode from May 8, 1962, singer Helen O'Connell performs "Who Cares" and appears in a comedy sketch with Red Skelton. In "Rock on the Wild Side," the US government combs the country in search of a rare artifact: Mary Todd Lincoln's rocking chair. They finally locate the chair in the barn of dimwitted Clem Kadiddlehopper (Skelton), who is off his rocker in more ways than one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
The title of tonight's main comedy sketch was to have been "How to Fail in Business Without Really Trying", a play on the title of a then-popular Broadway musical comedy. When the legal department got wind of this, they ordered a name-change: as a result, the episode finally reached the airwaves on April 24, 1962 under the new monicker "How to Use the Name of a Hit Broadway Musical Without Getting Sued." By any name, the sketch features Red Skelton as bumbling corporate clerk George Appleby, who inadvertently creates chaos for his ulcerated boss Mr. Barnes (guest star Keenan Wynn) and pretty secretary Janet Karin Kupcinet when he is miraculously promoted to vice-president. Also appeararing are Richard Deacon as Melvin and Gavin Gordon as McCoy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Red Skelton presents a rare all-pantomime edition of his popular CBS TV series on this telecast from April 17, 1962. Skelton plays resourceful vagabone Freddie the Freeloader, who spends virtually the entire program looking for breakfast. Also appearing are Roy Jenson and Bob Duggan as policemen at odds with Freddie, and Ruthie Robinson as The Girl. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Vincent Price joins Red Skelton for Red's final program of the 1961-62 season-and his final half-hour show before launching The Red Skelton Hour in September 1962. In the comedy sketch "Cauliflower Loses His Birds", punchdrunk boxer Cauliflower seeks out a cure for the "little birdies" that he hears inside his head. While waiting in the outer office of a psychatrist, McPugg makes the acquaitance of Mr. Gould (Price)-who's an even bigger "birdbrain" than he! Originally scheduled to air on April 3, 1962, "Cauliflower Loses His Birds" was postponed until June 26 due to the death of real-life boxer Benny "Kid" Paret during a televised fight. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Two of Red Skelton's most frequent guest stars, Jackie Coogan and Edward Everett Horton, appear in this episode from January 9, 1962. In a "Freddie the Freeloader" sketch, hoboes Freddie and Muggsy arrive in Palm Springs, hoping to collect their unemployment insurance. There is, however, one little technicality: Freddie has never beenemployed. His efforts to remedy this situation by going to work consume the rest of the half hour. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Tonight's comedy sketch is titled "Appleby's Anniversary." Newly employed at Warwick's Jewelry store, George Appleby celebrates by bringing home a ring as an anniversary present for wife Clara (Virginia Grey). Alas, George has made a boo-boo; the inexpensive bauble he purchased for Clara is still back at the store, while the ring she presently wears on her finger contains a valuable and priceless gem! Best bit: An injured George trying to suppressing his howls of pain by shouting into a paper bag. This episode aired January 16, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
On this telecast from January 23, 1962, Li'l Abner star Leslie Parrish appears with Red Skelton in the comedy sketch "Clem and the Kadiddlehopper Hop." Mountain gal Daisy June (Leslie) teaches her boyfrined Clem how to dance the Twist. They then enter a dance contest, little realizing that Clem's pet termites have come along for the ride. By the end of the contest, the joint is reallyjumping! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
First telecast January 30, 1962, this episode was videotaped while Red Skelton was performing "live" in Las Vegas. After a few tantalizing excerpts from his act, Red is interrupted by a pair of interlopers. But do not despair: The "disrupters" turn out to be two of Skelton's best-loved characters, Freddie the Freeloader and Clem Kadiddlehopper. Can you say "tour de force?" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Dick Foran and Phyllis Avery join Red Skelton in the comedy sketch "Nothing But the Tooth." Hillbilly Clem Kadiddlehopper is hired to give a public testimonial for the breakfast food manufactured by Mr. Crankie (Foran). Unfortunately, Clem is suddenly stricken with a toothache, and his career as a commercial spokesman may be over before it even begins. Phyllis Avery plays Elaine in this episode from January 2, 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
