Rod Serling: Submitted For Your Approval (Serling Documentary On TV Tonight)

PBS.Org ^ | December 2003

[PJ-Comix]

Known primarily for his role as the host of television’s THE TWILIGHT ZONE, Rod Serling had one of the most exceptional and varied careers in television. As a writer, a producer, and for many years a teacher, Serling challenged the medium of television to reach for loftier artistic goals. The winner of more Emmy Awards for dramatic writing than anyone in history, Serling expressed a deep social conscience in nearly everything he did.

Born in Syracuse, New York in 1924, Rod Serling grew up in the small upstate city of Binghamton. The son of a butcher, he joined the army after graduating from high school in 1942. His experiences of the working-class life of New York, and the horrors of World War II enlivened in him a profound concern for a moral society. After returning from the service, Serling enrolled as a physical education student at Antioch College, but before long realized that he was destined for more creative endeavors.

Changing his major to English literature and drama, Serling began to try his hand at writing. As a senior, after marrying his college sweetheart, Carolyn Kramer, he won an award for a television script he had written. Encouraged by the award, Serling started writing for radio and television. Beginning in Cincinnati, he soon found a home for his unique style of realistic psychological dramas at CBS. By the early 1950s he was writing full-time and had moved his family closer to Manhattan.

Serling had his first big break with a television drama for NBC, called PATTERNS. Dealing with the fast-paced lives and ruthless people within the business world, PATTERNS was so popular it became the first television show to ever be broadcast a second time due to popularity. Throughout the 1950s he continued to write probing investigative dramas about serious issues. He was often hounded by the conservative censors for his uncompromising attention to issues such as lynching, union organizing, and racism. Television dramas including REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT and A TOWN HAS TURNED TO DUST, are still considered some of the best writing ever done for television.

Fed up with the difficulties of writing about serious issues on the conservative networks, Serling turned to science fiction and fantasy. Through an ingenious mixture of morality fable and fantasy writing, he was able to circumvent the timidity and conservatism of the television networks and sponsors. Self-producing a series of vignettes that placed average people in extraordinary situations, Serling could investigate the moral and political questions of his time. He found that he could address controversial subjects if they were cloaked in a veil of fantasy, saying "I found that it was all right to have Martians saying things Democrats and Republicans could never say."

The series was called THE TWILIGHT ZONE and was incredibly popular, winning Serling three Emmy Awards. As the host and narrator of the show, he became a household name and his voice seemed always a creepy reminder of a world beyond our control. The show lasted for five seasons, and during that time Serling wrote more than half of the one hundred and fifty-one episodes. But for Serling, television was an inherently problematic medium—requiring the concessions of commercials and time restrictions.

For much of the 1960s and into the 1970s Serling turned to the big screen, writing films that included a remake of REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT (1962), THE YELLOW CANARY (1963), and ASSAULT ON A QUEEN (1966). His most famous, however, was the classic PLANET OF THE APES (1968), co-written with Michael Wilson. Similar to his early work on THE TWILIGHT ZONE, THE PLANET OF THE APES was a moralistic tale of contemporary life told through a science-fiction fantasy in which Apes have taken over the world. Dealing with question of how we act as a society and how we view ourselves as moral beings, PLANET OF THE APES was a culmination of Serling’s career-long interests as a writer.

By the early 1970s, he found a job teaching in Ithaca, New York. Continuing to write for television, he sought to impart a sense of moral responsibility and artistic integrity to the new generation of television writers. In June of 1975, he died of a heart attack. Today, more than twenty-five years after his death, Serling’s legacy continues to grow. His television and cinematic works have reached cult status—enlivening a new interest in one of the great early writers of American television.

[PJ-Comix]

I will definitely be watching this documentary tonight on PBS at 9 PM EST since I am a big Rod Serling fan. HOWEVER, the writer of this piece just couldn't resist showing his political bias by slamming conservatives. Take a look (sigh):

Throughout the 1950s he continued to write probing investigative dramas about serious issues. He was often hounded by the conservative censors for his uncompromising attention to issues such as lynching, union organizing, and racism.

WHAT "conservative censors?" These "censors" were hired by the LIBERAL networks.

Fed up with the difficulties of writing about serious issues on the conservative networks, Serling turned to science fiction and fantasy.

SIGH? Again, WHAT conservative networks? Name ONE! The writer of this piece just tosses "conservatives" out there as some sort of boogymen with NO evidence.

Through an ingenious mixture of morality fable and fantasy writing, he was able to circumvent the timidity and conservatism of the television networks and sponsors.

Again with the hangup about conservatives. The FR is the biggest CONSERVATIVE forum on the web but I've read nothing but compliments here about Rod Serling. This writer must be in his own TWILIGHT ZONE beyond time and space...and reality.

Anyway, please don't let the IDIOT writer of this piece turn you off to this documentary. I definitely plan to watch it. A lot of folks including the LIBERAL networks didn't understand Serling. When his Twilight Zone series was remade they concentrated on the special effects at the expense of the great story lines. One thing not well known about Serling was that many of his nightmarish Twilight Zone episodes were directly affected by his horrifying experiences in the Phillipines during WWII as a paratrooper. For years afterwards, Serling suffered from nightmares of this experience and this was reflected in his scripts. Hopefully this topic will be covered on this documentary.

[VadeRetro]

No mention of Night Gallery, a watchable reprise of Twilight-Zoney themes for a season or two in the early 70s. Used to come on after Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, I think.

[coloradan]

The son of a butcher, he joined the army

Surely just an accidental juxtaposition there. The author couldn't possibly have meant or intended readers to infer: "The son of a butcher, [naturally] he joined the army ..."

[jolie560]

Thanks for the heads-up. I always enjoy TTZ, even if I've seen the episode a dozen times.

[PJ-Comix]

I hate the Spielberg Twilight Zone episodes they broadcast after Serling died. They were horrible. Basically they relied on special effects and the storylines were just afterthoughts. They (NOT conservatives) just didn't understand the IDEAS behind the Twighlight Zone.

[Radix]

Was the Planet of the Apes the 1960's movie script or was it a twilight zone episode?

I read the book by Pierre Boulle many years ago, and Serling had no part in that effort.

I was also a big fan of Rod Serling, and some months ago I posted some information about him was was easily obtainable from diverse internet sources.

[PJ-Comix]

I don't think this will be a rebroadcast of Twilight Zone episodes. Instead it is a documentary about Serling. BTW, if you notice, quite a few of the Twilight Zone episodes take place in central Ohio. Most likely because Serling went to college in that area.

[Walkin Man]

Hey thanks for the heads up! I loved the TZ and Night Gallery had its moments as well.

Could you imagine the morons responsible for dreck like Will and Grace, Queer Eye, or just about any TV show you can name writing up to the standard of the worst TZ show?

LOL!

[PJ-Comix]

Was the Planet of the Apes the 1960's movie script or was it a twilight zone episode?

1960s movie script.

I read the book by Pierre Boulle many years ago, and Serling had no part in that effort.

True but Serling's script actually improved things. Boulle set the ape society in a futuristic setting. Serling changed that so the apes advanced only to the technological level of the 19th century. It worked beautifully on the big screen that way.

[PJ-Comix]

The Twilight Zone was probably the BEST series ever on TV. And remember, its HIGH QUALITY lasted through all its seasons. Almost every episode was of OUTSTANDING quality.

[Maria S]

Thank you so much for posting this; I will be watching.

I LOVED 'Twilight Zone' and 'Night Gallery', and I have every VHS that has been made available on both of them. One of my favorites from Twilight Zone: An elderly lady knows "Death" is coming to visit her and she does not want him to. So when a handsome, young, gentle stranger comes to visit, she doesn't realize it's "Death" until he finally convinces her to go with him. I kept thinking I recognized "Death" but couldn't place him; turns out it was Robert Redford at about age 20-22!

Kids today don't know what they've missed...excellent writing with unexpected twists in the plots.

[supercat]

Any mention of the radio dramas? Not that they were made in Serling's lifetime, but perhaps interesting to show the lingering power of the show.

[Welsh Rabbit]

After returning from the service, Serling enrolled as a physical education student at Antioch College, but before long realized that he was destined for more creative endeavors.

We've all had some real characters as gym teachers or sports coaches in our lives, but I think he would've made a particularly interesting one.

[PJ-Comix]

Kids today don't know what they've missed...excellent writing with unexpected twists in the plots.

Yeah, the original episodes always had those great twists. The later series just relied on SFX. Serling had a way of tapping into the nightmarish recesses of our minds and putting it on the screen. I still remember as a kid fearfully looking for the boogyman on the airplane's wings whenever I was on a flight just like the William Shatner character did in one of the episodes.

[international american]

Serling had the greatest show ever on television. I was fortunate to befriend one of the producers, who gave me copies of every episode. Some are so great that I retaped them 2-3 times.
Rest in peace, Rod......today you would not be a liberal:)

[macamadamia]

"YOU MUST CONFORM!"

(No, Waxman didn't say this. But, TZ fans might understand the confusion.)

[waterstraat]

The series was called THE TWILIGHT ZONE and was incredibly popular, winning Serling three Emmy Awards.

I always heard, and seem to remember, that The Twilight Zone was NOT popular, and always had very poor Neilson ratings.

[Bonaparte]

"...slamming conservatives."

It's PBS. They politicize everything they touch. Now Rod Serling is no longer simply a screen writer, he's been posthumously metamorphosed into a leftist crusader against conservative oppression. That's what our tax dollars are paying for -- a thinly disguised political viewpoint that demeans and slanders us. We actually get to pay for that.

[Political Junkie Too]

There were some creepy Night Gallery's, too.

The one's I remember are: 1) the painting of the house that keeps changing, showing a cadaver emerging from a grave and closing in on the house, 2) the lady with the green thumb who is killed by a developer, but she plants her finger first, 3) the mirror into a prehistoric world where a nagging wife goes, 4) the earwig.

-PJ

[Walkin Man]

I remember one with Joan Crawford who played a rich blind women who bought sight from a poor man, camera obscura(sp) a primitive camera that could see into hell and another one about an SS death camp guard and a painting.

Pretty scary stuff at the time.

[jocon307]

Thanks for this, I'll be sure to tune in. My fave twizones are the ones where you see Serling smoking his cigarette (which ultimately killed him, i'll admit it) at the beginning. He was just a handsome guy, and I love him.

[PJ-Comix]

The one's I remember are: 1) the painting of the house that keeps changing, showing a cadaver emerging from a grave and closing in on the house...

That one was the SCARIEST!!!

[PJ-Comix]

I always heard, and seem to remember, that The Twilight Zone was NOT popular, and always had very poor Neilson ratings.

WRONG! The Twilight Zone was VERY POPULAR from the get-go.

[Maria S]

"4) the earwig."

Ah, yes...the earwig! Now THAT was a scary one!

Another favorite of mine was about the man who read...constantly! He would sneak to the basement during breaks and lunch, just to read, read, read. One day, while he was at lunch reading, a bomb destroys everything and everyone except him. He comes out of the basement, and to his joy, finds that the library is intact so he can read in peace and quiet as long as he wants! He bends over to pick something up (a book?) and his verrrrry thick glasses fall off and break. Since he can't read without them, he's stuck for the rest of his life without being able to read...and all alone on the earth without anyone to talk to.

[RIGHT IN LAS VEGAS]

My Dad owned a Funeral Home in Rochester, NY.

I was a kid, tagging along for a ride, when my Dad and I stopped by Mt. Hope Cemetery to bring in a remains for cremation.

Rod Serling passed away 1 day earlier at the University of Rochester Medical Center while having heart surgery.

As we entered the retort area I casually asked the Director of Operations if Rod had stopped by.

He directed me to the looking glass of the retort.

I saw the last Rod Serling "Twightlight Zone!"

True story, I still retain my FD's license in NY.

[Political Junkie Too]

I remember one with Joan Crawford who played a rich blind women who bought sight from a poor man...

I remember that one. The day she gets her sight was the day of the big NYC blackout. She freaks out, trips, and falls out the window.

camera obscura(sp) a primitive camera that could see into hell...

I vaguely remember that one. The camera obscura usually is a rooftop reflector projected on a tabletop. I forget the plot of this episode.

another one about an SS death camp guard and a painting.

I remember the Twilight Zone episode where the prison guard goes back after the war and sees the ghosts of his prisoners, who reclaim him.

-PJ

[RIGHT IN LAS VEGAS]

Twiglight=TWILIGHT!

[Political Junkie Too]

Another favorite of mine was about the man who read...constantly!

That was a Twilight Zone episode of the kind that Serling loved to do -- the ironic twist.

The one you described starred Burgess Merideth. There were many other cute ones like that: 1) the one where the man has a watch that stops time, but he breaks it, 2) the crabby man (Shelly Berman) who wishes the whole world were full of people just like him, and then he wakes up and everyone is him, 3) the astronaut on the planet with tiny people who take him as their leader, only to be crushed by astronauts 100 times bigger than he is, and on and on.

-PJ

[FlyVet]

I watched the Twilight Zone as a kid. The only episode I remember is the one about the "earwig". Ouch.

[FlyVet]

No mention of Night Gallery, a watchable reprise of Twilight-Zoney themes for a season or two in the early 70s. Used to come on after Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, I think.Now that you mention Night Gallery, the "earwig" episode may have been on that show. So long ago I can't remember.

[FlyVet]

the earwig.

Dang it. LOL. That'll teach me again to read the thread before I post. I thought I'd be the only one to remember that.

He survived, but....

Earwigs lay eggs.

ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!

[nicksaunt]

Another favorite of mine was about the man who read...constantly!

Agreed, I love that episode, it's also one of my favorites. What was the name of the actor? I can see his face, but I can't for the life of me remember his name. This is killing me, does anybody out know who was the actor?

[Dr. Scarpetta]

BUMP

[breakem]

Burgess Meredith, also in Rocky and another Twlight Zone where he was sentenced to death for having books but got the Judge to admit he believed in God and was arrested.

[jolie560]

So far--20 minutes in--the report is very good.

[nicksaunt]

Thanks so much Breakum, I had Rocky in the back of my mind, but I couldn't come up with the name. Burgess Meredith. What a great actor. He was a treasure to watch and could out-act almost anyone in the business today. They sure don't make 'em like that anymore!

[bootless]

I'm looking forward to seeing this.

I did like "The Mission" in the New TZ... the one with Kevin Costner as the commander of a B-17. The belly gunner was trapped in the bubble ... I liked that one a lot.

[nicksaunt]

Breakum=Breakem. Sorry.

[bootless]

Wow. Even before I scrolled all the way down your message about NG, I thought "the earwig episode," and lo and behold! There it was! I was about 12 or 13 at the time - creeped me out for a couple of weeks!

[supercat]

The one you described starred Burgess Merideth. There were many other cute ones like that

I liked Once Upon a Time. Remember that one?

[supercat]

I did like "The Mission" in the New TZ... the one with Kevin Costner as the commander of a B-17. The belly gunner was trapped in the bubble ... I liked that one a lot.

I thought that was the plot of the first Amazing Stories.

[supercat]

Burgess Meredith, also in Rocky and another Twlight Zone where he was sentenced to death for having books but got the Judge to admit he believed in God and was arrested.

Was that The Obsolete Man?

[Senator Pardek]

TZ -the best of all time.

A pleasant faced man steps up to greet you
He smiles and says he's pleased to meet you
Beneath his hat the strangeness lies
Take it off, he's got three eyes
Truth is false and logic lost
Now the fourth dimension is crossed...

You have entered the Twilight Zone
Beyond this world strange things are known
Use the key, unlock the door
See what your fate might have in store...
Come explore your dreams' creation
Enter this world of imagination...

You wake up lost in an empty town
Wondering why no one else is around
Look up to see a giant boy
You've just become his brand new toy
No escape, no place to hide
Here where Time and Space collide

You have entered the Twilight Zone
Beyond this world strange things are known
Use the key, unlock the door
See what your fate might have in store...
Come explore your dreams' creation
Enter this world of imagination...

[bootless]

One of my favorite TZ episodes was the Odyssey of Flight 33.

Wasn't there another one where a man alone on a planet built a female android companion?

Also, I think there was one about the earth leaving its orbit, and going closer to the sun. Everything was getting hotter, systems were failing, etc. Turns out the woman protagonist was in a fevered state of unconciousness, and when she woke up, she was very relieved to hear that the earth was not moving towards the sun ... but it was moving AWAY from the sun and the planet would soon freeze to death. I read that adapted episode in a book before I saw the episode - it was chilling (no pun intended).

[bootless]

Of course, you're right. That was Amazing Stories. Thanks!

Rod's genius was taking the parts of the human soul that we tried to hide, or hide from, and make it the centerpiece of the story. The (bomb) Shelter, the plastic surgery story ... so many great stories.

[longtermmemmory]

Watching the special, they did have a McCarthy comentary.

Has any network ever really been conservative?

[chindog]

Submitted for your approval,
December 25, 1958

A story a little different than those that populated the airwaves during that period... a story about a little man that gave people not what they wanted, but what they needed.

Perhaps it was a pair of shoelaces, or simply a hair comb. As the story unfolded, it wasn't what the people wanted, but what they needed was quite useful.

I was intrigued about the author who wrote this story, and was surprised to learn that he was quite a large legend as a sci-fi writer in his time. Henry Kuttner, along with his wife C. L. Moore, wrote several stories featured on the Twilight Zone. Do a google on him to find out more.

[jolie560]

A very good eulogy--thanks for the post.

[breakem]

probably, I think at his trial he was declared "obsolete."

[breakem]

you bet!