| Genre: | Variety show Sitcom |
| Creator: | Marlo Lewis |
| Director: | Burt Shevelove |
| Developer: | CBS |
| Starring: | Red Buttons |
| Theme Music Composer: | Elliot Lawrence |
| Composer: | Mitch Miller |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 3 |
| Executive Producer: | Marlo Lewis |
| Producer: | Al Span |
| Runtime: | 30 min. |
| Network: | CBS |
The Red Buttons Show premiered on the CBS television network on October 14, 1952,[1] and ran for two years on that network, then moved to NBC for the final 1954–55 season.
The series finished #11 for the 1952–1953 season in the Nielsen ratings and #12 in 1953–1954.[2]
The CBS run of the series featured monologues, dance numbers, and sketches with Red and the other series regulars. The characters played by Red included the boxer Rocky Buttons, the Kupke Kid, the Sad Sack, and Keeglefarven. When the series was canceled by CBS, it moved to NBC which at first kept it as a variety show. When the ratings remained low, the program was overhauled and turned into a sitcom with Red playing himself as a TV comic. Phyllis Kirk played his wife, Bobby Sherwood played the director of Red's program and Paul Lynde played the network's vice president.[3]
Bill Davenport and Johnny Green were writers for the NBC version.[5] It was sponsored by Pontiac.[6]