The Red Skelton Show is a television variety show that ran for two decades
beginning on Sunday September 30, 1951 and ending on August 1, 1971. It
was second to Gunsmoke ( 1955-1975) and third to The Ed Sullivan Show
(1948-1971) in the ratings during that time. The show was largely associated
with the CBS television network, where it appeared for more than fifteen years,
but it actually began and ended on NBC. The Red Skelton Show received
three Emmy Awards, for Skelton for best comedian and the program as
best comedy show during its first season, and an award for the comedy
writing in 1961.