…a fellow in a dream told me “He who dies…” but I woke up before he could finish what he had to say.
Tonight I finally heard the end of that phrase thanks to Boardwalk Empire.
So there’s that.
(Best show on television, by the way.)
“You see. No shock. No engulfment. No tearing asunder. What you feared would come like an explosion is like a whisper. What you thought was the end is the beginning.”
A few days ago on Twitter, J.C. Hutchins asked people for their favorite Twilight Zone episode. Along with the list of usual suspects people mentioned (To Serve Man, Living Doll, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, and so on…) I threw my own personal favorite into the ring: George Clayton Johnson’s Nothing in the Dark. And, like anything, picking your favorite Twilight Zone is an ad hoc exercise in psychological analysis.
But the truth is that the Twilight Zone is one of those rare things, where it’s virtually impossible to pick one single episode as your favorite… impossible to single out the one that’s the best. The show contributed far too many classics to the canon. There are a few odd clunkers in there, to be sure (and the less said about the ill-conceived, ill-fated feature film from the 80′s, the better). But the show — and it’s creator and host, Rod Serling — occupy a well-deserved place in Television history.
When I was a kid, the Twilight Zone was on TV every single day. It came on at noon and then again at midnight, two episodes back to back. And holidays typically saw at least one local station running a 24 hour marathon (regrettably, this last tradition seems to be waning as cable takes over for the local stations).
I probably started watching the show with my older brother Scott. But we were all fans on one level or another. It wasn’t uncommon for someone in our house to hum the tell-tale theme (“Do do doo doo, do do doo doo…”) to indicate when something strange was going on. As a matter of fact, my mother did this on Facebook a few days ago.
I don’t remember what the first episode I watched was, but I was hooked from the very beginning. When I was out of school during the summer, it was part of my daily ritual to watch the show while I ate lunch. Later that night, already a confirmed night owl, I would stay up and watch the midnight round of shows as well. This went on well into high school and beyond. If they were still on, I would do it now.
I didn’t know it at the time — in fact, I wouldn’t realize it for at least a decade into my own writing career — but the Twilight Zone served as my first lessons in storytelling. I don’t think there’s a story I’ve written that doesn’t owe some debt to the show, either in pacing, theme, or character. And I know I’m not the only writer who would say this (and say it proudly).
As the current “Twilight” offers opportunities for a new generation to identify with the strange, the outcast and the darkness… so too did Rod Serling open up a doorway to another world, welcoming permanent residence to this skinny, slightly off-kilter kid.
And, without looking back, I gladly stepped through.
That was over twenty-five years ago, but I still am proud to consider myself a citizen . . . of the Twilight Zone.
———
While I was writing this post, I was disappointed to find that episodes are not available for instant viewing through Netflix. Someone really needs to get that fixed as soon as possible.
However, my faith was restored when I discovered that Wikipedia entries for individual episodes include a transcription of both the opening and closing narration by Mr. Serling. This amazes and delights me.
Once again, I find that I am not alone.
Spent a busy weekend working on the latest episodes of Assam & Darjeeling — which are now up and ready for listening at either iTunes or via RSS.
It was interesting last night to see little comments trickle in from listeners after they hit the big reveal in Book Four, Chapter Seven. Based on what I heard, it sounds like people were surprised but all of the little hints layered into the story so far added up. It felt good.
But I have to admit, it felt even better to see so many listeners jump on and subscribe to my newest audiobook podcast for Matters of Mortology (also available via iTunes and RSS). There was even a little mini-viral promo effort on Plurk, thanks to the kindness of people like Devyl.
Again, it felt very good.
A new episode of Assam & Darjeeling will show up later this week. And I’ll get the next block of chapters out there for Matters of Mortology sometime over the weekend. Lots of good stuff coming in both of these, writing that I’m very proud of.
In other news… Most of my writing right now is given over to the new project. It’s very early and there’s a lot of old notes and pre-draft materials to sort through, but it feels good and it’s coming together well. Since I’m in the first draft, everything is being written in longhand with the excellent fountain pen and orange ink that the Fusionary guys gave me.
I must be writing a fair amount, as the pen seems to be inexplicably empty every time I pick it up.
At this point, I’ve been spending most of my time in an airstream trailer in Texas — creatively, that is. There’s this guy Marshall and, although I don’t know much about him, I already like him a lot. I’m looking forward to getting him hooked up with Paul — who’s out there somewhere most likely banging a cocktail waitress, the bastard. I’ll be getting them on the road as soon as I can. They need to get to Vegas, because Mr. Smith is waiting for them.
After that, it’s off to Dublin for a few nights, so I can keep Trip from getting his ass handed to him.
Sorry. I’ll be bouncing around a lot on this one. There’s lots of people out there, getting connected. I’m very interested to see how they all come together in the course of the story — which I know frontwards and backwards, so it’s just about the people at this point.
At least, that’s what I’m telling myself right now. The gods may have other plans. They usually do.
Enough teasing, then. I have also had a fair amount of fun playing with this little novelty. I’m linking to what it did to the first chapter of Assam & Darjeeling, but you can click on the “create” button up at the top to make your own.
Now that I’ve burned through every available episode of The Riches — my new favorite addiction — I’m going back through Mad Men in preparation for the new season in July. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed this show. Although I now know (thanks to the immortal Ken Jones) that it really wasn’t like that on Madison Avenue back in the 60′s. But it’s still a great show.
I’d check them both out, if you haven’t already — or, failing that, just sit down and watch this for a few hours. It’s hypnotic, kind of like methadone for the television addict.
I can quit any time, of course.