Freddie the Freeloader

AMC – The Red Skelton Show

by tfraymond
October 31, 2013October 7, 2021

AMC – The Red Skelton Show – 14 episodes of Red Skelton’s TV series

AMC – The Red Skelton Show is a very nice compilation of episodes from The Red Skelton Show — a total of 14 episodes on 2 DVDs, for under $10.00. Frankly, several of these are personal favorites, and they showcase some of Red Skelton’s most famous characters, including Freddy the Freeloader, Clem Kadiddlehopper and Cauliflower McPugg. They also include some excellent moments of Red Skelton being himself, such as when he emceed the Look Awards and interacted with Judy Garland, Jack Lemmon, Walt Disney, Edmond O’Brien, Alfred Hitchcock, Bing Crosby, and many others.

Red Skelton – The Lost Episodes

by tfraymond
December 24, 2012December 4, 2021

Red Skelton – The Lost Episodes – DVD collection

In short, Red Skelton – The Lost Episodes is a compilation of six episodes of the Red Skelton Show. It features four of Red’s popular clown characters.

Christmas with Red Skelton, featuring The Cop and the Anthem and Freddie and the Yuletide Doll featuring Freddie the Freeloader

Christmas with Red Skelton – DVD

by tfraymond
March 5, 2012November 30, 2022

Christmas with Red Skelton, featuring The Cop and the Anthem and Freddie and the Yuletide Doll featuring Freddie the Freeloader

The title, “Christmas with Red Skelton,” could perhaps have been “Christmas with Freddie the Freeloader.” On this DVD are two Christmas episodes of The Red Skelton Show, both featuring Red Skelton’s hobo character, Freddie the Freeloader. Both are absolute classics.

Red Skelton’s Christmas Dinner special

by tfraymond
February 25, 2012April 21, 2022

Red Skelton’s Christmas Dinner starring Red Skelton, Vincent Price, Imogene Coca

Red Skelton’s final television project, Red Skelton’s Christmas Dinner (also known as Freddie the Freeloader’s Christmas Dinner), is one of his best. It centers around Red’s hobo clown character, Freddie the Freeloader, who has been saving up his money to afford a nice Christmas dinner with his friend, The Professor — another hobo clown, played wonderfully by Vincent Price.

Red Skelton Christmas DVD | Freddie the Freeloader

by tfraymond
February 17, 2012May 1, 2022

Red Skelton’s Christmas, featuring “The Plight Before Christmas,” starring Red Skelton and Greer Garson

The title, “Red Skelton Christmas,” is both accurate and slightly misleading. Although it actually contains several Christmas episodes (and highlights from another), it also contains other Holiday segments. These include Red Skelton’s Pledge of Allegiance and a very nice Thanksgiving segment titled “The Thanksgiving Turkey”. Also, this 130-minute DVD is authorized by the Red Skelton estate.

Freddie the Freeloader – Red Skelton’s famous Hobo clown

by tfraymond
February 13, 2012June 28, 2021

Red Skelton’s most famous character, Freddie the Freeloader, is a happy hobo clown. Unlike Emmett Kelly‘s Weary Willy tramp clown, Freddie the Freeloader had a perpetually upbeat personality, sure that good fortune awaited him just around the corner. He typically (depending on the need of the skit) lived in a ramshackle shack in the garbage dump, where he slept in a bathtub. Although it was a running joke that he didn’t bathe regularly. For instance, in several episodes of the Red Skelton Show, someone asked Freddie the Freeloader if he was alone. Freddie the Freeloader would scratch himself, pantomiming that he had fleas, and reply that he wasn’t totally alone.

There’s Nothing Worse than Loneliness at Christmastime

by tfraymond
February 12, 2012April 27, 2021

There’s Nothing Worse than Loneliness at Christmastime – [written and sung by Red Skelton, as Freddy the Freeloader, in Red Skelton’s Christmas Dinner]

There is nothing worse than loneliness at Christmastime,
When old friends forget where you are,
While your memory still lingers,
You can count upon your fingers,
Those that know the meaning of the Star.