December 31, 2009 | … And As Timeless as Infinity

The original Twilight Zone remains one of the best examples of scripted television to this day, featuring some of the most memorable characters ever to be seen on television for the past 50 years. If you’ve ever watched any current show on television, from The Simpsons to The X-Files or even flashes of current science fiction television, you can see the imprint that Twilight Zone has left on American television, and referenced in stories told throughout the years in magazines, books, and other printed media.

Surprisingly, I haven’t been able to find a definitive (or even a meaty partial list) of references to The Twilight Zone.

As an aficionado of science fiction and of the craft of story telling, I find myself compelled to watch a heaping of The Twilight Zone at least once a year. With this being the case, I find that I am riveted to the television screen, particularly around New Year’s when I am planted on a couch in front of a television watching Syfy Channel. (I find myself still disliking the name, but I will admit that the name change has been successful for the channel, which has been struggling to change is identity for some time. From a realist’s standpoint, I agree with the change… and this is from a guy who doesn’t like the slang “scifi” to begin with.)

I’ve listed a number of my favorite episodes here, for those of you who don’t have the time to watch the five years of the series. Ignore the number order, as it’s what comes to mind when I skim over this list.

1. “It’s a Good Life“

Bill Mumy in "It's a Good Life."

Kids in science fiction are akin to oil and water. If you want to know why, it’s because child actors who can actually act are rare. Or, in the case of actors like Wil Wheaton, kids are badly written by people who do not grok childhood, ergo Wesley “Superboy” Crusher from The Next Generation. However, young Bill Mumy had the odd quality of actually scaring the shit out of people, particularly in this memorable Twilight Zone episode where he plays a brat who gets his way… otherwise, he wishes you and your little dog to the cornfields. (For the record, Mumy appeared in two other episodes: “In Praise of Pip” and “Long Distance Call;” the latter is worth viewing, as well.)

If this episode were remade today, it would leave nothing to the viewer’s imagination. Instead, such makers would “amaze” us with visuals of “the cornfields,” and so warpedly pervert the “Jack in the Box” scene near the final act that the reaction from audiences would be “ooh, even with the blood, maggots and gore, it’s still not scary enough.”

It needs to be said that the “Jack in the Box” has neither blood nor maggots, and ergo no gore, as the only thing you saw of the box was the shadow on the wall and the reactions of those present. Much of the fear that is palpable in this episode is generated by the actors’ facial ticks, mannerisms, and delivery. For this now-a-days defiant act of brilliance, this storytelling ability is something that filmmakers and playwrights should learn from, practice, and execute.

2. “One for the Angels“

Ed Wynn and Dana Dillaway in "One for the Angels."

This episode is particularly touching, in that an honest salesman makes the sales pitch of his life… with a positive result. It is a feel-good installment where you can love the participants, and the “bad guy” (let’s say he’s an angel, of a kind) is not evil. If you told this story today, people would lament about its lack of grit and that “it could have been darker.”

It’s a fairly straightforward story with a colorful protagonist, but a wonderful story nonetheless.

3. “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street”

Scene from "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street."

A classic episode about the danger of fear and the need for logic. This episode played off of the Cold War fears of the time, pitting neighbor against neighbor as they lash out in fear of whom (or what) disconnected their neighborhood from the rest of the world. For those of you familiar with recent television, I would say Jericho‘s existence is due to this very episode. Recommended viewing, since we all need a reminder about the dangers of hysteria.

4. “A Passage for Trumpet“

Jack Klugman and Mary Webster in "A Passage for Trumpet."

A down-and-out trumpet player seeking solace in alcohol—wonderfully portrayed by one of my favorite actors, Jack Klugman—has lost all faith in himself, sells his trumpet, and then is a victim of a car accident. Recommended viewing for when you need to rediscover your faith and realize that the world is what you make of it.

As “Gabe” said, “You take what you get and live with it. Sometimes it’s sweet frosting, nice gravy. Sometimes it’s sour, goes down hard, but you live with it.”

5. “Time Enough at Last“

Burgess Meredith as Henry Bemis, charter member of the fraternity of dreams.

Another classy actor by the name of Burgess Meredith portrays Henry Bemis. Mr. Henry Bemis is a bank teller with thick glasses, love of the written word, surrounded by those who have no love of said beauty and married to a despicable woman of the four-legged variety. Even if you haven’t entered The Twilight Zone as a mere spectator, you’ve likely seen him before, as this story has been the subject of many parodies on both The Simpsons and Futurama.

While the episode requires leaps in logic and some detachment from science, the story is able to hold its own and addresses many issues that resonate even today in our gadget-infested world.

6. “The Night of the Meek”

Art Carney in "The Night of the Meek."

We may need this story to occur in reality, given the mutilation and disgusting perversion of the holidays by those who would seek to have us “lowly forms of life” (see: “consumer,” “bottom feeder,” and “mindless drone”) squabble over deliberately-limited amounts of Nintendo Wiis, Tickle-Me-Elmos, gadgets and other garbage. Such garbage that is, invariably and without fail, worthless to the pursuit of the human condition.

This is about an out-and-down department store Santa Claus who discovers that he can be a bringer of joy and wonder after all, after finding that his sack actually has goodies that his recipients most desire. It is an episode that I, on another level entirely, do not care for as the insinuation that objects, gizmos and physical nonsense are the only things capable of evoking happiness during the holidays.

7. “The Obsolete Man“

Burgess Meredith as the theistic librarian awaiting his fate in "The Obsolete Man."

This is a story of a dystopia where a theistic librarian, portrayed by Burgess Meredith, is seen by a totalitarian government as obsolete, for both literacy and religion have been abolished by the State. Facing death, he is given the choice on the method of execution, and it is within that request where he makes his final stand.

I’ll be honest here: If I am to go out of this world in a manner of my choosing, I’d choose the method the librarian uses here.

8. “A Game of Pool“

Jonathan Winters and Jack Klugman in "A Game of Pool."

Again with a story featuring Jack Klugman… There is a reason why he was one of two actors who have had multiple appearances during the run of the original Twilight Zone.

This story is about Jesse Cardiff (Klugman) whose only life has been in the pursuit of being the greatest billiards player to have ever walked the Earth, if not for being overshadowed by the late Fats Brown (Jonathan Winters). Alone in a billiards hall during the night, Cardiff meets up with his match: a very deceased, yet corporeal apparition of Fats Brown. The game has high stakes. More so than Cardiff counted on, and what most people would likely suspect when watching this episode.

While not the preferred ending by the original writer—as this is one of a few stories redone by the various iterations of Zone—it’s still a great story about the consequences about trying to be “the best” in anything while ignoring everything else of consequence.

9. “The Long Morrow“

Commander Stansfield (Robert Lansing), returning to Earth after 40 years," without the use of suspended animation.

It’s a story about a forgotten space explorer and about love that isn’t viable. It’s something I can relate to, and I’m at a loss for any more words than that, if only since it has been a while since I’ve seen this episode. Oh, and for you Trekkies, Robert Lansing played Gary Seven in the classic Star Trek episode “Assignment: Earth.”

10. “A Quality of Mercy“

Leonard Nimoy as a WWII soldier in "A Quality of Mercy." Look, no pointed-eared freak here.

If you’re a Dean Stockwell fan, then this episode is for you. Our Number One brother with an admiration of the female form, John Al Cavilicci, portrays a soldier who happens to be on both sides of a WWII battle in the Philippines. In one instance, he is Lieutenant Katell, a gun-ho US Army officer who orders his war-weary men to attack a detachment of Japanese soldiers; in another, he is Lieutenant Yamuri, one of the Japanese soldiers in the cave that Katell wants to assault.

11. “To Serve Man“

Susan Cummings and Richard Kiel in "To Serve Man". Kanamits: Nom nom humans nom.

I really don’t know if I should bother even explaining why this is on my list. If you don’t get it by now, I doubt that you’re going to.

12. “Living Doll“

Erich Streator (Telly Savalas) and his arch nemesis, Talky Tina, face off.

A cautionary tale of why dolls should not be permitted into households.

13. “The Silence“

Liam Sullivan in "The Silence."

Jamie Tennyson (Liam Sullivan) finds himself agreeing to a bet he is unable to refuse out of necessity: for $500,000 this otherwise talkative man is to remain totally silent for a period of one year. During this year, he is to remain under observation in a room that has been wired for sound recording, so as to ensure that Tennyson keeps his end of the bargain. It is a test of character that has its consequences, in good Twilight Zone fashion.

14. “A Piano in the House“

Joan Hackett and Barry Morse in “A Piano in the House.”

As a fan of Barry Morse, his only appearance in The Twilight Zone thrills me, particularly when his character is pitted against a piano that can reveal the true nature of a person. It is an episode worth watching, as it is very much a character-driven play that puts most current television to shame. I do wish such a piano existed, for it would force us to face our own true natures, and test the loyalty and honesty of those around us.

Runners Up

A handful of worthwhile episodes I will note, if only briefly (descriptions and spoilers at the link via Wikipedia):

1. “A World of His Own“
2. “Nick of Time“
3. “The Invaders“
4. “Mr. Dingle, the Strong“
5. “Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?“
6. “The Shelter“
7. “Five Characters in Search of an Exit“
8. “The Hunt“
9. “I Sing the Body Electric“
10. “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet“
11. “One More Pallbearer“

December 30, 2009 | Adieu 2009 and Thanks for All the Fish

The end of 2009 is almost upon us and I am pleased at this fact. I normally do not look upon the change of years as a means to change oneself, as one with the power to do so can change themselves at a time of their choosing.

However, I find that the notion about compartmentalizing events between “last year” and “this coming year” is cathartic. Once the act is done, it is truly like releasing the shackles, blinders, and weights from one’s body. As I write this, I feel a sense of exhilaration that I have not felt in a very long time; I’m ready for the metamorphosis.