Posted on 03/31/2019 2:19:57 PM PDT by EveningStar
In 1959 Rod Serling's TV series, "The Twilight Zone," made its debut on CBS. Though not a major success at the time, the show that served up horror and science fiction stories as winking tales of contemporary society has taken on legendary status, influencing films and TV ever since. David Pogue looks at how Serling crafted a TV classic with New York Times television critic James Poniewozik, and talks with the writer's daughter, Jodi Serling, about the influence that his hometown, Binghamton, N.Y., had on Serling's allegorical tales. Pogue also talks with Jordan Peele, the writer-comedian behind the Oscar-winning "Get Out" and "Us," who this week introduces a new iteration of "The Twilight Zone," debuting on CBS All Access.
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My favorite episode is “The Hunt”, for obvious reasons.
“Thriller”
I remember Thriller from the early 1960s. Even still have a comic book Boris Karloff’s THRILLER.
There was another Sci-fi type show in the 60s which I really liked.
It was “The Invaders”. I particularly liked to see the aliens bodies incinerate when they died. Basically a plain old flying saucer type show.
I have a converter box for my TV. Channel 5.3 is The Decades channel.
The first week of January, for about four or five days, they held a “Twilight Zone” marathon, from 9 AM to 9 PM every day. Mostly half-hour episodes, but also some of the less seen hour long episodes.
Also, last July 4th, Decades held a round the clock Twilight Zone marathon.
They also have something every weekend called The Weekend Binge. They air a different series every weekend starting at 1 PM on Saturday afternoon and ending 7 AM Monday morning. Round the clock.
Once they had a weekend binge of “Night Gallery” and another time “Thriller.” This weekend is “Hunter,” with Fred Dryer. Next weekend is “Mannix.”
Yeah, that had me scratching my head as well.
Serling was a liberal and the original “twilight zone” was full of social justice themes for its time.
Thanks. Your memory is very good. I’d forgotten about the babies. Ewwwwww
Be careful on the vaccines, too!
“Though not a major success at the time...”
A five-year run is a major success. Just saying.
Maybe, but there was a Thriller episode of that too (hosted by Boris Karloff)....I think it was earlier than the 1970’s.
I have read that it is a device to give their hands something to do. Same for the drinks always in their hands in “Dallas”.
More likely it was a sign of the times, most everyone smoked. But more likely it had to do with tobacco companies sponsoring so much entertainment.
For anyone who likes Rod Serling, check out THE LONER, a western series he wrote. Ot only lasted one season, but not because it didn’t have an excellent script or actors. One of the best westerns I have seen.
No wonder today people can't put their phones down.
Willoughby was my favorite.
Bookmark
Loved “The hunt”. There was a thread a few days ago about the Waltons TV show and I didn’t realize how much antipathy many FReepers had for the show.
The reason I mention it is because Earl Hamner, Jr. was the writer and producer of the Waltons and also wrote The Hunt.
“Next stop, Willoughby”; great episode.
“Night of the Meek”, with Art Carney as Santa Claus, is one of my favorites.
“Green Fingers” is on MeTV at 11:30 tonight. I always thought that it was one of their better episodes.
The hoity toity dismissed it as derivative fare for the hoi polloi; they said the plots were just rehashes of old Analog short stories and such.
Since I am hoi pollois, I did not care. I thought it was brilliantly done, and better for being in black and white.
There was also, somewhat later, Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff, as I recall.
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