Does THE OUTER LIMITS Define SciFi Horror? Let's Find Out.

[@kunserndsittizen2655]

This was supposed to have inspired the TERMINATOR...I don’t d see it

[@targetaudience]

That was the episode Solider. This one is commonly wrongly attributed because Ellison wrote both episodes, but he clarified it was not this one. It makes Alex referencing Terminator in the video very ironic

[@kunserndsittizen2655]

@@targetaudience I know soldier did but I thought it was a mixture of both

[@CaminoAir]

@@kunserndsittizen2655 Yes, that was my understanding too. Both of his scripts were claimed to have influenced Cameron's film.

[@gggooding]

​@kunserndsittizen2655 ​It was probably both (and arguably his story I Have No Mouth...). Ellison threatened to sue James Cameron for an "inspired by" credit on Terminator, which they gave him rather than going to court.

[@targetaudience]

Ellison denied taking anything from any other episodes on his own website - "Terminator" was not stolen from "Demon with a Glass Hand," it was a ripoff of my OTHER Outer Limits script, "Soldier."

[@JohnCameron624]

Oh look! It's T'Pring... from Amok Time. ;)

[@edwardbarocela3064]

@@JohnCameron624 Arlene Martel

[@JohnCameron624]

@@edwardbarocela3064 Thanks... I am aware... 🙂

[@JasonMount-b6v]

I recommend the Outer Limits episode "I, Robot" costarring a young Leonard Nimoy. It was also remade for the 1995 reboot series, again starring Nimoy and directed by his son Adam.

[@ryokinor6223]

This takes place in the Bradbury building in LA. In the movie "Blade Runner" it was used as the home of J.F. Sabastian. Beautiful building. Arlene Martel is one of the most under rated and under used actress's of the 60's. I just love her in this.

[@paintedjaguar]

I wouldn't call her underused, she guest starred in a bunch of different shows during the 1960s.

[@cliftonwebb3295]

My favourite Outer Limits episode is “The Bellero Shield” - its dialogue is highly stylised but it works so effectively as a kind of Greek tragedy morality tale combined with a simply designed but eloquent extra-terrestrial. There’s also a touch of Lady Macbeth about it. Just superb !

[@richardb6260]

The Bradbury Building. Also seen in Blade Runner. It's also used in the second Kolchak TV-movie, the Night Strangler. While they may have saved money on the aliens in this episode, The Outer Limits is known for its imaginative creatures and aliens. I've said this before, but since you like 60s TV fights, you really need to watch the Sci Fi/western Wild Wild West. The star, Robert Conrad, was a former stuntman and they would stage huge fights against multiple people. If you just watch one episode, try The Night of the Fugitives. It has a big fight in a bar and Conrad fractured his skull and they left the accident in the scene. As a result of Conrad's injury, the season only had 24 episodes instead of the planned 28.

[@Philbert-s2c]

Ahh, the great Robert Culp, who starred in shows like "I SPY" and "The Greatest American Hero."

[@ShamrockParticle]

You beat me to it! So many classic episodes. "Home to Judgment" may have inspired movies made decades later... he did his own stunts in "Apollo" as well, and from that height...

[@MikeytheGeek7711]

You beat me to it too, and if you hadn't, the other guy would have. I was way too slow. 😏🐢

[@scgreek1114]

"I Spy" was a great show, and very progressive for being one of the first shows with an African American lead. Unfortunately, it was Bill Cosby. 😂

[@arturocostantino623]

And Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice

[@luminiferous1960]

11:52 "So, he was a guy." 🤦‍♂

[@rickdartist1]

I really enjoyed your reaction to Demon With The Glass Hand. Robert Culp, who starred in that episode, was an Icon in the 60s and best known for his role in I Spy. He was also starred in the third episode of Outer Limits titled The Architects of Fear". He also starred in the episode 9 Corpus Earthling. I know I'm not a paying member of your channel, but I hope you read comments from those if us who can't afford to pay.

[@targetaudience]

We do!

[@WVRSpenceWestVirginiaRebel]

"The Outer Limits" ran for two seasons from 1963 to 1965. It was more sci-fi oriented than The Twilight Zone. A reboot series aired on the Sci Fi Channel from 1995 to 2002. Robert Culp was a veteran character actor who was also in "I Spy" as well as "The Greatest American Hero."

[@johnandrews3151]

This anthology series contains some real gems for the 1960's. Very few of the episode are bad or lack luster. I would recommend you start at the beginning and review the entire series. You will both be glad you did. By the way, when Star Trek was being produced, some of the people who had been working on the special effects on The Outer Limits got on the production team for Star Trek. This is one reason the special effects for Star Trek was so good. Although dated now, the special effects at that time were cutting edge technology which they created for the small screen.

[@djkingcabernet]

One thing you can always depend on for 1960s Outer Limits is the Black & White cinematography. It is going to be stunning, no matter what episode. Moody shadows everywhere.

[@robabiera733]

The cinematographer, Conrad Hall, would go on to become a major director of photography on feature films that are now regarded as classic, such as "Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid".

[@davidmarquardt9034]

Real directors are not afraid of Black & White. There is so many levels of contrast to use to produce and control the mood. That is, if you know what your doing.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

This is actually a sequel to the stories from modern series, The Quality of Mercy and The Light Brigade, humanity has lost the war in the future but this is the ace up our sleeve.

[@klemmre9]

I love it that you picked this episode because Harlan Ellison wrote it. (And that you remember that he was the author of "The City on the Edge of Forever.") He wrote another episode too called "Soldier" and THAT one is the one that he sued James Cameron and "The Terminator" over. I always liked "The Twilight Zone" better but there are some great "Outer Limits" and some that are terrible. It was created by Joseph Stefano, who previously had written the screenplay for Hitchcock's "Psycho." Most first season episodes feature a monster and/or alien. Oh, and the episode's setting - the Bradbury Building - was a major setting in "Blade Runner."

[@aatragon]

"The Zanti Misfits" I was creeped out as a boy. Even after sixty years, I didn't have to look up the title.

[@targetaudience]

✍🏻

[@johnezell1628]

Second that recommendation

[@bozzutoman]

Third! A truly memorable episode for its "eew" factor.

[@brandonflorida1092]

Well, you certainly chose one of the better episodes. Did you recognize Spock's fiancee T'Pring? Good reaction. Oh, also, the actor who played Trent was the real life husband of the Dohlman from "Elaan of Troyius," As far as "The Outer Limits" goes, you might want to see "The Sixth Finger" and "The Man Who Was Never Born." For "The Twilight Zone," I'd recommend "Walking Distance."

[@dfwald4657]

I sure hope they watch "The Sixth Finger" and "I Robot" my favorite episodes. I agree on "The Bellero Shield" also. There are a bunch of good ones but also some stinkers.

[@karenfritsche2249]

The actress playing Consuelo is Arlene Martel, who played Spock's Vulcan bride, Tu'Pring, in "Amok Time." If you watch more Outer Limits episodes, I would go with some from the 1st season, which was, in my opinion, far superior to the 2nd. Off the top of my head, "The Sixth Finger" is a good one. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@davidlipman8093]

U remember that one! Good choice.

[@williamblakehall5566]

@@davidlipman8093 The Sixth Finger is excellent -- and it was an early episode, too.

[@scgreek1114]

"Gilgamesh" will be mentioned in an upcoming episode of TNG. 😊 Great series (the original, not the remake) featuring one of my favorite theme songs.

[@ravenwind1062]

Trent was portrayed by Robert Culp. Among his numerous TV and film appearances he may be best remembered as Bill Maxwell from the Greatest American Hero TV Series.

[@ShamrockParticle]

And his appearance as a panelist in early-70s Match Game! 👍

[@luminiferous1960]

Robert Culp co-starred with Bill Cosby in "I Spy" (1965-68). Culp wrote the scripts for seven episodes (one of which he also directed), including the show's first broadcast episode, "So Long, Patrick Henry." I Spy won as "Best Dramatic Series" at the 1967 Golden Globe Awards for its 1966-1967 season. In 1967 Culp was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Writing Achievement in a Drama for his third-season script "Home to Judgment." First-time actor Bill Cosby won three consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1966, 1967 and 1968 (becoming the first African-American male actor to do so). Robert Culp was also nominated in the same category for all three seasons of I Spy.

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

The Outer Limits was an excellent and popular TV during the '60s, and the '70s re-runs, they had really good Sci-Fi mysteries, as you said a more Sci-Fi version of The Twilight Zone. One episode which I recommend is, "The Sixth Finger" S1 E5 starring David McCallum, I also highly recommend the episods, "The Guests", "The Zanti Misfits", "Don't Open Till Doomsday", "A Feasibility Study".

[@roystoyscomics1361]

This is my very favorite episode of outer limits. Shot on a minimal budget and yet still compelling storywise. 😂

[@justinplayfair4638]

You guys need to watch season one…amazing acting and cinematography by some Oscar winners…

[@justinplayfair4638]

A side note…Harlan Ellison had plans to bring Trent to Babylon 5, but they were never able to fit it into the schedule. AND you guys really need to start Babylon 5 proper, beyond the initial pilot…

[@ericjette2435]

Yeah, Ellison was a creative consultant on Babylon 5 and even appeared in one of the episodes. It's a great show with a weak pilot, that doesn't really get going until after the first season--not unlike TNG. Also, according to Wikipedia, Ellison's "literary estate is currently executed by Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski," which suggests to me that Ellison had a lot of trust in and respect for JMS.

[@marklsimonson]

This show was after my bedtime when I was a little kid, but I desperately wanted to watch it. So I used to get out of bed and sneak peeks at it. I thought it was _so_ scary when they had aliens.

[@keefer-k8266]

Glad you enjoyed the episode. Interesting analysis from first time viewers sixty years after the original air-date. First watched this show on its initial run when I was eight. Many brilliantly written, terrifying episodes -- Man Who Was Never Born, Zanti Misfits, Architects of Fear, Corpus Earthling, to name a few. What impresses me now is the first season's stunning black-and-white cinematography by John Nickolaus and Conrad Hall (3 time Oscar winner). On a side note -- I visited the Bradbury Building as an adult -- well worth the visit - brought back so many film/tv memories.

[@MikeytheGeek7711]

This is where the expression "Give him the finger." came from. Just kidding.

[@Bjy001]

Looking for the ultimate "physical acting"? Check out Buster Keaton. Although you gotta go way back to the silent film era. Still his stunts are legendary.

[@williamblakehall5566]

This is one unique instance where the famous "monster" show had no monster and felt obliged to sneak in a "demon" by way of the title, Demon with a Glass Hand. The "Dixon Building" is in fact the Bradbury Building, where some of Blade Runner got shot. The star is Robert Culp, who starred opposite a young Bill Cosby on the old show I Spy. He turned up later on The Greatest American Hero. (That wonderful leap to the ground busted his foot for a while.) Guess what -- Consuelo was played by Arline Martel, who also played the cool logical calculating T'Pring, Spock's betrothed in Amok Time. The nervy piano music for this was good, but this show often featured some really beautiful melodies, so I hope you get to hear those. One mean and crude -- yet accurate -- take on the ending of this episode came from one KZbin commenter who wrote, "It's just him and his hand tonight." Thanks, TA -- and the Trek-o'-lantern shirt is appreciated.

[@greenmonsterprod]

In addition to other episodes mentioned, you might want to watch "The Architects of Fear" (also starring Robert Culp), "Nightmare" (with Martin Sheen), and "Controlled Experiment" (the only comedic episode).

[@victoriadeal5706]

Of course you have to watch Soldier.

[@ivane5110]

Awesome! One of my favorite series ever, I rank Outer Limits just below Twilight Zone overall but it definitely has many episodesthat I actually prefer to some of Twilight Zones (though like I always say, a "bad" OL or TZ is better than most series' "good" episodes). Hope y'all decide to do a few more OL on here. Interestingly enough, as good as this episode was, there were many more that I liked even better than this as a kid (some still give me goosebumps when recalling).

[@LesterManley-s9n]

Soldier was what influenced Terminator more.😊😊😊

[@dirtyburd71]

I think at the end, he could have told her he was fully functional... 😅😅😅

[@jcortese3300]

The actor is Robert Culp, and yes he was indeed a guy. 🙂

[@justinplayfair4638]

Blade Runner guys…the Dixon building is the BRADBURY BUILDING, seen memorably in Blade Runner.

[@bohem5568]

These weren't meant to be "horror" stories. Especially not by today's definition. The Outer Limits was basically about the drama of humanity played out in a sci-fi setting. Where events force characters to make decisions in regard to human values and roles in society. And often they have tragic and/or melancholy outcomes that reflect the human condition.

[@paintedjaguar]

Still, a bunch of them really gave one the creeps at the time, like "The Zanti Misfits", "The Invisible Enemy", and "The Mutant".

[@robabiera733]

"The Outer Limits" was iconic and many of the people involved would later work on "Star Trek". You mentioned "Psycho" - "The Outer Limits" was created by the screenwriter of "Psycho". Many, many outstanding episodes. "Moonstone" is one of my favorites. Well worth a watch.

[@masonames4537]

In addition to Arlene Martel, three of the Kyban actors also appeared in Star Trek TOS episodes. Abraham Sofaer (Arch) played the Thasian in Charlie X. Robert Fortier (Budge) played Tomar, whom Scotty got drunk in By Any Other Name. Rex Holman (Battle) played Morgan Earp in Spectre of the Gun.

[@cullysloy2705]

Omg they are finally watching my fav show!!!!

[@victoriadeal5706]

That’s the Bradbury building. It’s used in bunches of shows and movies.

[@m.e.3862]

Most notably in Blade Runner

[@jeffkyler5660]

This is recognized ss the greatest episode of Outer Limits. Ellison's other rpisode of the series "Soldier" was so close to James Cameron's Terminator that Cameron had to pay Ellison a bit in a lawsuit.

[@brad9189]

Another Outer Limits episode with Robert Culp, which I like even more than this episode, is “Corpus Earthling.” It really has a creepy, unsettling vibe to it.

[@jch13213]

the actor is Robert Culp, who went on to star in the secret agent TV show I Spy with costar Bill Cosby, and later in the AMAZING Greatest American Hero TV show, which you should absolutely cover.

[@garyjenkins7249]

You should google Harlan Ellison. Definitely not a hack.

[@LesterManley-s9n]

The Duplicate Man also from season 2 is a episode that heavily influenced Blade Runner 20ish years later.

[@tim2024-df5fu]

The building I believe is the Bradbury building most famously used in Blade Runner. The interior rod iron railing is distinctive.

[@richdurbin6146]

Mr Atoz put the wire in.

[@destinycaptain247]

Flawlessly logical.

[@LesterManley-s9n]

It's the same building used in Blade Runner(1982)

[@andrewbrown3070]

Great episode. I know you have lots of suggestions but I had one from Tales From the Darkside. "The Milk Man Cometh"

[@targetaudience]

Thanks! Make sure to comment that on the Tales From the Darkside video tomorrow!

[@andrewbrown3070]

@targetaudience thanks, can't wait!

[@EveryoneWhoUsesThisTV]

The robot hand was functional, he carries things with it, but the prop is stiff, so it doesn't move while he's chatting to it up close.... :) While the glove is on, it works like a regular hand.

[@kblixt]

I love the original Outer Limits & the 1995 version

[@cliftonwebb3295]

The 1995 reboot was surprisingly good!

[@kblixt]

Yes it was

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

I like this as a sequel to The Quality of Mercy and The Light Brigade

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

@@cliftonwebb3295 I like this as a sequel to The Quality of Mercy and The Light Brigade

[@allanrose3661]

The Outer Limits Original Series is great. Keep watching it guys. There are some great stories in it.

[@markreed392]

You guys don't know Robert Culp! What do they teach in history class these days?

[@arturocostantino623]

You really should this series it incredibly well and cheaply made for time and much better writers than we have now. And really frightening in many of the episodes

[@ThomasReeves-s7u]

Ellison was a talented writer, if not entirely to my taste, and a pretty contentious guy by his own mission. I just read "The Last Dangerous Visions" was published this year though maybe "not really" as the contents sound different from his intent.

[@j.jennings1722]

Guys, we've increased our global population from 4 billion in 1960 to over 8 billion today, much more than a billion in a hundred years. Just saying.

[@denveradams4909]

You never see him reloading this snub-nosed .38special revolver. And no obvious recoil when he shoots it. I'm surprised they didn't show it with a silencer on it. (Which doesn't work.)

[@LesterManley-s9n]

For more Harlan Ellison check out the movie A Boy and his Dog from 1974. Hey 50th anniversary.

[@Denaxas71]

I'm not certain , I think it was OL,, but an episode I loved was the one with the global boiling in an apartment building. Lol A, 06:28 that's exactly how they all sounded

[@rpmfla]

Any fan of Twilight Zone should check out Outer Limits as it was quite similar thematically. I enjoyed both when I was a kid.

[@miller-joel]

Talk to the hand!

[@EvanG529]

That woman played Tiger on Hogan's Heroes

[@Capture2049]

Robert Culp! I'm more used to his 70s work. Like on Colombo. And in the 80s, in greatest American hero.

[@hawkmaster381]

The Outer Limits is about outer space, but if you want something really creepy, check out One Step Beyond.

[@JohnCameron624]

YES! Excellent series. Great stories...

[@samuelrossiiii5187]

I love the 90s version!

[@ronwilliams9985]

She was Spock's wife on Amok Time!!!

[@TheRealVolk]

Also check out Night Gallery and Tales from the Dark Side.

[@deeesher]

You keep talking about Harlan Ellison writing City on the Edge of Forever, and his ghost will return just to smite you! I've been a fan of his writing since high school, and yeah he wrote the City screenplay, and won a major writing award for it, but he genuinely hated the aired version! You can read his complaints and original script in his book, City on the Edge of Forever. Personally, I think both versions are decent but it was never my favorite TOS episode (i give that to Doomsday Machine). And yes, you called out Terminator, which he was going to sue James Cameron for taking his ideas from this and another episode called Soldier. They settled out of court and he just asked for acknowledgement for his work on the end credits of Terminator. Overall just like Twilight Zone, Outer Limits has a lot of great episodes worth checking out. Sure, occasional 1960s cheese, but good sci-fi writing overall.

[@DanielGarrett0123]

This is good shit. Watch more of this shit. Robert Culp as emotionless hero, T'Pring from "Amok Time" and the eerie Bradbury Bldg (it's still there and just as cool). Was the writing as good as "CIty on the Edge"? Hell naw. But THIS concept for a 1964 TV episode plot? HELL YEAH! 👍👍

[@lordofthereels6790]

I've really gotta....Hand it to you guys for this awesome episode reaction. :) Outer Limits is great but more bleak then TZ. Like Zone has a optimistic Supermany lighrer feel but Limits has more Batman cynicism IMO

[@jamesalexander5623]

Did you notice Spock's "Wife"?

[@joepolymath2308]

Did you recognize Spock's bride from Amok Time?

[@raymondregis6219]

I enjoyed watching reruns in the 70s. It was weird compared to Star Trek and Twilight Zone.

[@LesterManley-s9n]

Technically Trent's an Android

[@CaminoAir]

The longer run time (compared to the 30 minute Twilight Zone format) never worked for me with 'The Outer Limits'. The stories always felt padded, or stretched to me. It would have been better i.m.o. to produce a more focused 30 minute show with concepts that (even if they didn't work) would stand or fall on the merits of the story concept itself. It's like there's a short cut to get to where you want to go. Instead you end up going here, there and another place, before finally heading for your destination.

[@targetaudience]

Uh oh! Watch out for the “Wow you must have no attention span!” attacks! 😆

[@joerogers9413]

I agree. A lot of TV shows nowadays would work better with half hour formats. The filler in most shows drives me crazy sometimes.

[@CaminoAir]

@@targetaudience I'm sorry but I lost track of your reply after the 5th word. Can you possibly reply in 2 or 3 words maximum, please.

[@cliftonwebb3295]

With some episodes yes, especially in the 2nd season. But there were at least ten episodes where I wasn’t conscious of too much padding because the stories were so rich in construction

[@williamblakehall5566]

@@targetaudience I have an attention span, and I love the show -- and CaminoAIr has a point. I often felt some padding at work.

[@guillermo9631]

Harlan Ellison considered the show one of the last film noirs before movies went completely to color. The Bradbury Building was featured in the famous noir DOA (1949) with Edmund O'Brien. I saw this show by accident as a kid and thought it was a low budget B-movie because of it's moody b/w cinematography and bizarre location. The only thing I can't stand is the shitty makeup and bath caps! By the second season the network slashed its budget in half forcing first season producer Joseph Stefano to quit though he was happy about this episode.

talk to the hand ... !

[@matthewconstantine5015]

Generally, I prefer The Outer Limits to The Twilight Zone. It leans much more toward Science Fiction, as opposed to The Twilight Zone's more Fantasy/Morality Play vibe.

[@targetaudience]

I can see the appeal!

[@spooky1304]

Have you stopped watching Battlestar..?

[@targetaudience]

Yes, months ago.

[@spooky1304]

@@targetaudience Bros nooooo - why..? Its one of the best pieces of writing I've ever seen and as it progresses gets literally mind-bending. It shockingly goes places you'd never imagine.

[@russellharrell2747]

I think Harlan Ellison sued James Cameron for using a similar story for Terminator, but he was always suing people.

[@Serai3]

Yeah, he was always suing people because people were always trying to rip him off. Cameron _bragged_ about getting the idea from watching old Outer Limits episodes.

[@purplegreenredyellow]

Did Ellison win?

[@Serai3]

@@purplegreenredyellow He got a fat check, which is the usual outcome. Cameron paid him off, but apparently didn't learn the lesson since he's still bitching about it to this day. Well, dude, you shouldn't have told anyone you ripped Harlan off.

[@mikebell2112]

Ask the hand.

[@miller-joel]

Nobody (2021).