The Great White Hunter – The Red Skelton Show – Cauliflower McPugg’s manager is interviewed by a reporter, then a movie parody! Special guest John Wayne.
The Great White Hunter – The Red Skelton Show season 3, with John Wayne – originally aired December 29, 1953
Red’s opening monologue contains a couple of Gertrude and Heathcliffe jokes. Red introduces John Wayne on stage — who tries to tell a Gertrude and Heathcliffe joke! Red then presents him with Modern Screen Magazine’s award as the most popular actor of 1953.
The Saga of Cauliflower McPugg
Cauliflower McPugg’s manager is interviewed by a reporter who is writing a story about the boxer. Appearing in the skit are McPugg’s trainer and his son, Cauliflower Junior.
The Great White Hunter
Clearly a parody of the 1953 Academy Award-winning Mogumbo. “The Great White Hunter”, features Red as the famous explorer MacGumbo, who is helping Mrs. Fitzpatrick search for her husband, missing for two years in the jungle. There’s a lot of prop comedy, and even a cameo appearance by John Wayne at the end of the sketch! “How do you get out of this studio?”
The scene where the woman kisses MacGumbo to entice him to go on the safari is hilarious, as Red ad libs to she’ll have to kiss him again! The poor actress nearly cracks up!
In the jungle
Who cares!
Cast of characters
- Red Skelton … Self – Host / Cauliflower McPugg / MacGumbo the Explorer / Gertrude and Heathcliffe
- Hy Averback … British Colonel
- David Rose and His Orchestra … Themselves
- Bob LeMond Bob LeMond … Announcer
- John Wayne John Wayne … Self
- Jan Arvan Jan Arvan … McPugg’s Manager – Cauliflower Skit (uncredited)
- Neil the Chimp Neil the Chimp … Self (uncredited)