Clearly the creator was a genius, he posed it as simple “innocent entertainment” but I’m sure he knew EXACTLY what he was doing. There’s no way you produce such classic, thought provoking cinematic features without having thought it out. He’s an absolute legend and his work will live on well into the future.
Absolute legend. Listen to his UCLA Lectures if you haven't already. Awesome loving caring man how he speaks to the students. And Anne Serling's audio book is heart warming and gorgeous how she speaks about her Dad. The more I know about him, the more I love him ❤
I can't listen to Rod Serling talking in that interview without suppressing a chuckle. His voice is so distinct. SO distinct. When he's narrating, he's not trying to sound like that. THAT'S how he talks. He stresses every single third or fourth word. It's uncanny. I've never heard anybody talk like he does. No matter what he's doing, he talks like he's setting up a scenario for a plot. I mean, he was born to narrate stuff. He's a narrator even when he's not narrating. Narrate in Peace, Roddy.
I once binge-watched every episode of the Twilight Zone from the DVD boxed set. Most of the episodes were 30 minutes including commercials, except the commercials were not included in the DVDs. Watching the Twilighted Zones, all in succession, was an extremely valuable lesson in the economics of writing a tight 3 Act teleplay within a 25 minute timeframe. I didn't actually intend to study this when I watched the episodes. I was just having fun and revisiting those cool episodes I used to watch in high school. Somehow, however, that tightly written, 3 act story structure just sunk into me. Interestingly, the hour long (51 min without commercials, I think) episodes are not quite as tightly written and seem to contain extra filler as I recall. Still, they're similarly creative and valuable in their own right, and could serve as lessons for writing a teleplay within a standard TV hour time frame. All in all, this is a remarkable achievement and still stands the test of time.
I've always thought the series could be very instructive for aspiring actors as well. Lotta great performances. Sometimes, certain episodes will have a similar storyline, but it's interesting to note the different approaches the actors will take. For example, there is one episode where a man wakes up to find that no one - his wife, his friends, his co-workers - recognizes him, and insist there is no such person as he claims to be. A similar episode has a man exiting his office to find himself on a sound stage. He's told that he's an actor, and that the person he thinks he is, is simply a fictional character that he is portraying. In the former, this guy is pissed. He's confident he is who he is, and hellbent on proving it. The second guy is mostly just confused, and starts to doubt himself.
Hello Peter, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
Rod Sterling had the coolest voice in the business... His voice sounded legendary, if he didn't succeed in television he would've successfully been a great radio broadcaster...
You would be right, my friend. That’s how he got his start. He mostly wrote and directed but he did some radio acting too. He only stopped when he saw radio declining with the popularity of television.
Hello ClayDog, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
Funny enough, he did have an early connection with radio serials. One of his earliest scripts became a story for the DR. CHRISTIAN radio program. Had he been born 10 years earlier, he might have had a longer career in that medium. Of course, television beckoned...🇵🇷🇺🇸😎
I grew up watching reruns of Twilight Zone and I absolutely love it to this day. I did not know much about Rod Serling and all that background makes so much sense. What a brilliant way to avoid censorship. He even told them what they wanted to hear to further disarm them. Twilight Zone still gives me chills due to how well it portrays our reality and possible realities. Even the very unrealistic episodes feel grounded somehow and I think that really adds to the creepiness.
We read The Monsters are Due on Maple Street in 7th grade (old teacher was a huge acting buff) and after finishing reading it, we got to watch it. I think that was the first time I watched Twilight Zone, and ever since I've been such a huge fan. Glad you talked about that episode!
Reminds me of something Rod Serling said about writing - you can write a story about all of the most important social and current issues of your time, put it on a rocket ship and blast it a million light years into space and people will listen.
I remember going to going to my grandmas house running inside her house throwing my backpack on the couch then taking off my shoes, grabbing a snack and running into her room watching the Twilight Zone together we have good memories with the Twilight Zone .
I used to go my grandmas house too when we lived across from each, she was a huge fan of clint eastwood, everytime i was there she was recording/watching his movies and watching shows like matlock, diagnosis murders and golden girls , she would give us a tote full of different movies and shows for christmas, good times. she died of cancer 10+ years ago and so did my aunt who lived up the street from me when i was in like 6 or 7th grade (im 29 now.)
Hello Trxth2, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
allen crown I call him "the Walter Winchell of the weird" myself, dispassionately narrating events before and after. It's his narration during the after portions that still creep me out. For us, what we've seen is a fantastic, sonetimes disturbing occurrence. But he talks about it like it's just an average day of his life.
Hell Dee, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
Yes probably the best show ever made I agree. I only grew up seeing it man ate they've done that marathon on ever since I was in second grade what channel was it on back then I was born in 1978 that's not my picture anymore
when you brought up FDR, the ironic thing is that he too also gave into fear, prejudice, and suspicion, when WWII came around and he authorized the internment of Japanese-Americans
I don't think even Serling knew the extent that corruption, apathy and mass delusion would transform consciousness. He was smart but he didn't predict 2021 because I honestly don't think he could've mentally handled it. You can comprehend prejudice and become a better person, you can't pull that off now and have a healthy soul. It's infinity worse.
So Rod Serling was a US Soldier, and a WW2 veteran who server under Gen Douglas MacArthur! And Rod was also awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star! Amazing fact to know!
Hello Halpin2006, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
Hello Dylan, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
Wow, great analysis and editing. I liked how you delved into the historical context of the Twilight Zone. makes me appreciate the series on another level. Great work! I'm loving this channel! if you're taking requests, I'd love to see your analysis of It Follows. Thanks
Hello katileka, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
Hello Stranded Stardust, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
"Today more people than ever are doing the laundry with gas." It is hard to do anything with gas. Take something for it and relax. Do the laundry when you are feeling better.
Excellent work David, very well constructed. TZ is my all time favorite series for exactly the reasons you articulated. (Incidentally, the TZ marathon started out in my local area years before SyFy and it's one of my greatest memories). Please keep up the great creativity, you definitely got a great channel idea on your hands. Peace.
The Twilight Zone episodes were all written to the same formula. The viewer is presented with a circumstance which are entirely comprehensible. The viewer is lead to draw extensive conclusions about the situation. Elements are introduced which are inconsistent and incomprehensible. At the end the view is figuratively zoomed out revealing an entirely different reality than the viewer had built up in his mind and suddenly the inconsistencies make perfect sense. The shock of realizing that all of your assumptions were wrong never loses its impact. Buck Houghton wrote many of the episodes and also wrote episodes for Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
What a great video about such a great show. Love that you looked at "Five Characters in Search of an Exit," such a bizarre and thought-provoking thing to put on television. Bravo!
Hello The RealJims, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
What other show is still talked about 2 generations after it went off the air. I'm 49 and I was born 5 years after the Twilight Zone's last season, but I have great memories of watching it in reruns with my grandmother (who would be 107 if she were still alive) Most of the people who were alive and old enough to remember seeing it in first run are dead now.
The annual Twilight Zone marathon is my New Year's ritual, has been for over a decade now. This show is so good, and with such universal messages that it's still relevant even now. The details of our reality may have changed, but the underlying anxieties and fears of humanity remain the same, just packaged differently. Imitators like Outer Limits and Black Mirror always seem to be lacking something that made the Twilight Zone so good. I'm not sure what exactly, but Rod Serling certainly brought something to the show that no one else has been able to replicate, imo at least. "Five Characters in Search of an Exit" is one I've somehow managed to never see before, and I admit when you summarized the premise my first thought was "Cube????" I wonder if it was part of the inspiration behind that movie.
It's because the Twilight Zone teaches something. It gives something you can use it your life. The Outer Limits is vapid entertainment. Black Mirror comes closer but it's pure focus on the possible dystopian repurcussions of various technologies is limiting.
Rod Serling was a genius. Virtually every Twilight Zone episode made you think much more deeply about something than ever before. It was the most creative television show in history. The introductory words and post narrative’s just classic. Netflix has the entire collection now, and so great to rewatch them all!
This narrative essay is excellent. Excellent! It doesn't leave a thing out. Particularly the comments on "Monsters on Maple Street". In my youth, I'll argue that Twilight Zone re-enforced ethics of compassion and deep reflection in my development.
This is a great take on what The Twilight Zone represents, the greatest portrayals of the best and worst of human nature and the most effective dissection of those usually most terrible character traits. The way you ended your video spotlighting the person who truly encapsulates the type of evil Rod Serling wrote about was excellent. It is the personification of all our fears come to life in one individual and would have accounted for countless of episodes for Mr. Serling. Thank you for putting together this incredibly thoughtful piece and a true tribute to the genius creator of this series. We could use someone like him right now putting episodes on TV like he did, but unfortunately there will only be one Rod Serling. We are also loyal viewers of the TZ New Year's Eve marathon and it never gets old to watch these episodes over and over again. We have the entire DVD collection of the series and many books on the subject of The Twilight Zone and your presentation here ranks at or near the top.
Sterling was so down to Earth, he vacationed in... Schenectady NY. His house was down the street from my dermatologist, and he'd be on his porch, having a beer and chain smoking as always, but approachable if you wanted a quick talk and an autograph.
A wonderful and thoughtful video tribute to an old Black and white TV show that, even today, is holding a mirror up to our faces and what we're seeing isn't pleasant. I wish I could give it ten thumbs up.
Picture if you will a university - One that starts as a commuter college in the Bay Area with a diverse student body and is considered a proud asset to the tech industry. Despite all its glamor the public university transforms into a place of fear and prejudice - a place where the school sends newsletters about ICE possibly coming to collect students and staff while disguised as police officers. It's a place where a Muslim girl has her hijab ripped off and a rise in racial slurs reports are made an election. A place where a swastika is drawn on a dormatory door to intimidate occupants. You've crossed over into... my senior year of college.
The autumn of 2016 was truly surreal: 1) Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature; 2) The Chicago Cubs broke the longest losing streak in professional sports history by winning the World Series; 3) Donald Trump was elected President; 4) My wife died from breast cancer on Dec. 3. I told numerous family and friends that I expected to see Rod Serling step out from the shadows at any moment.
Interesting lesson to learn. Certainly UA-cam should take a note from this with their current censorship policy of following of withholding ad revenue from content creators that sponsors deemed controversial.
Hello Acroth Dragon, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
Great video! I stumbled across the 2000's reboot. It prompted me to checkout the original series, and I was hooked. Since 2015 I have watched all 5 seasons on Hulu at least twice.
First off , I have to say this is one of the best videos I've watched on youtube... For the simple fact that you bring to attention one of my favorite shows .. if not , all time favorite . But most importantly one of the main reasons this show is so great .. the overall meaning and strict moral quality of each episode. The great Rod Sterling is without doubt one of the most amazing individuals in my opinion because of his creation of this show and what each episode brought into my life .no other show holds ground as the Twilight Zone does . As you point out in your video after each episode I was left contemplating something important and reflecting a situation in life based off the episodes circumstance or main issue . To this day each episode can relate and arise in us something that is very familiar in life as we know it . I love this show and consider it a part of my life for some reason lol . I would love to tell Rod Sterling how much I appreciate his works and creation and thank him for his thought-provoking masterpieces .
Boy, am I glad that my dad started the TZ New Year tradition with me when I was young. Even if I didn't understand the underlying messages as a kid, I was able to appreciate the subverted endings that most episodes have. It made me look forward to watching it again the following year, favorite episodes, such as "To Serve Man", "Time Enough At Last", "I Shot An Arrow Into The Sky", and so many more. And as marathons continued to go by, year after year, I began to appreciate the show on a deeper and deeper level. I don't wait for New Year's anymore. Twilight Zone is on Netflix, so I'll just put it on every now and then. I love it. Though I didn't really know much about the man himself before watching this video. So thanks for sharing that with us
What a thorough well thought out video, with information I’ve never even heard of and I love Rod Serling and Twilight Zone history. Thank you!!! 👏👏👏 The quote at 12:30, so relevant it gives me chills.
“If you want results you’ve never seen before, you have to do something you’ve never done before.” “Nothing worth doing is easy.” Serling embodies a lot of this. What an excellent man. I hope I get to meet him one day.
The Twilight Zone endures, IMHO, because it's, basically, a commentary on the human condition. Years ago, I happened to catch The Twilight Zone marathon - quite unexpectedly, from the beginning. I was completely struck by the relevance and timeliness of a lot of the episodes! Thank you so much For posting
I've watched this video a few times now as it keeps showing up via whatever algorithms that UA-cam uses. That's okay though! Really this is one of the best and most well-presented pieces of information I've ever seen on The Twilight Zone and Rod Serling. I also like the context it is presented in, the music, narration, and it's just plain good! I do sympathize with the gas company that was a little extra sensitive about its product as if they'd not exerted some influence, it could have made them look very IN-sensitive. I also think that Serling was able to sort of 'sneak' a lot of things in and past the censors if you follow me. Again, can't say enough about how well done this video is. You really captured the magic of the Twilight Zone and I think it was when Mr. Serling was at his very best--super job!
Nicely put together. The ending was interesting and prophetic with the orange con man! Excellent job! Rod Serling was a genius and a great story teller and was ahead of his time.
Brilliant lecture on a genius writer. My father bought our first tv set in order to watch the Twilight Zone. He'd ask, at the end of each episode, "what lesson did you learn from thhat story?" Many fascine conversations from age 7 on up.
I almost didn't want this video to be over...The Twilight Zone is by far one of my favorites...I usually watch the New Year's Eve marathon and the 4th of July Marathon...They've had many reboots of this show...I think its time for another..
Every New Years eve its the black and white Twilight zone marathon, I am there. And Rod knew good and damn well what he was doing when he brilliantly mixed social issues with science fiction, and fantasy. That was the only way he could get away with his most controversial story lines.The man is an amazing writer and genius. His memory is alive and well.
11:07 I like that they single this guy out for star gazing so often, despite there being absolutely nothing strange about that, and he could simply say “I’m studying to be an astronomer” or that he just wanted to find a constellation.
Rodman "Rod" Edward Serling, Sergeant Technician Forth Class, u.S. Army - combat veteran from World War Two lived from 25 December 1924 to 28 June 1975 at age 50 years young\old
I almost forgot; if you're looking for new material to dissect, try Black Mirror on Netflix. It's being called the Twilight Zone for the Internet Age (supposedly). Thanks.
im 18 and i don't remember when my family started watching the new years marathon, but i feel like it's a part of my childhood and the show itself has definitely shaped part of my personality
What an outstanding commentary on Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone. I have always been so fascinated with this series. I find so much of his work is used in almost every movie or TV show. Much of our culture is derived from his ideas. What would he write today? I think maybe the names would change, but the themes remain universal. Rod Serling wrote....everything. His ideas are timeless and will remain so forever. Its the human psyche he captured. All of it. Consider that, if you will.
Before Netflix and Hulu came around this was the 90s and early 2000s I used to love it when the Syfy channel would run their twilight zone Marathon I used to watch it with my mother every time it came on back in the day. But now that I have Hulu and Netflix it feels good to watch it whenever I want to
I remember as a teenager in the early 1980’s staying awake till 1 AM after the CBS Late movie ended, to watch 1 hour of TwilightZone episodes. By the mid 80’s the old series made a major comeback.appearing in prime time.
Channel 2 in Denver ran the show at 10 pm on Friday nights. I used to turn my black and white tv on low volume and watch the show trying not to get caught for staying up last bed time. Love this show!
I have been a fan of the Twilight Zone since it first aired in 59. I'm 68 now and still watch the original episodes. Rod Serling was a brilliant man who was not afraid to expose our prejudices and ignorance. R.I.P. sir.
Twilight zone made statements in a time when it was desperately needed. Its why I think they did such a good job. They werent motivated by greed or fame, they were motivated by changing minds using rod serlings jncredible writing. Not saying we dont need these lessons today, but the 50s were different
I honestly liked The Shelter more than The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street. Both show how fear and tensions turns people into mobs, but The Shelter did it without resorting to fantasy. Think of it this way, would they still think it was aliens if the kid didn't mention it?
That is an extremely difficult ending you pulled off. Well, I should say, that you pulled it off seamlessly and without venom. Well done, I hope that you persevere through the inevitable ups and downs of any pathway to success. Who knows what it will look like for you, NM, but this episode (of the 10 or so of yours I have watched) makes me believe you have the potential to create very special works. Good luck. (Star Fox mission-start narrator-voice)
Yes, Twilight is classic and Serling one of the most talented writers in television. He didn't exactly change the world but he influenced it (television) -forever.
The Twilight Zone is the best show in television history imo. SO many themes and it was well done in every aspect, I think in spite of some monetary limitations. There are a number of episodes I consider particularly poignant that I still enjoy. Btw, if anyone wants to purchase Twilight Zone DVDs I HIGHLY recommend The Definitive Edition in the black box. There are a lot extras with each season including many interviews which are very interesting.
I doubt that is true, I might be wrong, but I’ve read most of Bradbury’s work and don’t recall that title or basic scenario. Can you site your assertion?
@@donwebber7034 I was wrong. I confused it with the episode "I sing the body electric" which was a book by Bradbury that episode was based on. Thank you.
I remember watching "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" in a class in High School, one of the last few days before summer break, and it blew me away. Ever since I'd been hooked on the show!✨
My favorite is _The Obsolete Man_, with Burgess Meredith. Everyone remembers _Time Enough at Last_ the one where he's the nebbish book worm who survives a nuclear war, can finally read all the books he wants to with no interference, and then breaks his glasses. But _The Obsolete Man_ is by far the superior story, about a dystopian soceity with no tolerance for anything "obsolete", and Burgess as a librarian is right in the cross hairs, but though executed, prevails.
It's interesting to me that the most pervasive censorship in Serling's era came from commercialism. Most often the presumed "Big Bad" in anti-censorship arguments is either the government or a group of private individuals who seek to be arbiters of social morality for its own sake. Yet each of these would-be sources of censorship can be resisted or evaded in various ways by many content creators. Sponsors and content hosting platforms, whether that means a television station or an online platform like UA-cam, can pose a more immediate threat to content they consider risky. In other words: Censorship is most effective when it is enacted by the people writing the checks. Through collective effort, audiences can exert pressure on companies, but it is the company itself that actually has the power to censor creators whose work is hosted on their platform. That's where the rubber meets the road. And it's frustrating that this point rarely seems to get its due in discussions of censorship.
I was 10 years old when the Twilight Zone premiered. The impact that it had on my generation is inestimable, it wasn't just an entertaining TV show, it influenced the way we perceived society. At the time, the early to mid 1960's, many of my peers had the same experiences and as we lived through the ensuing years, those collective experiences created a desire to explore the unknown, the counterculture was a natural extension of that and the privilege of youth allowed us the freedom to seek a deeper meaning to life.
I was a little girl when I watched the Twilight Zone. It was so scary and wonderful. I remember hiding behind my dad while I watched it. Great memories!!
Clearly the creator was a genius, he posed it as simple “innocent entertainment” but I’m sure he knew EXACTLY what he was doing. There’s no way you produce such classic, thought provoking cinematic features without having thought it out. He’s an absolute legend and his work will live on well into the future.
like you could SEE his face in that interview when he was told "so you arent going to be making current commentary/anything useful, right?" he KNEW
You can definitely go into a story not expecting it to blow up. Take Stephen King as an example.
Absolute legend. Listen to his UCLA Lectures if you haven't already. Awesome loving caring man how he speaks to the students. And Anne Serling's audio book is heart warming and gorgeous how she speaks about her Dad.
The more I know about him, the more I love him ❤
Preach sister!
@@fluoroscoty for citing his daughter's book, I was just looking for an audiobook about Serling
I can't listen to Rod Serling talking in that interview without suppressing a chuckle. His voice is so distinct. SO distinct. When he's narrating, he's not trying to sound like that. THAT'S how he talks. He stresses every single third or fourth word. It's uncanny. I've never heard anybody talk like he does. No matter what he's doing, he talks like he's setting up a scenario for a plot. I mean, he was born to narrate stuff. He's a narrator even when he's not narrating. Narrate in Peace, Roddy.
Videos for people j
“Narrate in Peace”. That made my day.
Couldn't help but read that as though he were speaking it.
Is where William Shatner learned it.
@@wbetheman212 I did the same thing haha
I once binge-watched every episode of the Twilight Zone from the DVD boxed set. Most of the episodes were 30 minutes including commercials, except the commercials were not included in the DVDs. Watching the Twilighted Zones, all in succession, was an extremely valuable lesson in the economics of writing a tight 3 Act teleplay within a 25 minute timeframe. I didn't actually intend to study this when I watched the episodes. I was just having fun and revisiting those cool episodes I used to watch in high school. Somehow, however, that tightly written, 3 act story structure just sunk into me. Interestingly, the hour long (51 min without commercials, I think) episodes are not quite as tightly written and seem to contain extra filler as I recall. Still, they're similarly creative and valuable in their own right, and could serve as lessons for writing a teleplay within a standard TV hour time frame. All in all, this is a remarkable achievement and still stands the test of time.
I've always thought the series could be very instructive for aspiring actors as well. Lotta great performances. Sometimes, certain episodes will have a similar storyline, but it's interesting to note the different approaches the actors will take. For example, there is one episode where a man wakes up to find that no one - his wife, his friends, his co-workers - recognizes him, and insist there is no such person as he claims to be. A similar episode has a man exiting his office to find himself on a sound stage. He's told that he's an actor, and that the person he thinks he is, is simply a fictional character that he is portraying. In the former, this guy is pissed. He's confident he is who he is, and hellbent on proving it. The second guy is mostly just confused, and starts to doubt himself.
Hello Peter, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
@@relayjokes As a fellow TZ fan, 3 come up on my list:
1) TIME ENOUGH AT LAST
2) HE'S ALIVE
3) THE ENCOUNTER
🇵🇷🇺🇸😉
Rod Sterling had the coolest voice in the business...
His voice sounded legendary, if he didn't succeed in television he would've successfully been a great radio broadcaster...
You would be right, my friend. That’s how he got his start. He mostly wrote and directed but he did some radio acting too. He only stopped when he saw radio declining with the popularity of television.
Hello ClayDog, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
Funny enough, he did have an early connection with radio serials. One of his earliest scripts became a story for the DR. CHRISTIAN radio program. Had he been born 10 years earlier, he might have had a longer career in that medium. Of course, television beckoned...🇵🇷🇺🇸😎
He’s truly one of a kind. Rod Serling ladies and gentlemen.
Case in point, for your perusal, if you would …Mr Rod Serling…
I grew up watching reruns of Twilight Zone and I absolutely love it to this day. I did not know much about Rod Serling and all that background makes so much sense. What a brilliant way to avoid censorship. He even told them what they wanted to hear to further disarm them.
Twilight Zone still gives me chills due to how well it portrays our reality and possible realities. Even the very unrealistic episodes feel grounded somehow and I think that really adds to the creepiness.
Harry Balzak Twilight Zone will
outlast much of what's popular
today.
We read The Monsters are Due on Maple Street in 7th grade (old teacher was a huge acting buff) and after finishing reading it, we got to watch it. I think that was the first time I watched Twilight Zone, and ever since I've been such a huge fan. Glad you talked about that episode!
haha we did the same in my 7th grade class the teacher had us act out each part like a play.
Rylie Michelle wow, you have a very smart and good teacher for when u become that age you will understand the importance of them and wisdom
Same here.. sometime during middle school early '90s
Rylie Michelle same thing here in the 9th grade but watched The Hitchhiker
had a teacher in 6th grade do the same she was a complete bitch though
Reminds me of something Rod Serling said about writing - you can write a story about all of the most important social and current issues of your time, put it on a rocket ship and blast it a million light years into space and people will listen.
"To Serve Man" ….it's...it's a Cookbook!"
I remember going to going to my grandmas house running inside her house throwing my backpack on the couch then taking off my shoes, grabbing a snack and running into her room watching the Twilight Zone together we have good memories with the Twilight Zone .
Trxth2 Aaaaaw 🙂
Trxth2 - hold on to those good memories with Grandma! 😍 Timeless...
I used to go my grandmas house too when we lived across from each, she was a huge fan of clint eastwood,
everytime i was there she was recording/watching his movies and watching shows like matlock, diagnosis murders and golden girls , she would give us a tote full of different movies and shows for christmas, good times.
she died of cancer 10+ years ago and so did my aunt who lived up the street from me when i was in like 6 or 7th grade (im 29 now.)
Trxth2: Sounds like the actions of an alien parasite.
Hello Trxth2, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
Serling looks absolutely average and mundane. A perfect model for the iconic look of the concept of Americana. Of Joe average, about to make it big.
allen crown Perhaps Serling only informed that archetype?
allen crown I call him "the Walter Winchell of the weird" myself, dispassionately narrating events before and after. It's his narration during the after portions that still creep me out. For us, what we've seen is a fantastic, sonetimes disturbing occurrence. But he talks about it like it's just an average day of his life.
One could think that Serling was an inspiration for Bob of the Church of the Sub-Genius.
Yeah whatever
Except for the fact that capitalism and the need for profits absolutely butchered a number of his episodes
Twilight Zone is timeless! Life lessons throughout the series. I've revisited it again as an adult. They fit TODAY, as you! Thank you - 2018-2019
YES;VERY MUCH SO !!!
The best show that was ever made.. I still watch it aging in my 60's And I have my favorites too..
Which uno's.?.
Hell Dee, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
Yes probably the best show ever made I agree. I only grew up seeing it man ate they've done that marathon on ever since I was in second grade what channel was it on back then I was born in 1978 that's not my picture anymore
when you brought up FDR, the ironic thing is that he too also gave into fear, prejudice, and suspicion, when WWII came around and he authorized the internment of Japanese-Americans
Not only that. How in the world did he come up with the idea that it was illegal for Americans to own gold and make a law against it? Twilight zone!
I don't think even Serling knew the extent that corruption, apathy and mass delusion would transform consciousness. He was smart but he didn't predict 2021 because I honestly don't think he could've mentally handled it. You can comprehend prejudice and become a better person, you can't pull that off now and have a healthy soul. It's infinity worse.
Finally, I have plenty of time to read...*CRUNCH* My glasses! Noooooooo!!!!
I loved the Twilight Zone, as well.
It’s not fair 😭
I love that one it's was creepy cuz now what can he do he got nothing
@@George83_Thomas XD.
@@big-loss_9043 Ain't that the truth!!
The greatest TV show ever made.
So Rod Serling was a US Soldier, and a WW2 veteran who server under Gen Douglas MacArthur! And Rod was also awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star! Amazing fact to know!
Hello Halpin2006, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
@@relayjokes A Stop at Willoughby
@@relayjokes "Five Characters in Search of an Exit"
William Kozy “when the sky was opened”
@@relayjokes my favorite episode? "Death's Head Revisited"
Could listen to this dude talk about Twilight Zone for hours, years, decades even. Who knows maybe even till the end of time...
That's because.. you are....
In the Twilight Zone...
Hello Dylan, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
Just remember to take your laptop into the bank vault with you.
Wow, great analysis and editing. I liked how you delved into the historical context of the Twilight Zone. makes me appreciate the series on another level.
Great work! I'm loving this channel! if you're taking requests, I'd love to see your analysis of It Follows. Thanks
Hello katileka, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
5 characters in search of an exit - - IS AMAZING
One of my most favorite shows of all time
I've been wanting to watch the twilight zone for a while now, and this makes me want to watch it even more.
Stranded Stardust I'm 34, my folks introduced me to it when I was 10. it is easily One of the most brilliant series ever created.
@JIM DO are you sure. I recalled they were missing a couple of seasons.
Hello Stranded Stardust, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
@JIM DO all except season 4, the hour long ones
Have you watched it yet?
I've learned more from The Twilight Zone than I have in school
That end of your video is chilling.
"Five Characters in search of an Exit"
Is probably my favorite episode.
"To Serve Man"
Is another.
Own the first one, to serve man, comes in second place.
Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge .
"Today more people than ever are doing the laundry with gas."
It is hard to do anything with gas. Take something for it and relax. Do the laundry when you are feeling better.
"Honey, the laundry smells like farts"
Excellent work David, very well constructed. TZ is my all time favorite series for exactly the reasons you articulated. (Incidentally, the TZ marathon started out in my local area years before SyFy and it's one of my greatest memories). Please keep up the great creativity, you definitely got a great channel idea on your hands. Peace.
Thank you! That's very nice of you to say. I'm glad you liked it.
blinkereye123 Don't have to wait for New Year's day to watch a TZ marathon. I can watch them all on Netflix.
Lure people in with something relevant to their lives then pull the rug out from underneath them.
The Twilight Zone episodes were all written to the same formula. The viewer is presented with a circumstance which are entirely comprehensible. The viewer is lead to draw extensive conclusions about the situation. Elements are introduced which are inconsistent and incomprehensible. At the end the view is figuratively zoomed out revealing an entirely different reality than the viewer had built up in his mind and suddenly the inconsistencies make perfect sense. The shock of realizing that all of your assumptions were wrong never loses its impact.
Buck Houghton wrote many of the episodes and also wrote episodes for Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
What a great video about such a great show. Love that you looked at "Five Characters in Search of an Exit," such a bizarre and thought-provoking thing to put on television. Bravo!
Hello The RealJims, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
I was there. Sweet voice of reason held a glimmer of light in a very dark time. Thank you, it's even more welcome today.
What other show is still talked about 2 generations after it went off the air. I'm 49 and I was born 5 years after the Twilight Zone's last season, but I have great memories of watching it in reruns with my grandmother (who would be 107 if she were still alive)
Most of the people who were alive and old enough to remember seeing it in first run are dead now.
No, we're not.
The annual Twilight Zone marathon is my New Year's ritual, has been for over a decade now. This show is so good, and with such universal messages that it's still relevant even now. The details of our reality may have changed, but the underlying anxieties and fears of humanity remain the same, just packaged differently. Imitators like Outer Limits and Black Mirror always seem to be lacking something that made the Twilight Zone so good. I'm not sure what exactly, but Rod Serling certainly brought something to the show that no one else has been able to replicate, imo at least.
"Five Characters in Search of an Exit" is one I've somehow managed to never see before, and I admit when you summarized the premise my first thought was "Cube????" I wonder if it was part of the inspiration behind that movie.
It's because the Twilight Zone teaches something. It gives something you can use it your life. The Outer Limits is vapid entertainment. Black Mirror comes closer but it's pure focus on the possible dystopian repurcussions of various technologies is limiting.
Your piece on and for Rod Serling is absolutely awesome, Thank You , Sir
Rod Serling was a genius. Virtually every Twilight Zone episode made you think much more deeply about something than ever before. It was the most creative television show in history. The introductory words and post narrative’s just classic. Netflix has the entire collection now, and so great to rewatch them all!
This narrative essay is excellent. Excellent! It doesn't leave a thing out. Particularly the comments on "Monsters on Maple Street".
In my youth, I'll argue that Twilight Zone re-enforced ethics of compassion and deep reflection in my development.
The marathon also comes on during 4th of July week.
I never miss either.
This is a great take on what The Twilight Zone represents, the greatest portrayals of the best and worst of human nature and the most effective dissection of those usually most terrible character traits. The way you ended your video spotlighting the person who truly encapsulates the type of evil Rod Serling wrote about was excellent. It is the personification of all our fears come to life in one individual and would have accounted for countless of episodes for Mr. Serling. Thank you for putting together this incredibly thoughtful piece and a true tribute to the genius creator of this series. We could use someone like him right now putting episodes on TV like he did, but unfortunately there will only be one Rod Serling. We are also loyal viewers of the TZ New Year's Eve marathon and it never gets old to watch these episodes over and over again. We have the entire DVD collection of the series and many books on the subject of The Twilight Zone and your presentation here ranks at or near the top.
Sterling was so down to Earth, he vacationed in... Schenectady NY. His house was down the street from my dermatologist, and he'd be on his porch, having a beer and chain smoking as always, but approachable if you wanted a quick talk and an autograph.
Absolutely this show is perfect for 2021. Human nature hasn't changed.
A wonderful and thoughtful video tribute to an old Black and white TV show that, even today, is holding a mirror up to our faces and what we're seeing isn't pleasant.
I wish I could give it ten thumbs up.
I'm glad I stumbled on this particular video. I don't like horror but I love the Twilight Zone. Great job on content, presentation and production.
Nice tribute to Mr. Serling. He would have loved this. Cheers.
Thank you for putting this up. Excellent presentation plus listening to Rod Serling, adds insight for me for the man and the series.
Greatest. Show. Ever.
Lmaooo we're living in The Twilight Zone
I can't thank you enough for your content. Please keep up the great work.
Picture if you will a university - One that starts as a commuter college in the Bay Area with a diverse student body and is considered a proud asset to the tech industry. Despite all its glamor the public university transforms into a place of fear and prejudice - a place where the school sends newsletters about ICE possibly coming to collect students and staff while disguised as police officers. It's a place where a Muslim girl has her hijab ripped off and a rise in racial slurs reports are made an election. A place where a swastika is drawn on a dormatory door to intimidate occupants.
You've crossed over into... my senior year of college.
At 4:53 ... Mr William Shatner!!
I wish I could dispute this, but you’re not wrong
The autumn of 2016 was truly surreal:
1) Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature;
2) The Chicago Cubs broke the longest losing streak in professional sports history by winning the World Series;
3) Donald Trump was elected President;
4) My wife died from breast cancer on Dec. 3.
I told numerous family and friends that I expected to see Rod Serling step out from the shadows at any moment.
Interesting lesson to learn. Certainly UA-cam should take a note from this with their current censorship policy of following of withholding ad revenue from content creators that sponsors deemed controversial.
Hello Acroth Dragon, May I ask what your favorite episode of the original Twilight Zone series is? I'm collecting votes for a survey in a quest to have the definitive results. Over 3,500 responses so far. Thank you so much!, Bill
Meanwhile they have no problem with hateful ads
Great video! I stumbled across the 2000's reboot. It prompted me to checkout the original series, and I was hooked. Since 2015 I have watched all 5 seasons on Hulu at least twice.
First off , I have to say this is one of the best videos I've watched on youtube... For the simple fact that you bring to attention one of my favorite shows .. if not , all time favorite . But most importantly one of the main reasons this show is so great .. the overall meaning and strict moral quality of each episode. The great Rod Sterling is without doubt one of the most amazing individuals in my opinion because of his creation of this show and what each episode brought into my life .no other show holds ground as the Twilight Zone does . As you point out in your video after each episode I was left contemplating something important and reflecting a situation in life based off the episodes circumstance or main issue . To this day each episode can relate and arise in us something that is very familiar in life as we know it . I love this show and consider it a part of my life for some reason lol . I would love to tell Rod Sterling how much I appreciate his works and creation and thank him for his thought-provoking masterpieces .
Serling knew exactly what he was doing in that Wallace interview. Simply his version of the Trojan Horse.
This was absolutely wonderful. I just subscribed to your channel. Excellent.
Used to watch Twilight Zone all the time, was fascinated by it.
Boy, am I glad that my dad started the TZ New Year tradition with me when I was young. Even if I didn't understand the underlying messages as a kid, I was able to appreciate the subverted endings that most episodes have. It made me look forward to watching it again the following year, favorite episodes, such as "To Serve Man", "Time Enough At Last", "I Shot An Arrow Into The Sky", and so many more. And as marathons continued to go by, year after year, I began to appreciate the show on a deeper and deeper level. I don't wait for New Year's anymore. Twilight Zone is on Netflix, so I'll just put it on every now and then. I love it.
Though I didn't really know much about the man himself before watching this video. So thanks for sharing that with us
What a thorough well thought out video, with information I’ve never even heard of and I love Rod Serling and Twilight Zone history. Thank you!!! 👏👏👏
The quote at 12:30, so relevant it gives me chills.
great find! love to see another super fan, great vid and analysis. I love how well your ending aged also. chef's kiss
“If you want results you’ve never seen before, you have to do something you’ve never done before.”
“Nothing worth doing is easy.”
Serling embodies a lot of this. What an excellent man. I hope I get to meet him one day.
Idk some worthwhile things were fairly easy. Then again I suppose who you ask will change what “worthwhile” means
The Twilight Zone endures, IMHO, because it's, basically, a commentary on the human condition.
Years ago, I happened to catch The Twilight Zone marathon - quite unexpectedly, from the beginning.
I was completely struck by the relevance and timeliness of a lot of the episodes!
Thank you so much For posting
I've watched this video a few times now as it keeps showing up via whatever algorithms that UA-cam uses. That's okay though! Really this is one of the best and most well-presented pieces of information I've ever seen on The Twilight Zone and Rod Serling. I also like the context it is presented in, the music, narration, and it's just plain good! I do sympathize with the gas company that was a little extra sensitive about its product as if they'd not exerted some influence, it could have made them look very IN-sensitive. I also think that Serling was able to sort of 'sneak' a lot of things in and past the censors if you follow me. Again, can't say enough about how well done this video is. You really captured the magic of the Twilight Zone and I think it was when Mr. Serling was at his very best--super job!
Nicely put together. The ending was interesting and prophetic with the orange con man! Excellent job! Rod Serling was a genius and a great story teller and was ahead of his time.
Good job! A helpful introduction to TZ for a noob, a fun review for us hardcore fans.
Serling should have been "at least considered" for the Literature Nobel Prize. If Bob Dylan got one...
Brilliant lecture on a genius writer. My father bought our first tv set in order to watch the Twilight Zone. He'd ask, at the end of each episode, "what lesson did you learn from thhat story?" Many fascine conversations from age 7 on up.
Please never stop making awesome videos
I almost didn't want this video to be over...The Twilight Zone is by far one of my favorites...I usually watch the New Year's Eve marathon and the 4th of July Marathon...They've had many reboots of this show...I think its time for another..
Every New Years eve its the black and white Twilight zone marathon, I am there. And Rod knew good and damn well what he was doing when he brilliantly mixed social issues with science fiction, and fantasy. That was the only way he could get away with his most controversial story lines.The man is an amazing writer and genius. His memory is alive and well.
Outstanding video... It inspired me to watch this classic series.
11:07 I like that they single this guy out for star gazing so often, despite there being absolutely nothing strange about that, and he could simply say “I’m studying to be an astronomer” or that he just wanted to find a constellation.
Rodman "Rod" Edward Serling, Sergeant Technician Forth Class, u.S. Army - combat veteran from World War Two lived from 25 December 1924 to 28 June 1975 at age 50 years young\old
Even though I can watch these episodes on Netflix, I still like to tune in to the sci-fi channel on New Year's eve.
I almost forgot; if you're looking for new material to dissect, try Black Mirror on Netflix. It's being called the Twilight Zone for the Internet Age (supposedly). Thanks.
blinkereye123 I second this.
_'Black Mirror'_ is an excellent show but, nothing beats "The Zone"...
I would imagine that Black Mirror is an awful lot like what The Twilight Zone would be like if it were created today instead of half a century ago.
I watched a couple of episodes of The Black Mirror; but I thought both shows had a lot of totally needless swearing.
blinkereye123 oh hell yea
Amazing work. Rod Serling's writing gives me chills. Thank you.
im 18 and i don't remember when my family started watching the new years marathon, but i feel like it's a part of my childhood and the show itself has definitely shaped part of my personality
Sterling's voice is so unique, like Vincent Price's. They both were wonderful for anything that is to be scary and thought provoking.
What an outstanding commentary on Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone. I have always been so fascinated with this series. I find so much of his work is used in almost every movie or TV show. Much of our culture is derived from his ideas. What would he write today? I think maybe the names would change, but the themes remain universal. Rod Serling wrote....everything. His ideas are timeless and will remain so forever. Its the human psyche he captured. All of it. Consider that, if you will.
Before Netflix and Hulu came around this was the 90s and early 2000s I used to love it when the Syfy channel would run their twilight zone Marathon I used to watch it with my mother every time it came on back in the day. But now that I have Hulu and Netflix it feels good to watch it whenever I want to
Great! Keep it up. I really like your Chanel.
Thank you! That's nice to hear.
I remember as a teenager in the early 1980’s staying awake till 1 AM after the CBS Late movie ended, to watch 1 hour of TwilightZone episodes. By the mid 80’s the old series made a major comeback.appearing in prime time.
2:32 Rod Sterling
3:40 Patterns
4:23 Sponsors acted as censors
6:01 Natural Gas
7:15 Pulp Fiction -> Screen
8:12 Adult, High Quality, Fantasy/Sci-Fi
9:53 Veiled Social Commentary
- Suspicion -> Violence
13:28 H.G. Wells
15:32 Fear 😰
16:50 5 Characters 19:05 Toys
Excellent analysis of TZ chapters...Thank you!!!
This vid was amazing. Great work!
Channel 2 in Denver ran the show at 10 pm on Friday nights. I used to turn my black and white tv on low volume and watch the show trying not to get caught for staying up last bed time. Love this show!
I have been a fan of the Twilight Zone since it first aired in 59. I'm 68 now and still watch the original episodes. Rod Serling was a brilliant man who was not afraid to expose our prejudices and ignorance. R.I.P. sir.
It's Currently September 2020,
And the world has taken "One Step Beyond" "The Veil" & into "The Outer Limits" of "The Twilight Zone".
As I watch this in Jan 2019, I realize Sterling's birthday was Dec 25, 1924. This video was published on Dec 24th. Good timing!
Twilight zone made statements in a time when it was desperately needed. Its why I think they did such a good job. They werent motivated by greed or fame, they were motivated by changing minds using rod serlings jncredible writing. Not saying we dont need these lessons today, but the 50s were different
I honestly liked The Shelter more than The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street. Both show how fear and tensions turns people into mobs, but The Shelter did it without resorting to fantasy. Think of it this way, would they still think it was aliens if the kid didn't mention it?
That is an extremely difficult ending you pulled off. Well, I should say, that you pulled it off seamlessly and without venom. Well done, I hope that you persevere through the inevitable ups and downs of any pathway to success. Who knows what it will look like for you, NM, but this episode (of the 10 or so of yours I have watched) makes me believe you have the potential to create very special works.
Good luck. (Star Fox mission-start narrator-voice)
Hey, thanks! That means a lot.
Yes, Twilight is classic and Serling one of the most talented writers in television. He didn't exactly change the world but he influenced it (television) -forever.
The Twilight Zone is the best show in television history imo. SO many themes and it was well done in every aspect, I think in spite of some monetary limitations. There are a number of episodes I consider particularly poignant that I still enjoy.
Btw, if anyone wants to purchase Twilight Zone DVDs I HIGHLY recommend The Definitive Edition in the black box. There are a lot extras with each season including many interviews which are very interesting.
Hello Colin Curtis,
"Monsters are due on Maple street" was originally a short story by the great Ray Bradbury.
Oh neat, that actually makes a lot of sense.
I doubt that is true, I might be wrong, but I’ve read most of Bradbury’s work and don’t recall that title or basic scenario. Can you site your assertion?
@@donwebber7034 I was wrong. I confused it with the episode "I sing the body electric" which was a book by Bradbury that episode was based on. Thank you.
Thank you sir.
I love this video so much. Thank you for saying everything I have thought while watching this BRILLIANT SHOW!
I remember watching "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" in a class in High School, one of the last few days before summer break, and it blew me away. Ever since I'd been hooked on the show!✨
Sterling would have absolutely detested current day media and cancel culture.
My favorite is _The Obsolete Man_, with Burgess Meredith. Everyone remembers _Time Enough at Last_ the one where he's the nebbish book worm who survives a nuclear war, can finally read all the books he wants to with no interference, and then breaks his glasses. But _The Obsolete Man_ is by far the superior story, about a dystopian soceity with no tolerance for anything "obsolete", and Burgess as a librarian is right in the cross hairs, but though executed, prevails.
Genius! Love that ending!👏👏👏👏
Specially after what this country has been through in the last 4 years.
It's interesting to me that the most pervasive censorship in Serling's era came from commercialism. Most often the presumed "Big Bad" in anti-censorship arguments is either the government or a group of private individuals who seek to be arbiters of social morality for its own sake. Yet each of these would-be sources of censorship can be resisted or evaded in various ways by many content creators. Sponsors and content hosting platforms, whether that means a television station or an online platform like UA-cam, can pose a more immediate threat to content they consider risky.
In other words: Censorship is most effective when it is enacted by the people writing the checks. Through collective effort, audiences can exert pressure on companies, but it is the company itself that actually has the power to censor creators whose work is hosted on their platform. That's where the rubber meets the road. And it's frustrating that this point rarely seems to get its due in discussions of censorship.
"Hell is other people" --Jean-Paul Sartre (from No Exit)
I was 10 years old when the Twilight Zone premiered. The impact that it had on my generation is inestimable, it wasn't just an entertaining TV show, it influenced the way we perceived society. At the time, the early to mid 1960's, many of my peers had the same experiences and as we lived through the ensuing years, those collective experiences created a desire to explore the unknown, the counterculture was a natural extension of that and the privilege of youth allowed us the freedom to seek a deeper meaning to life.
Man you do a really good job telling this story
I was a little girl when I watched the Twilight Zone. It was so scary and wonderful. I remember hiding behind my dad while I watched it. Great memories!!
Interestingly enough, I began to binge the 80's revival after the election. What would Rod Serling say indeed?
GREAT JOB! MY BIG THREE ARE TZ HONEYMOONERS AND ODD COUPLE AWESOME COMMENTARY AND OBSERVATIONS