AllMovie

Red Skelton closed out his 9th TV season with a virtuoso performance in the comedy sketch "The Many Skeltons." Relentlessly plugging the new film version of the Broadway musical Bells are Ringing, guest star Marilyn Maxwell plays Esther, the main receptionist at the Weansweryourphone Answering Service. In addition to singing "It's a Perfect Relationship", Esther fields calls from a variety of kooky clients, all played by Skelton: Hayseed Clem Cadiddlehopper, tough guy Bolivar Shagnasty, punchdrunk boxer Cauliflower McPugg, inebriated Willie Lump Lump, and henpecked hubby George Appleby (Monty Margetts is seen as George's wife Clara). When this episode, first seen on June 14, 1960, was rebroadcast on March 27, 1962, several of Cauliflower McPugg's lines-notably "I sure had my opponent scared; he was scared he was gonna kill me!"-were edited out, due to the recent death of boxer Benny "Kid" Paret during a televised bout.