# Bleeped (I think) Red Skelton joke - what did he say? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comedian-jokes\ **Created:** [September 12, 2022, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459 "2022-09-12T19:22:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2022, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/21 "2022-09-12T23:37:00Z")
I just set the playback speed to 0.25 and muted the sound. It looks like he says three syllables, the first of which is clearly “hump.” The subsequent two seem to be “pee-ar”. Doesn’t make a lot of sense, but that’s what I got. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/22 "2022-09-13T02:00:21Z")
I too slowed the video to 25%. It looks like Red’s mouthing “humpmobile” (a car to have sex in). It’s not as clever as “snowmobile” referencing cocaine, but it doesn’t look like he’s mouthing “snow” and that joke would have taken longer to get and react to. And, in those days, “hump” probably would get bleeped. ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/23 "2022-09-13T02:05:35Z")
Humpmobile is similar to Hupmobile, a real car company. Problem is they went out of business decades before that show was broadcast. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/24 "2022-09-13T02:08:10Z")
From what I’ve read, the deLorean apparently had a prominent hump in the back seat that was associated with its drive shaft. I wonder if the joke has something to do with this. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/25 "2022-09-13T02:19:44Z")
Funny, I don’t see reference to “humpmobile” meaning “car to have sex in” with Google search, but I recall it being part of teenage vernacular in the 70s. The origins may have derived from the ‘09 – ‘39 “hupmobile.” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/26 "2022-09-13T09:30:36Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > From what I’ve read, the deLorean apparently had a prominent hump in the back seat that was associated with its drive shaft. I wonder if the joke has something to do with this. Pretty much every car back then had that backseat hump. “Snowmobile” makes the most sense to me, but Red’s mouth doesn’t seem to be forming that word. “Humpmobile” - I’ve never heard that term myself, and that’s really not much of a joke at all within the context of a DeLorean. Why would a DeLorean, specifically, be called a humpmobile? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/27 "2022-09-13T14:05:03Z")
There was also a rumor that Carson had made a sex tape with his wife Joanne so “hump” something something could have elicited that reaction. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/28 "2022-09-13T14:16:48Z")
The Humvee entered service in 1983. I wonder if this has any connection to the joke. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/29 "2022-09-13T20:04:00Z")
> [@Tabco](#): > > Humpmobile is similar to Hupmobile, a real car company. Problem is they went out of business decades before that show was broadcast. But vaudeville went out of business decades before that show was broadcast. The joke had to be immediate, and hump was more daring and funny back then than it was today. I’m a bit younger than most of that audience, but I’ve heard of Hupmobile, so they probably would have enough to laugh. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/30 "2022-09-13T20:41:17Z")
I was in college at the time, and there were many DeLorean jokes involving cocaine. I remember one live college show in which the words of a song were altered to refer to DeLorean’s nose as a cocaine reference. I think this makes the snowmobile line the most probable. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/31 "2022-09-13T20:51:17Z")
A parody radio ad for the DeLorean Snowmobile - “A Colombian import that blows the competition away!” > **[DeLorean-Snowmobile-kfat06-at16min35sec.mp3](https://drive.google.com/file/d/19CJyc_40L0wH91Fdo6aeVO5eUV2QQ3rX/view)** > > Google Drive file. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/32 "2022-09-13T21:11:49Z")
If you slow the clip and switch off the distracting dub, it’s clear the first thing out of Red’s mouth is “hump” and not “snow.” It’s the second part I can’t pin down. Both Red and Johnny were old enough to remember Hupmobiles. The reference might have gone over the heads of the audience, but they could still react to the smutty insinuation. (Johnny is apparently a little slow to get the joke himself.) ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/33 "2022-09-13T21:25:10Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > From what I’ve read, the deLorean apparently had a prominent hump in the back seat that was associated with its drive shafr. I’m probably being whooshed but DeLoreans don’t have back seats. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/34 "2022-09-13T21:30:47Z")
What is the joke in this case? A play on the Hupmobile name? How does it relate to Delorean? Just that it was in the news at the time? Like he might have made the same joke about Ford if there had been a recent scandal? I can accept that Skelton could still be rehashing a joke about a car from the 30’s. A lot of his jokes in that segment we’re dated. It just seems so little forced to be funny (unless I’m being dense). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/35 "2022-09-13T21:33:52Z")
_" I offered to be the one who would always sit on the narrow hump in the backseat when we all traveled together (and not complain about it)."_ > **[DeLorean - TravelHart](http://travelhart.com/delorean/)** > > I always wanted a DeLorean.  My fondness of the DeLorean car does not come from the movie ‘Back to the Future’.  It comes from being in the Buick showroom in 1981.  My parents were looking for a new car, when, there it was in all its... ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/36 "2022-09-13T21:37:13Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > If you slow the clip and switch off the distracting dub, it’s clear the first thing out of Red’s mouth is “hump” and not “snow.” It’s the second part I can’t pin down. > > …(Johnny is apparently a little slow to get the joke himself.) I don’t interpret his reaction as he didn’t get the joke, more like _I can’t believe you said that_ (or, _oh no you din’t!_) mmm ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/37 "2022-09-13T21:37:35Z")
Damned if I know what the joke was without the second half of what Red said. All I know is that the first half is “hump.” When the rest becomes becomes clear we’ll all understand. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/38 "2022-09-13T21:39:01Z")
Either way, he’s clearly flummoxed. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/39 "2022-09-13T21:46:23Z")
Oh thanks. Hump is an understatement – it’s a four-seater with an arm rest. I was thinking of the hump in the floor for the drivetrain. As the youngest in my family, I’m all too familiar with sitting there. > **[This Four-Seat DeLorean Could Be Your Fantastic Family Dream Car](https://www.motor1.com/news/266167/four-seat-delorean-family-car/)** > > This special four-seat DeLorean was built by John Dore over a period of ten years, all so his kids could enjoy the iconic sports car too. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/40 "2022-09-13T22:13:28Z")
In other posted clips of this episode of the Tonight Show, the joke about the Delorean is completely edited out. The scene goes from the joke about the wife seeing the blonde hair but not seeing the garage directly to Johnny asking him about the cigar. It must have been bad enough that it was completely edited out of other showings. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459.md?page=3)