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Help Wanted

Red Skelton in the Help Wanted sketch

Help Wanted – The Red Skelton Show season 2, originally aired November 16, 1952

Help Wanted – The Red Skelton Show – a trio of VERY funny skits, with Red checking into a hotel, photographing a lovely model with Tide, then with a pal trying to steal a pie!

Hotel Skit

Instead of his traditional monologue, Red is in a hotel lobby, where bellboy Billy Barty has a message for him. And after a moment’s joking, Red shows his supposed penny-pinching, by giving him a whole dime for the tip!

Red Skelton and Billy Barty in the hotel lobby in "Help Wanted"

Billy Barty: I haven’t got any change.
Red Skelton: I don’t want any change, you can have it all.
Billy Barty: A whole dime? All for me?

And Billy backs out of the room nervously, as though he’s going to be mugged for the dime!

Red Skelton impersonates a drunk at a hotel
Lucy Knoch and Red Skelton check into a hotel in "Help Wanted"
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith checking into the hotel!

Then, Red impersonates people coming into a hotel. Finally, Lucy Knoch comes in, and Red and Lucy do some comedy, pretending to be a honeymoon couple checking in. Mr. & Mrs. John Smith!

Skelton Film Scrapbook – The Photographer

“The Photographer” is frankly the funniest of the sketches – it’s hilarious! It’s filled with tons of prop comedy, and very fast-paced. Photographer Revere (Red Skelton) is preparing for his model to arrive, to pose with Tide …

Revere (Red Skelton) getting squirted by his camera
Lucy Knoch shows up as the model for The Photographer
Lucy Knoch changes behind the screen - hilariously! Throwing her coat over the wall … boxing gloves … snow shoes!
Revere (Red Skelton) egging himself in "Help Wanted"
The Photographer using atomic flash powder from Nevada! You know what's going to happen …
Of course, the hilarious photographer sketch turns into a Tide commercial

Skelton Film Scrapbook – Help Wanted

Lenny, Red Skelton, and Michael Ross in the "Help Wanted" sketch
"Show me both hands!"
Michael Ross puts his hand down, and the pie goes Splat! in "Help Wanted"

The title sketch, “Help Wanted”, has Red and his pal Lenny looking for a paycheck. Not necessarily a job, mind you. But, they’ll work if they have to. They go into a diner, and try to demonstrate their skills to the counterman. It quickly turns into Lenny shouting humorous orders for the kitchen — “Adam and Even on a raft, wreck ’em!” But, the counterman’s just baked some fresh pies, and the pair helps themselves to one. Sitting at a table, hiding the pie underneath, the counterman’s suspicious. “Show me your hand! The other one! No, both of them!” as they’re passing the pie back and forth under the table. Until Red gives the pie to the counterman to hold! Ending the sketch in a gooey manner!

Cast of characters

  • Red Skelton (Whistling in the Dark; The Clown) … Self – Host / Revere the Photographer / Man Seeking Employment as Waiter-Help Wanted Skit / Gertrude and Heathcliffe
  • Jimmy Ames (Canon City) … Lenny-Help Wanted Sketch
  • Billy Barty (UHF; Willow) … Bellhop-Hotel Skit
  • David Rose and His Orchestra … Themselves
  • Lucy Knoch (Executive Suite) … Mrs. Smith-Hotel Sketch / Model-Photographer Skit
  • Bob LeMond … Announcer
  • Michael Ross (Attack of the 50 Foot Woman) … House Detective-Hotel Sketch / Counterman-Help Wanted Skit
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