Hey, y'all. Welcome to the 2nd episode of Gen X Go and Give It To You. I created this show for us and Gen X lovers. We're gonna have a good old time reminiscing about life growing up during our era. The music, the movies, TV show fads, a bunch of other stuff.
Last week, I talked about the Jackson 5 having me bopping in my mother's belly. It wouldn't make sense to tell you who I've become without telling you how I got here. I'm a believer of mind, body, and spirit. The Jackson 5 had my body and I blame it on the boogie. This week, I'm a introduce you to the man who keeps my mind engaged to this day.
That would be the one and only Rod Sterling, who is the creator of Twilight Zone. I've always been a think outside the box type of person. Twilight Zone gets a lot of credit for that. And not just me, it opened the psyche and imagination to a legion of fans. Thought provoking, innovative, surreal, sometimes ironic, I couldn't get enough.
I would usually catch it late at night. The station would air 1 or 2 episodes, and as Smokey from Friday would say, that ain't enough. Anyway, let's get into episode 2 because this Gen X gonna give it to you. Rodman Edward Sterling was born December 25, 1924 in Syracuse, New York. His mother Esther was a homemaker and his father Sam a grocer.
He also has an older brother, Robert. When Rod was 2, the family moved to Binghamton, New York. Serling was fascinated with radio and writing since a very young age. So much so that his father built a stage in the basement for Rod to perform plays, sometimes with kids in the neighborhood, sometimes alone. He would spend hours acting out dialogue for magazines or movies he'd watch.
In grade school, Rod was seen as the class clown and never taken seriously as a student until in 7th grade, his English teacher, Helen Foley, encouraged him to take extracurricular activities. He soon joined the debate team. In his free time, he became a big fan of reading thrillers, fantasy, and horror. He credits Arch Oberler and Norman Corwin being his influences. Becoming editor of high school newspaper, he encouraged students to support the war effort.
Being Jewish, Rod was eager to join the war effort to fight Hitler. He almost quit school, but his civics teacher talked him into waiting until after graduation. Rod enlisted in the army the day after graduation following his brother Robert. Serling's military career began in 1943. Over the next year, he trained as a paratrooper.
To vet built up aggression, he and other soldiers took up boxing. He competed as a flyweight fighter weighing between £108 and 112 pounds. He made it to the 2nd round of the division finals before eventually being knocked out. His boxing career ended after trying out Golden Gloves with no success. During his time in the military, Rod's division saw their first combat in the Philippines.
It's been said that Rod must have pissed off someone along the way because he was transferred to the demolition squad, nicknamed the death squad, for its high fatality rate. 1 of his sergeants, Frank Lewis, stated, he didn't have the wit or the aggressiveness required for combat. The sergeant mentioned a time when they were in a firefight and realized Rod didn't load his weapon. Rod was also known to go off and explore, sometimes getting lost. Many of his surreal experiences while in the military shaped his story ideas, as well as social and political views.
Though he'd seen death every day, nothing could prepare him for the day he and fellow soldiers were watching private Melvin Levy deliver a comedic monologue for the platoon as they rested under a palm tree When a food crate was dropped from a plane above the capitating levy, shelling returned home from that mission wounded. One injury being in the kneecap. His short story, 1st squad, 1st platoon is a homage to private Levy. The following year on February 3, 1945, his platoon went back into combat, marching into Manila. Rod's unit battled block for block for control.
When sections were taken from the Japanese, the locals would sometimes host parties as appreciation. He was at one of these parties that they were attacked. During the chaos, Rod ran into the line of fire to save a performer who had been on stage when the gunfire began. Sergeant Lewis would take notice and later would recommend him for the bronze star for his bravery. Private Sterling would also be awarded the purple heart and the Philippine liberation medal.
Rod Sterling was discharged from the army in 1946 with physical, emotional, and psychological wounds. His knee would bother him for the rest of his life. And psychological wounds. His knee would bother him for the rest of his life. His wife, Carol, would later say she would hear him trip up the stairs.
When he was healthy enough, he used his GI and disability benefits to enroll at Antioch College. Though he enrolled in physical education, his interest led him to the theater department as well as the broadcasting department. He changed his major to literature. Then he immersed himself in the radio station where he wrote, acted, and directed in many of the productions on campus and throughout the state. This is how he met his future wife Carol.
They would later have 2 daughters, Jody and Anne. When asked, Jody remembers him screaming from Tara in the middle of the night and when she asked her father about it, he would say that he dreamed the Japanese were coming. While still in college, Rod would work part time testing parachutes for the air force. He would be paid as little as $50 and as much as $500 for each successful jump. Rod was a true hustler.
He never stopped working, taking odd jobs at radio stations in New York and Ohio. He got his break when he won a trip to New York City and $500 for his radio script to live a dream submitted to the radio show doctor Christian. After he would attempt to earn a living by selling freelance scripts of radio shows. It wasn't a good time, unfortunately. The industry was going through a lot of lawsuits and no one wanted to take chances on new talent.
People were suing for stolen work left and right. He continued to submit scripts often being rejected. Rod would go on to say that he received 40 rejections. In 1950, Serling hired an agent by the name of Blanche Gaines. His radio scripts were still often rejected, so he would rewrite them for TV submitting them to different stations.
Eventually, his script started to sell. It was in 1955 that things would take a complete turn. He wrote a script for Kraft Television Theatre called Patterned, which was a live broadcast show. It was a huge success with New York Times critic, Jack Gould, saying, mister Serling's work is a creative triumph. His phone never stopped ringing after that.
He was offered permanent jobs, requests for plays, novels, radio and TV scripts. Requiem for a heavyweight written for Playhouse 90 in 1956 was another hit. By 1957, times were changing. Shows that normally aired live in New York were now being taped in California, so Rod and his family moved to the West Coast. As he continued to write scripts like Noon on Dooms Day or A Town Has Turned to Dusk or judgment at Nuremberg, which focused on social issues and injustice.
He started getting pushback from corporate sponsors. When he mentioned in a radio interview that teleplay Noon on doomsday, a story about a Jewish pawnbroker, which was inspired by the events that led to the murder of Emmett Till, advertisers and network demanded significant changes. The location changed from being set in the south to it being set in New England, and refocus the victim being an unknown foreigner. For judgment at Newnenberg, a film aimed at shedding light on Nazi war crimes, corporate censorship stepped in again. Because the film details the atrocities inflicted on Jewish people who were put in gas chambers, the company feared viewers would leave with a negative depiction of use of natural gas in homes.
For A Town Turned to Dust, which was also about Emmett Till's murder, Serling had to switch the time frame from present day to late 19th century. Originally set in the southeast was switched to the southwest. The victim now Mexican instead of African American. One other change was what became of the sheriff at the end. Prudential Insurance Company, the sponsor, didn't approve and demanded it be changed.
Serling was over the politics. He knew he'd have to figure out a way to get his social commentary out to the audience while not ruffling the feathers of sponsors and executives. That's when he came up with the idea to mask his intent in the form of monsters and aliens and stuff not plausible while instilling a moral compass. 1958, he wrote a teleplay called The Time Element. He'd hoped it would become a pilot for a weekly anthology series.
It would become known as Serling's first venture in sci fi realm, but not the last. The time element would be purchased by CBS, but it would be shelved indefinitely. Then one day, an up and coming producer, Bert Granite, was looking through the studio vault and found the script. He knew Sirlings story would be a hit on a show he was producing for Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse. In November 1958, Desi Arnaz introduced the time element to a live studio audience.
It was an instant hit. Critic Jack Gould again praised Sterling by writing, the humor and sincerity of mister Sterling's dialogue made the time element consistently entertaining. Bert Granite received over 6,000 letters wanting more stories. CBS approached Rod with an interest in producing The Twilight Zone. Out of a 156 episodes, Rod would executive produce 36 of them under his production company, Cayuga productions.
The production company would produce the entire run of the twilight zone. Bernard Herrmann composed the twilight zone theme for season 1, and merits constant for the remaining seasons. On October 2, 1959, the pilot episode, where is everybody premiered. Though it wasn't a ratings hit, where is everybody did impress critics at New York Times who said, Serling proved that science cannot foretell what may be the effect of total isolation on a human being. Though the episode resolution seemed trite and anticlimactic, in the desultory field of filmed half hour drama, however, mister Sterling should not have much trouble making his mark.
At least his series promises to be different. TV guide wrote, it is a pleasure to report that the Twilight Zone, a Rod Serling enterprise filmed in Hollywood and broadcast Friday nights by CBS is the most refreshing new anthology series in some time. It has imagination, highly competent production, and excellent acting. There isn't much meat in it, but for Mulligan Stew, it is a tasty dish indeed. Writer Charles Beaumont, who would later go on to write 22 Twilight Zone episodes, said in the magazine of fantasy and science fiction, old stuff?
Of course. I thought so at the time, but there is one element in the story which kept me from customary bitterness. The element was quality. Quality shown on every page. During its run, the Twilight Zone would go on to help launch and further establish the careers of many actors such as Burt Reynolds in season 4 episode 18, the bard.
Robert Redford in season 3 episode 16, nothing in the dark, Roddy McDowall in season 1 episode 25, people are alike all over, Cloris Leachman in season 3 episode 8, it's a good life, which happens to be my ultimate favorite. And let me be clear. I have a bunch of favorites and always hesitate when people ask what is your favorite this or that. But this particular time, I can wholeheartedly say that it's a good life is my favorite. Ron Howard in season 1 episode 5 walking distance.
This was even before the Andy Griffith show. This one blew my mind because I ain't know. Anne Gillian in season 4 episode 5 mute. I wonder how she's doing. I'm a have to do an episode on her.
Carol Burnett, before she became one of my favorite queens of comedy, Carol Burnett appeared in season 3 episode 36. Cavender is coming. Bertus Meredith, my man, starred in 4 twilight zone episodes. In season 1 episode 8 with the fan favorite time enough at last, mister Dingle the strong season 2 episode 19, the obsolete man season 2 episode 29, and printer's devil season 4 episode 9. George Takei in season 5 episode the encounter.
Dean Stockwell appeared in season 3 episode 15, quality of mercy. Jack Clemons starred in 4 episodes. In season 1 episode 32, passage for trumpet. Season 3 episode 5, a game of pool. Season 4 episode 6, death ship, and season 5 episode 1, in praise of Pip.
Peter Falk, who by the way played my favorite detective lieutenant Columbo on TV appeared in season 3 episode 6, the mirror, Martin Landau in season 1 episode 3, mister Denton on doomsday, and season 5 episode 29, the jeopardy room. Julie Newmar in season 4 episode 14. Of late, I think of Cliffordville. Our favorite vigilante, Charles Bronson in season 3 episode 1 called 2. Elizabeth Montgomery in season 3 also starred in episode 1 called 2.
For the intro to the Twilight Zone, Rod would narrate over the musical opening. It would be the season 2 intro that we all recognized and grew to love. Throughout the seasons, there have been slight variations to Rod's intro. For season 1, there is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity.
It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition. And it lies between the pit of man's fears in the summit of knowledge. This is the imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone. Season 1 also had an alternate version.
You're about to enter another dimension, not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination. Next stop, the Twilight Zone. For season for season 2, you're traveling through another dimension. A dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind.
A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of the imagination. That's the signpost ahead. Your next stop, the twilight zone. For season 3, you're traveling through another dimension. A dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind.
A journey into wondrous land of imagination. Next stop, the twilight zone. Season 4 and 5 had the same intro. You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension, a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind.
You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've crossed over into the Twilight zone. The Twilight zone would last 5 seasons with Rod writing or adapting 92 of the 156 episodes. Though it will end after 5 seasons, the Twilight zone would be canceled briefly in its 4th season. The story goes that they were unable to find a sponsor for the show, so it was taken off the fall lineup by TV and film executive, James t Aubrey.
He wasn't a fan of the show, so it was a perfect opportunity to replace it with a comedy series called fair exchange. However, the ratings weren't good enough to remain on air. So Serling was offered his time slot back with a significant change. Instead of the normal half hour, it would now be an hour, which is sus to me. Was someone behind the scenes working to sabotage the show?
Rod and Aubrey were constantly beefing, so it makes sense. How could he and other execs not see the creative genius? It was a different time with progressive thoughts being controlled at every turn. Rod expressed being exhausted. He had been writing nonstop.
He went on to say he'd been writing so much, he felt he had begun to lose perspective on what was good and what was bad. For the final season, the twilight zone did go back to the half hour segments. Because of huge budget cuts, declining ratings, and haterade, The Twilight Zone was canceled, airing it's the last episode, Bewitching Pool, on June 19, 1964. While researching for this episode, I discovered many little known facts. One, writer Richard Matheson wrote 16 of the Twilight Zone episodes, including the very popular Nightmare at 20,000 Feet starring William Shatner.
He would later admit he wasn't a fan of the monster on the wing. He said it looked like a panda bear. His name may sound familiar. He's also written Stir of Echoes, What Dreams May Come, I Am Legend, and Big Time Return, which was made into a 1980 film, Somewhere in Time, starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. 2, season 1 episode 27, The Big Tall Wish, was the first TV episode to feature a predominantly black cast.
3, writer Charles Beaumont would die early in his career at age 38, never officially being diagnosed. Some theorized spinal meningitis, Alzheimer's, or Bromo Seltzer poisoning. Bromo Seltzer was an antacid to relieve pain occurring together with heartburn, upset stomach, or acid indigestion. It originally contained sodium bromide and acetinolide, which is toxic. It is said he looked 95 years old.
His death is similar to the fate of one of the characters in season 1 episode 24 that he wrote titled long live Walter Jameson. 4. In season 2, episode 25, The Silence, actor Franchot Tone didn't show up to set one day. The studio would learn that he was in an accident, where half his face was scraped completely raw. There's a couple of versions of what happened.
Some say he was in a fight over a woman. Some say he fell. Because much of the filming of key scenes had been shot, Tone couldn't be replaced. Rod being Rod said, so be it. Come on in, Fransch, and we'll shoot the other side of your face, which we did.
So when you watch the silence, keep in mind the scenes in the basement are filmed with only Tone's profile intentionally, which adds to the mind fuck in this story. It is also one of the few episodes that has no fantasy or sci fi elements. 5, many of the props and wardrobe were used from Forbidden Planet to help with the budget. The flying saucer in season 3, episode 24 to serve man and season 4, episode 6, death show. Wardrobe was used in season 1, episode 22, the monsters are due on Maple Street.
Robbie the robot from forbidden planet appeared in season 5 episode 8, uncle Simon. And again, season 5 episode 33, the brain center at Whipples, with subtle changes to Robbie's face. 6, CBS wanted Orson Welles to narrate The Twilight Zone. Rob wasn't feeling it though. He actually wanted actor Richard Egan as narrator because of his rich deep voice.
Charlene said, it's Richard Egan or no one. It's Richard Egan or I'll do it myself. Because of contractual obligations, Egan was unable to. And lucky for us, Alson Welles was asking for too much money. 7.
In 1969, Serling wrote a TV show called The New People. It was about a group of people whose plane crashes on a mysterious island. Though it didn't last long, it definitely made an impression on JJ Abrams, creator, director, writer, executive producer of Lost, who's mentioned many times as being a fan. 8, Netflix's show, the uglies is inspired by season 2 episode 6, eye of the beholder. 9, there's an urban legend that one of Rod's daughters was murdered in a home in Hollywood.
Anne and Jodie are alive and well. 10, Rod appeared in TV commercials for companies like Genesee Deer, Famous Rider School, a floor wax commercial, along with many others as well as voice over work. The Twilight Zone spawned 3 reboots and a movie. We'll talk about the movie later on in this episode. The first reboot was in 1985, but lasted 3 seasons.
With 65 episodes hosted by Charles Aidman followed by Robin Ward for 1 season. The intro was performed by the Grateful Dead. The second reboot was in 2002. It lasted 1 season with 43 episodes hosted by Forest Whitaker. The intro was composed by Mark Snow.
Name may sound familiar because he's also composed music for Starsky and Hutch, Heart to Heart, TJ Hooker, Cagney and Lacey, The Love Boat, Pee wee's Playhouse, The X Files, and 100 more. The 3rd reboot was in 2019. He lasted 2 seasons with 20 episodes hosted by Jordan Peele. The original theme music was composed by Mary is Constant with Brandon Roberts and Marco Beltrami contributing to the revised music score. You may also recognize Marco Beltrami's name for his work on screen, The Faculty, Joyride, Resident Evil, Blade 2, I, Robot, Logan, A Quiet Place, and over a 100 more.
The Twilight Zone would not be the last we would see of Rod Serling on television. After its cancellation in 1964, Rod created a western series which aired in September 1965 called The Loner. I was today's old when I found that out y'all. It starred Lloyd Bridges, a union cavalry captain in search of a new life after the civil war. Sullen stated that he wanted a mature adult western, different from the westerns on TV at the time.
Each episode finds the main character, William Colton, who meets up with various people and situation. It had guest stars such as James Whitmore, Bruce Dern, Leslie Nielsen, his kids Cindy and Beau Bridges, and the unforgettable Birches Meredith, who I will be dedicating an episode to in the future. Unfortunately, the loner may have been too realistic for some because it only lasted one season with 26 episodes being canceled March 12, 1966. However, have no fear, Rod Serling would make a comeback November 1969 with the made for TV movie Night Gallery. It consisted of 3 stories written by Rod.
The movie slash pilot episode featured a star studded cast including Tom Bosley, Larry Hagman, Roddy McDowell, Joan Crawford in one of her final performances, and the Ozzie Davis. It was then picked up and added as an anthology series on NBC December 16, 1970. Similar to The Twilight Zone, Rod again introduced each segment. This time in an art gallery where he would unveil macabre portraits that would come to life and unfold into the evening's tale which would often lead up to a gruesome or horrific unexpected ending. Some of the stories used were from well known authors like Edgar Allan Poe and H.
B. Lovecraft. During its 3 season run, we would see familiar faces such as Patty Duke, Cesar Romero, Clint Howard, Lindsay Wagner, Sally Field, Vincent Price, Bill Bixby, Johnny Brown, Bookman from Good Times, and my man, Bertus Meredith. When I saw David Carradine calmly strumming a guitar in an episode titled the Phantom Farmhouse, I couldn't help but think of the scene in kill Bill volume 2 when he's waiting outside the church for Kiddle playing a flute right before the 2 Pines massacre. He has a certain calmness that persuades you to ignore your gut instinct.
Of course, I'll be doing an episode on kill Bill and its vast array of characters in another episode. Night Gallery also introduced us to Steven Spielberg in his directorial debut in the episode of the pilot titled Eyes. Having written 35 of the 98 episodes, Sterling again felt hindered by lack of creative control. For season 2, producer Jack Laird joined the show. Jack Laird and Rod frequently classed.
Neither liked each other's work. Laird was taking the show in a different direction. The show began using blackout comedy sketches. Laird, who wrote most of them, would still use otherworldly characters, but in comical situations, Serling couldn't understand why he would disrupt the tone of the episode by injecting comedy expecting the viewer to jump back to horror mode a minute or 2 later. Rod became disillusioned with the show, and by the end of the season, asked to have his name removed.
He offered to continue hosting, but no longer wanted his name on it. NBC knew he was the main attraction, so wouldn't comply. He was forced into season 3 with NBC asking for no more Twilight Zone esque stories. They also demanded less European adaptations and more Americanized stories. Serling is quoted as saying, I'm fucking furious.
These people are taking what could have been a good series, and they're commercializing it. They want considerable action as opposed to anything insightful, cerebral, or sensitive. NBC then moved the show from Wednesday to Sunday, as well as cutting it from an hour to half an hour. To add further insult, extraneous footage was added to the shorter segments, which made no sense. On top of that, Rod was bound by contract to do the introduction to a TV show called the 6th Sense as part of a joint syndication deal with night gallery.
Executives wanted it to seem it was part of night gallery. That's some nasty work right there. Ultimately, night gallery would be canceled after its 3rd season. I enjoyed many of the episodes. Just when you thought you had the story figured out, night gallery would step it up 2 notches.
Some episodes left me shaking my head while saying damn that was savage. If you haven't already, go check out night gallery. Keep in mind that many of the episodes were from new writers fresh on the scene trying to make their mark in the industry. Here are some facts about night gallery I'd like to share. The original pilot theme and background music was composed by Billy Goldenberg.
The theme for the first two seasons was composed by Gil Melee and is recognized for being one of the first TV openings to use electronic instruments. Season 3 theme was orchestrated by Eddie Sauter. Perhaps not as impactful as the Twilight Zone. Night gallery's legacy can be found in the Simpsons where the introduction is parodied by Bart in the 4th annual Treehouse of Power special in 1993. 1995, tiny toons parodied night gallery in an episode titled Night Ghoulery.
It would be the 1st animated series executive produced by Steven Spielberg. In 2023, Entertainment Weekly named Night Gallery number 7 on their 21 best horror anthology series ever. Twilight zone is number 4. Now let's get to twilight zone the movie, which was released June 24, 1983. It was produced by Steven Spielberg and John Landis.
Joel Dante, Joe Miller, Spielberg, and Landis would each direct the segment. Of the 4 episodes, episode 1 is a mash up of 2 of the originals titled Back There and Equality of Mercy. The remaining 3 are remakes of the originals, Kick the Can, It's a Good Life, and Nightmare at 20,000 Feet. It would be narrated by my man, Burgess Meredith, and had a star roster including John Lithgow, Scatman Crothers, Dan Aykroyd, Albert Brooks, Flynn Quillen, and Vic Morrow, who was killed along with 2 child actors, 7 year old Micah and 6 year old Renee, while filming a helicopter scene. The movie would also reunite original series cast members, Patricia Barry from season 1 episode 31, The Chaser, Peter Brocco from season 1 episode 13, The 4 of Us Are Dying, Mary Mathison from season 3 episode 14, 5 characters in search of an exit, Kevin McCarthy in season 1 episode 24, long live Walter Jameson.
William Schaller in season 1 episode 33, mister Beavis. Bill Mummy returns in a minor role in a remake of the episode that would make him a child star in season 3 episode 8, it's a good life, my fave. He also stars in season 5, episode 1 in praise of Pip and season 2, episode 22, long distance call. That's a good one too. And here's a little FYI.
Rod Serling's wife, Carol, has a cameo in Nightmare at 20,000 Feet. She's the one that asked the flight attendant, is there something wrong? She's also holding a Twilight Zone magazine. Twilight Zone the movie was made on a $10,000,000 budget, which is over $32,000,000 today. It would go on to earn $42,000,000 at the box office, which is over a 132 today.
I recently rewatched Twilight Zone the movie as I did the series. I won't say it's as good, but it was definitely fun and certainly ignited the nostalgia of my childhood. I encourage my gen x fam to reintroduce yourselves or newbies young and old to see what the hype is all about. As you've noticed, I don't go into detail on any of the episodes. One reason being, I want you to go in blind with no preconceived notions.
Most importantly, I hate spoilers, and I refuse to be one of those people. I feel like many of the episode titles do well at sparking your curiosity. Give it a go and let me know what you think. And if there's a show you'd like me to discuss from your childhood, hit me up on Facebook or Instagram. Gen x gonna give it to you.
I don't wanna leave y'all hanging with no suggestions, so here's a list of the top 25 episodes of the twilight zone according to ScreenRant. Number 25, a game of pool appears in season 3 episode 5. Number 24, and when the sky was opened season 1 episode 11. Number 23, mirror image season 1 episode 21. That's a good one.
Number 22, The Midnight Sun, season 3, episode 10. Another goodie. Number 21, Little Girl Lost, season 3, episode 26. Number 20, Nightmare as a Child, season 1, episode 29. I really like that one.
I like this one coming up too. Number 19, The After Hours, season 1, episode 34. Number 18, A Stop at Willoughby, season 1, episode 30. Number 17 is a really good one too, The hitchhiker, season 1, episode 16. Number 16, 22, season 2, episode 17.
Number 15, 5 characters in search of exit, season 3, episode 14. Number 14, the invaders, season 2 episode 15. Number 13, the shelter season 3 episode 3. That's a good one too. Number 12, deaths head revisited season 3 episode 9.
Number 11, walking distance season 1, episode 5. Number 10, will the real martian please stand up? Another one of my favorites. That's gonna be in season 2, episode 26. Excuse me.
Season 2, episode 28. Number 9, It's A Good Life. I think it should be farther up on there, but whatever. Season 3, episode 8. Number 8, The Big Tall Wish, season 1, episode 27.
Number 7, The Masks, season 5, episode 25. Number 6, Living Doll, season 5, episode 6. Number 5, Time Enough at Last, that's season 1, episode 8. Number 4, To Serve Man, season 3, episode 24. This is a really good one too.
Number 3, Eye of the Beholder, season 2, episode 6. And voted number 1 for the best Twilight Zone episode is Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, season 5, episode 3. So y'all let me know what you think, and we'll discuss it. In my research, I also found movies inspired by The Twilight Zone. The Mist, from the episode The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.
Us is a remake of Mirror Image. Blazing Saddles is a remake on Mr. Dent and on Doomsday. Poltergeist was inspired by Little Girl Lost. Child's Play was inspired by Living Doll, Talky Tina.
The movie Cube was inspired by 5 characters in search of an exit. The Box was inspired by Button Button. In the 1986 revival of The Twilight Zone, Grandma, a short story by Stephen King, was turned into a film Mercy in 2014. Now let's get into Rod later in his career. By 19 75, Rod had pretty much let go of his career in the industry.
It had taken a back seat to his teaching creative writing at Ithaca College in upstate New York that began in 1967. It made him much more happy. In his earlier years in Hollywood, he once told New York Times, there was a time when I wanted to perform television. Now I accept it for what it is. As long as I don't write beneath myself or panda my work, I'm not doing a disservice.
Serling didn't think his work would have an impact on society. Little did he know in the years to follow, there would be reboots, a movie, a bunch of podcasts paying homage. The Syfy channel constantly airs marathons, which reminds me, excuse me, sci fi. Excuse me, sci fi. But on December 6, 2018, Hollywood Reporter wrote an article that you were developing an updated take on night gallery.
I also read similar in comicbookdot com. Mike Floor Walker published an updated article February 17, 2023 for looper.com stating it was still in development. What's the hold up? Let's get this popping. In May 1975, Rod had a heart attack while on the treadmill.
He spent 2 weeks in the hospital then was sent home. 2 weeks later, he would suffer another heart attack. Doctors concluded the only choice would be to perform open heart surgery. During the procedure, he suffered another heart attack dying 2 days later on June 26th. Rod Serling was 50 years old.
His constant stress and chain smoking between 3 to 4 packs of cigarettes a day would be the blame. It should be noted that his father also died at age 52 from a heart attack. I wish Rod Serling would have been around to see the impact he has made on millions of people. And I'm certain the generations to come. Thank you, Rod Serling.
Rod Serling is the most honored writer in television history, winning 6 Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, 3 Hugo Awards, which is an annual literary award for best science fiction or fantasy work. 3 Writer Guild Awards, 2 Sylvania Awards. This award was given out by TV manufacturer Sylvania for various categories in the entertainment industry. It was seen as just as prestigious as an Emmy. The Sylvania Award was created in 1951 and ended in 1959 when Sylvania merged with general telephone to form general telephone and electronics, GTE.
Rod Sterling also won a Peabody Award, a Director's Guild Award, a Producers Guild Award, a Television Writers Award, along with a bunch of others. 1985, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. June 26, 1985 was declared Rod Serling Day in his hometown Binghamton. He received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame October 7, 1988. Writers Guild America voted the Twilight Zone the 3rd best TV show ever.
A scholarship was set up in his name to a Binghamton High School student beginning in 2016. The Bundy Museum located in Binghamton, New York has a Rod Serling archive, which includes Rod Serling exhibits where you can view rare and one of a kind pieces, images, props, personal items, and memorabilia. So when I say Rod Serling is one of the dopest to grace our TV and movie screens, I mean that shit. Did y'all know he wrote the screenplay for the planet of the apes? He probably wore being labeled angry young man of Hollywood with honor.
Anyone with emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills would be angry too. He didn't like the reflection of the world he was seeing. Coming up on the next episode of gen x, come give it to you in 2 weeks, which I'm so hype about. We reunite with someone that I've known since the 3rd grade. A name that spans far and wide across social media.
The one that you can be sure to bust out pictures from back in the day that you long forgotten, but no doubt makes you smile. She randomly posts original copies of class ceremonies and memorabilia. The woman who organized our class reunion, which I regrettably missed, yes. The Cynthia Fuentes joins us as my first guest. I'm so happy and proud of what she's become, but I'll let her tell y'all for herself.
Be sure to tell everyone to subscribe. Let the block party begin because these gen x's are gonna give it to you.