The Signpost Up Ahead

This episode we hit the road and go cross-country across Orange County, maybe Ventura County if we drive in shifts. It’s one of the all-timers of the entire series and we’re here for the hilly, flat land. Hallooooooo!Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod Serling, based on the radio play by Lucille FletcherProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: Alvin GanzerNan Adams: Inger StevensHitch-Hiker: Leonard StrongSailor: Adam WilliamsMechanic: Lew GalloHighway Flag Man: Dwight TownsendCounterman: Russ BenderWaitress: Mitzi McCallGas Station Man: George MitchellMrs. Whitney: Eleanor Audley

We're back, talking about the three worst survivalists in the space program. Will they do all of their manual labor and walking during the day in the hot desert sun? Probably!Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod Serling, based on an idea by Madelon ChampionProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: Stuart RosenbergCorey: Dewey MartinColonel Donlin: Edward BinnsPierson: Ted OtisBrandt: Leslie BarrettLangford: Harry Bartell

We’re back for another famous episode, and we’re ready to talk about everything from experimental French jazz to exotic interior design.Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod Serling, based on the short story of the same name by Richard MathesonProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: Richard L. BareWilliam Sturka: Fritz WeaverJerry Riden: Joe MarossCarling: Edward AndrewsEve: Lori MarchJody: Denise AlexanderAnn: Jeanne Evans

Scoobedoobebop! We're back to talk jazz, daddy-o! Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod Serling, based on the unpublished short story “All of Us Are Dying” by George ClaytonProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: John BrahmArch Hammer: Harry TownesHammer as Foster: Ross MartinHammer as Sterig: Phillip PineHammer as Marshak: Don GordonMaggie: Beverly GarlandPop Marshak: Peter BroccoPernell: Bernard Fein Detective: Milton FromeTrumpet Player: Harry JacksonMan in Bar: Bob HopkinsMan Two: Pat ComiskeyBusboy: Sam Rawlins

We continue to explore the world of traveling wares salesmen, the true protagonists of The Twilight Zone. How do they stock their big display suitcases, especially with bus tickets? And we get a close relative of the soda jerk, the bartender who butts in on everyone’s business! Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod Serling, based on the short story of the same name by Lewis PadgettProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: Alvin GanzerFred Renard: Steve CochranPedott: Ernest TruexGirl in Bar: Arline SaxLefty: Read MorganBartender: William EdmonsonWoman on Street: Judy EllisMan on Street: Fred Kruger 

We’re starting to get into the Space Race in earnest, now. Harrington? Harrington!!!Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod Serling, based on the short story “The Disappearing Act” by Richard MathesonProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: Douglas HeyesClegg Forbes: Rod TaylorEd Harrington: Charles AidmanWilliam Gart: James HuttonAmy: Maxine Cooper

It's WWII, and a German is inexplicably on a boat of Americans and British trying to evade U-boats. It would be a pretty weird situation for a show called “The Normal Zone,” but we got news for you, pal!Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod SerlingProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: John BrahmLanser: Nehemiah PersoffCaptain Wilbur: Ben WrightFirst Officer: Patrick MacNeeLt. Mueller: James FranciscusFirst Steward: Richard Peel

We finally made it to one of the Mt. Rushmore writers of The Twilight Zone after Rod, Charles Beaumont! We go into his backstory, as well as the first episode he wrote for the series and Maya the Cat Girl!Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Charles Beaumont, based on his short story of the same nameProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: Robert FloreyEdward Hall: Richard ConteDr. Rathermann: John LarchMaya: Suzanne Lloyd

We’ve done it. We’ve hit our first certified classic episode. There’s not much more to say, except the 60 minutes or whatever we spend talking about it.Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod Serling, based on the short story of the same name by Lynn VenableProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: John BrahmHenry Bemis: Burgess MeredithMr. Carsville: Vaughn TaylorHelen Bemis: Jacqueline deWit

This episode we're out in space for possibly the dumbest application of solitary confinement imaginable. We discuss the one thing the crew could not keep away from on set, and how it nearly killed them, and add another to our collection of 12 Angry Men. We have 1/6 of a set!Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod SerlingProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: Jack SmightJames Corry: Jack WardenAlicia: Jean MarshCaptain Allenby: John DehnerAdams: Ted KnightCarstairs: James Turley

We're back and this is such a weird episode. But it also has all of Rod's favorite themes, which we'll start to explore. As Variety wrote at the time, “Here was a little gem. Good work, Rod Serling.”Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod SerlingProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: Mitchell LeisenWalter Bedeker: David WayneEthel Bedeker: Virginia ChristineMr. Cadwallader: Thomas Gomez

Our first time travel episode is not at all what you think of when you think of the mechanics of time travel. It also very clearly confused at least one TV executive in 1959. Join us as we talk about the extremely bizarre life of one Gig Young, as well as lippy soda jerks. Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod SerlingProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: Robert StevensMartin Sloan: Gig YoungWilcox Boy: Ronnie HowardMr. Sloan: Frank Overton

We're back to talk Old Hollywood, baby! This episode has it all, and by “it all” we mean Martin Balsam! Also the god Ida Lupino. Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod SerlingProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: Mitchell LeisenBarbara Jean Trenton: Ida LupinoDanny Weiss: Martin BalsamJerry Hearndan: Jerome CowanSally: Alice FrostMusic: Franz Waxman

We’re back with the first of many sad harmonica openings, because that’s right, it’s a Western episode! We’ll talk about Henry J. Fate, gun safety in the Wild West, and the bully who has only one bit in his friend group…it’s starting to get a little old.Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod SerlingProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: Allen ReisnerAl Denton: Dan DuryeaDan Hotaling: Martin LandauLiz: Jeanne CooperHenry J. Fate: Malcolm AtterburyPete Grant: Doug McClure

This episode we talk about super-producer Buck Houghton and the series getting picked up. The TZ episode we discuss is “One for the Angels,” about the age-old story of trying to cheat death by selling him a lot of ties.Tell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod SerlingProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: Robert ParrishLou Bookman: Ed WynnMr. Death: Murray Hamilton

Pilots and Pilots! Join Eric and Joe as they begin their journey discussing the origins of The Twilight Zone, including Rod Serling and the three pilots that led to the series. Check out “The Time Element” here: https://youtu.be/csLzUH1M5F0?si=YFYMllqpCvCgXeaWTell us what you think! [email protected] by Tim DonnellyEpisode Cast & CrewWritten by: Rod SerlingProducer: Buck HoughtonDirector: Robert StevensCinematographer: Joseph La ShelleMike Ferris: Earl HollimanTheme Music: Bernard Herrmann