Love of Life

When you think about this term, certain people come to mind.  We've just been watching the highlights of Red Skelton on OPB and he definitely fills the bill. He more than anyone else I know, would crack up at his own jokes, sometimes even before he actually said it.  It is unfortunate that kids these days don't even know who he is because they are too young to have seen any of his 20 year variety show.  As they just mentioned, he never made his shows available through Nick at Nite or any other syndication so his productions are truly a hidden treasure.  His tenure was only slightly shorter than that of Jackie Gleason and Ed Sullivan.

They demonstrate essential slapstick, and these various skits and sketches were so funny and s

pontaneous that the majority, if not all, the very famous guest stars break character repeatedly as these skits play themselves out.  I'm talking about Cesar Romero, Vincent Price, Phyllis Diller, Jerry Lewis, Wally Cox, Tim Conway, Jamie Farr, John Wayne, George Gobel, Telly Savalas, Raymond Burr, Mickey Rooney, Jack Jones, Robert Wagner, Tiny Tim, Martha Raye, Janet Leigh, Mike Conners, James Drury, Eva Gabor, Audrey Meadows and Gene Barry...

not to mention Clem Kadiddlehopper, Freddy the Freeloader, Heathcliff & Gertrude (seagulls), 

San Fernando Red (the honest politician), Mean Little Kid, etc.  He must have had over 30 or 40 characterizations with one of the most elastic faces in history.  

In my opinion, this is exactly what the world needs more of now...laughter.