# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/41 "2022-09-13T22:23:30Z")
[This page](https://myvintagephotos.com/product/johnny-carson/) says the joke was: > Carson was a major investor in the ultimately failed DeLorean Motor Company. Founder John DeLorean was involved in a drug scandal, causing Carson’s guest Red Skelton to quip, “The DeLorean, is that a hopped-up car?” ---
**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, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/42 "2022-09-13T22:25:51Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > hopped-up car That finally makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/43 "2022-09-13T22:31:05Z")
Yeah, hopped-up could refer to being a high-performance car or being on drugs. With the context of Carson being a major investor in DeLorean. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/44 "2022-09-13T22:42:03Z")
Great find ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/45 "2022-09-13T22:44:51Z")
Great find! I hereby nominate Dr. Strangelove for the 2022 Vashbul Memorial Research Award. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/46 "2022-09-13T22:46:23Z")
**Roderick\_Femm** deserves an honorable mention for coming so close with “hoppity”. ---
**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, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/47 "2022-09-13T23:15:32Z")
Nicely done and thanks. It was bugging me. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/48 "2022-09-13T23:18:36Z")
So it was that mild drug reference that got that joke cut or overdubbed? That’s pretty silly. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/49 "2022-09-13T23:26:38Z")
I wonder if it was more of a legal thing. DeLorean launched at least a few libel lawsuits back in 1981: > **[DeLorean strikes back at accusers](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/10/13/DeLorean-strikes-back-at-accusers/3533371793600/)** > > American automobile executive John DeLorean Tuesday sued a British lawmaker, a former secretary, the BBC and others for $250 million over allegations of... Could be that, even though it was just a joke, they didn’t want to deal with any potential legal fallout from DeLorean. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/50 "2022-09-13T23:39:33Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > So it was that mild drug reference that got that joke cut or overdubbed? That’s pretty silly. It was silly then too but this was shortly after the Reagan Administration began its anti-drug “Just Say No” campaign. Among its provisions was getting the TV networks to crack down on any references to drugs in their programming that were positive or even just neutral. And unlike previous efforts in the past, this was strictly enforced. Thus, even a veteran performer like Skelton who was over the age of 70 and on a program airing late at night couldn’t make a winking reference to drug use without getting bleeped. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/51 "2022-09-13T23:42:26Z")
Of DeLorean’s and backseats… screenshot: [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/7e4789d0-7a0c-4017-86b3-13dbdf5eeb2c.jpg) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/7e4789d0-7a0c-4017-86b3-13dbdf5eeb2c.jpg) ---
**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, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/52 "2022-09-13T23:42:47Z")
Aha! “Hopped” and not “hump.” That does indeed make sense! Well, I was close. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2022, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/53 "2022-09-14T08:23:35Z")
I see now that I’m lucky I found the quote. I was wondering why a site like “MyVintagePhotos” would have a long article like that on Carson–and one that reads suspiciously like a Wikipedia article. And indeed, it _is_ pulled from the Wikipedia page, but the current one _doesn’t contain the quote_. After browsing the history, I see that the quote was removed back in 2011, in this revision: > **[Johnny Carson](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Johnny_Carson&diff=425966167&oldid=425711229)** > > John William Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was an American television host, comedian, writer and producer. He is best known as the host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992). Carson received six Primetime Emmy Awards, the Television Academy's 1980 Governor's Award and a 1985 Peabody Award. He was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987. Carson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1993. > Du... Citation needed. We now have video proof, of sorts, but it requires a certain degree of interpretation. ---
**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 14, 2022, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/54 "2022-09-14T10:31:07Z")
That was an amazing find. Thanks, Doc! mmm ETA: Now, about that cat on your lap… ---
**Author:** ![Onetimelogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Onetimelogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onetimelogin)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/55 "2023-11-30T16:20:16Z")
Red is saying “humpmobile”. It was common slang for a hot car that could get you laid. Applied at the time to corvettes, porches etc. Would have def gotten bleeped in those days. I’m 67 so it’s in my cultural sweet spot… Good for something. ---
**Author:** ![Onetimelogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Onetimelogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onetimelogin)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/56 "2023-11-30T16:23:17Z")
Red is saying “humpmobile”. It was common slang for a hot car that could get you laid. Applied at the time to corvettes, porches etc. Would have def gotten bleeped in those days. I’m 67 so it’s in my cultural sweet spot… Good for something. [/quote] Red is saying “humpmobile”. It was common slang for a hot car that could get you laid. Applied at the time to corvettes, porches etc. Would have def gotten bleeped in those days. I’m 67 so it’s in my cultural sweet spot… Good for something. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/57 "2023-11-30T18:42:37Z")
Funny Username/double-triple post combination. (I’m NOT criticizing or ridiculing, OK? And welcome to the SDMB.) ---
**Author:** ![Onetimelogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Onetimelogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onetimelogin)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/58 "2023-11-30T19:40:15Z")
I’m utterly jet lagged. Creative juices flowing, but confused :). So fun to be able to help solve a mystery w the benefit of my age. Weird. 👍 ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/59 "2023-11-30T19:44:10Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I wonder if it was standards and practices that nixed it NBC S&P would not allow Carson to make a joke about the band smoking marijuana so I’m going to guess this. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459/60 "2023-11-30T19:53:19Z")
Except for Dr Strangelove’s cite that says that isn’t what was said. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleeped-i-think-red-skelton-joke-what-did-he-say/971459.md?page=4)