Rod Serling on Creative Control Of Night Gallery | The Dick Cavett Show

American screenwriter Rod Serling discusses his frustrations about the lack of creative control he has on the television show he presents, Night Gallery as well as clears up the rumours about him being depressed.
Date aired - July 12, 1972 - Rod Serling, Arthur C. Clarke and Cassie Mackin
For clip licensing opportunities please visit www.globalimageworks.com/the-...
Dick Cavett has been nominated for eleven Emmy awards (the most recent in 2012 for the HBO special, Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again), and won three. Spanning five decades, Dick Cavett’s television career has defined excellence in the interview format. He started at ABC in 1968, and also enjoyed success on PBS, USA, and CNBC.
His most recent television successes were the September 2014 PBS special, Dick Cavett’s Watergate, followed April 2015 by Dick Cavett’s Vietnam. He has appeared in movies, tv specials, tv commercials, and several Broadway plays. He starred in an off-Broadway production ofHellman v. McCarthy in 2014 and reprised the role at Theatre 40 in LA February 2015.
Cavett has published four books beginning with Cavett (1974) and Eye on Cavett (1983), co-authored with Christopher Porterfield. His two recent books -- Talk Show: Confrontations, Pointed Commentary, and Off-Screen Secrets (2010) and Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic moments, and Assorted Hijinks(October 2014) are both collections of his online opinion column, written for The New York Times since 2007. Additionally, he has written for The New Yorker, TV Guide, Vanity Fair, and elsewhere.
#thedickcavettshow #RodSerling #ArthurClarke #CassieMackin

[@rubicon-oh9km]

Rod Serling is an absolute genius in my eyes. The original Twilight Zone series was the best television ever got in my book.

[@electriceyeslide5959]

He’s an undisputed genius. I have never heard anyone contest that. TZ is the pinnacle of TV, you’re right.

[@HoldenNY22]

I thought the 2nd Version of the Series was very Good also. Some really great episodes.

[@scottharrisohn6972]

true

[@millenniumman75]

The interesting thing about it is......Twilight Zone was not his favorite work! The first was Requiem For a Heavyweight and the other was Emmy-Nominated - the Night Gallery episode "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar". That was clearly a tear-jerker....an AWESOME episode!

[@TechnicJunglist]

Absolutely. TZ and his other projects & overall message regarding society and mankind are embedded in my mind forever.

[@johcafra]

Mere months after this broadcast I attended a lecture given by Serling at Duquesne University. He had a few similar and pointed remarks about Night Gallery then as well, but what I most fondly recall was his spending time-and-a-half more answering "the kids'" questions, principally about creative writing, than lecturing. And the auditorium had "kids" sitting on its window sills listening to him. An indelible memory.

[@jordanmiles2195]

Rod and Arthur C. Clarke on the same show. I wish we still had shows like this today.

[@kamuelalee]

Serling and Clarke -- two genius writers together on the same show on the same night. This would not happen today!

[@watchmanschannelofdespair]

@grozbeek mose And reality television (because it's popular and more importantly, very cheap for the networks to make, so more profit for these socialist supporters (at least publicly when virtue signaling, oxymoronic, ain't it?).

[@andywaldron7052]

right! because they're dead!

[@shelbyherring92]

Pretty sure there was one with Stephen King and George RR Martin...

[@kamuelalee]

@@shelbyherring92 On a show like The Dick Cavett Show?

[@megasoid]

Just wow...two creative giants on the same stage of a real talk show. Wouldn't happen this way today.

[@seanhanley9942]

Rod Serling decent, idealistic human being.

[@grandbino4703]

"Rod Serling is an absolute genius in my eyes" Agreed 100%

[@db44gs]

I've never heard Serling laugh before, I love his laugh he sounds so warm and personable.

[@BMG19FUNNYDIE]

A Mad Men spec was written years back by a famous writer. The story involved Don and Rod Serling. Google it.

[@GeneralGeorgeS.PattonJr.]

@db44gs Yes... You're so right. You'd almost expect it to be creepy, but that's ridiculous, he's just a married man with a family, albeit a very famous & gifted man.

[@errolpletcher9186]

His untimely death at age 50 is really tragic. One has to wonder how many great films and shows died with him. He'd be 98 if he was still alive, so we were easily robbed of 30-40 more years of his genuis. 😢

[@drumdad54sdl47]

It's a shame that he let his three-pack-a-day habit become part of his rather short life.

[@TeddScheckler]

28 tobacco companies filed for bankruptcy after his death.

[@corrinehoward1999]

Adore him. I still watch all the Twilight Zone marathons in July and New Years. Never tire of him.

[@melissasalasblair5273]

+1, and interviews. He's so wise.

[@laurennicolas671]

"I'm not depressed, I don't have that massive an ego that I run around preoccupied with myself." LOL Classic!!

[@fridayplus]

Rod Serling, so ahead of his time. I hope his daughter tries to get a biopic made. The best TV series ever created #TwilightZone

[@ultramannick]

She did write a very interesting book about him. Has photos you won't believe. There is also a book about Night Gallery as well.

[@sarahwentforalemonwedgeand8991]

@@ultramannick Apollo 13: Houston, We've Got a Problemdfhgfdjgjd

[@Arlene2]

@@ultramannick I'm listening to Anne Serling's audiobook, "As I Knew Him" right now, and it's absolutely amazing!

[@longstreet47]

I had heard that Rod Serling was not happy with the end results of Night Gallery. His experience at NBC was quite different than his experience at CBS doing Twilight Zone. At CBS he had full creative control and CBS let him do whatever he wanted. NBC had their hands all in Night Gallery. It aired for three seasons, but it never lived up to Rod’s true vision of the series. It’s cool to actually hear him confirm this. Thanks for posting.

[@jv-ep2tc]

imagine the suits at NBC thinking that Serling needed their help. laughable. lack of humility is staggering.

[@XFLexiconMatt]

Well, this is speculation, but it wouldn't surprise me if Serling was considered 'difficult ' by certain CBS executives, and it carried over to NBC tightening the reins, fighting for full creative control can make up unpopular in parts of that industry, unfortunately.

[@hushmoney2058]

You will never see another Rod ....

[@chinavaughan6383]

Unfortunately, you’re right😢

[@wholderby]

You always feel smarter sitting through a Cavett Show - especially with the likes of Rod Serling and Arthur C Clarke.....can you imagine this cerebral format working on todays TV? :) Rod was a genius....

[@th3j4ck4l6]

God, Cavett was on fire. Cavett’s delivery with his jokes is always so smooth & his guests laughing show that

[@CGV_CTown23]

It's so sad he isn't here to enjoy and thrive in the age of television that his work was so vital in creating.

[@b.deville3236]

The urban myth that Cavett is referring to of TV sets in England picking up a broadcast from a station in Texas has been explained. It originated from a print ad of a British TV set manufacturer that was boasting about how their sets could pick up distant signals with great clarity. One of the photos used in the ad was that of a TV set displaying a test pattern from an American station that, unbeknownst to the ad agency, had signed off several years earlier. After several years and many retellings, an urban legend was born.

[@tdunph4250]

It's always amazing to watch a total Genius walk out and sit down and it's even better to listen to what he was to say. My top two: Orson Welles and Rod Serling

[@ultramannick]

I remember when Welles was on the show, "Uh...anyone got any money?" he asked the studio audience (for film financing).

[@wizkidsvideos]

I remember watching this when it originally aired. My favorite all time writer and humanitarian. Pleas post more interviews with Serling. ❤️❤️❤️

[@jamesdrynan]

What a panel! Clarke and Serling, two men responsible for an incredible amount of inspiring writing.

[@paul8926]

Great speaking voice !

[@Vejur9000]

Considered the greatest writer in the history of television, and undisputed genius in storytelling, suspense and imagination.

[@janeporter818]

Rod Serling is a legend

[@jeshkam]

"Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World" is one of the best mystery TV series of all time.

[@classiccomedycinemaprogram1640]

Yes... very intriguing facts & unexplained mysteries from history... very well produced compared to nowadays.. I got the book it has a crystal skull on the cover.

[@jeshkam]

@@classiccomedycinemaprogram1640 Yeah, I also remember that book.

[@gallery7596]

And "Arthur C. Clarke's World Of Strange Powers." Terrific title-changing series.

[@stanbutler90]

Rod Serling, brilliant and understated badass. Gone too soon.

[@bellkeliane5601]

It’s amazing how humble & respectful the artists of yesteryear were. When you see some of the “stars” acting like dopes it’s really jarring. And to think this wasn’t a long time ago either. So sad

[@ed008ue]

Arthur C. Clarke and Rod Serling, I wish they work together to conceive a Sci-Fi Concept. it would have been brilliant!!!

[@keithepley2132]

One of the most authentic people in entertainment. So much respect for his genius and character.

[@itsgleneaton4883]

I notice that stars today make to much a big deal about their work and I don’t see it but the real artists when they speak it’s always very simple and easy to understand and their work is beyond words. That’s genius.

[@shelbyherring92]

Well, congrats, you just admitted to failing English literature...

[@TechnicJunglist]

A champion for human rights lost too soon. A spectacular & genius talent. We shall never see his like again. 🖤

[@luisreyes1963]

One can only imagine what Rod Serling would say about the declining state of Sci-Fi, Horror & Fantasy these days.

[@BIgBass255]

One of my childhood hero's, his death hurt.

[@thewhoreofhorror3781]

That voice :)

[@johnnyguitarwatson5288]

Sir rod serling imo is the most prolific writer of all time, brilliant imagination, mixed with social, science, consciousness, supernatural and all human endeavors & experiences!

[@mambo8684]

Not the most prolific...but one of the best.

[@Yetaxa]

You can't just knight someone because you feel like it.

[@Nigelpreece]

Submitted for your perusal, Mr Rodman Edward Serling, teller of home truths that perhaps are still relevant today, from a man in possession of two gifts bestowed on only a few of his kind. First, that of knowing his audience. In addition also having the wisdom of never second guessing said audience. Twin perceptions that could only have been endowed upon Mr Serling, from the Twilight Zone.

[@electrolytics]

Very nice.

[@somethingyousaid5059]

Sterling Serling. 👍

[@lptomtom]

It's incredible how old he looked already... damn cigarettes!

[@CC-Tron]

David Janssen had the same problem. He aged badly and died young.

[@rondobson1828]

Tobacco has killed more people than any war....or maybe all the wars.

[@spb7883]

Also an incredibly stressful time.

[@iVenge]

Horrid.. and he supposedly smoked one right after the other.

[@tangreatmusicyacriso323]

The reason for How he LOOKS is the Cigarettes, HE HAD CANCER.

[@castorphans]

Rod Serling is one of the reasons I write. The original run of The Twilight Zone is so freaking good; deals with so many important matters in a sole existence, it's brilliant. To think Rod would not have creative control over a work of his is staggering.

[@sarahwentforalemonwedgeand8991]

Apollo 13: Houston, We've Got a Problem

[@Josh-fp2qn]

Did you ever watch his writing for television clips on KZbin?

[@johnnytoobad7785]

Love just about every T-Zone episode made. Also had a book of T-Zone short stories. Was a Night Gallery Addict as a teenager. Some of this interview was shown on PBS American Masters series on Mr. Serling. A true literary master.

[@bobsebring3377]

I loved Rod Sterling and I love Night Gallery too.

[@JakeMabe1]

Please post this entire interview!

[@allisonyoung4007]

SO ahead of his time! 👋❤

[@LW-no9sm]

Rod Serling has a great laugh - so assured, so relaxed. Enviable.

[@karljay7473]

Sad to think that he died just 3 years after this @ 50 years old. 3 heart attacks, likely caused from very heavy smoking.

[@doorswhofan]

Cassie Mackin herself was dead a decade after this from cancer at the age of only 43.

[@user-bx9dd7bd2t]

😷Actually he caught Covid 18, in a dry market and after a bad time warp, shift dimension, cross vector, he ended up, going faster and faster, and left the twilight zone, as quick as a Tic tac Amazon mystery craft, into the ether, of the internet, in search of answers, old royalties, and some bitter coin stimulus checks. Vac or Friction?🌈 You decide!⌛

[@Tazzman225]

Karl Jay---I heard he was born with a bad heart.

[@doorswhofan]

@@Tazzman225 Yeah, but even if so, I'd be very surprised if smoking wasn't the main factor. Rod constantly had a cigarette going -- like so many of that era. Edward R. Murrow, same deal.

[@Tazzman225]

@@doorswhofan --- I remember seeing him holding a lit cigarette on The Twilight Zone.

[@Silentskip001]

100% humility is refreshing to see these days in the age of whining and blaming.

[@leftykoufax7084]

Amen

[@danarnold8989]

I could listen to this man talk for days like the way he talks about the real life twilight zone the tv studios the place where man and putforward his ideas and see then twisted and turned to nothing like he had ever seen this is sadly not just kept to the twilight zone ...

[@skeltonknaggs1600]

Rod was so much more than just The Twilight Zone

[@jonisafreak3]

He was a badass awesome human being and he’s getting an 8 foot statue in his hometown.

[@orbison]

To think he wouldn't even survive two years after this show. Imagine what he would be writing about today!

[@hotrox2112]

Those script stories written then, are the stories of today.

[@georgealexander141]

Wish Serling would’ve lasted for another 20 years after this interview. But alas, it did not happen.

[@mrb4886]

True

[@heathergustar638]

He saw the. Future of movies and TV. And took the easy way out

[@michaelschramm1064]

Wow! Two of my boyhood idols on a program I had great respect for, owing to Cavett’s intelligence.

[@tangreatmusicyacriso323]

Rod Serling was a Genius when he came up with THE TWILIGHT ZONE. IF THE writers of today was like him Television would be perfect.

[@Frank-dv4zu]

wonderful voice, and so distinctive!

[@doggedout]

What a couple of titans. I probably saw this as it aired. Watched Cavett all the time....and worshiped both Serling and Clarke. Was a grade schooler in the 60's when TZ was in constant re-run syndication. My dad gave me a hardback that was called The Twilight Zone that had all the first two? seasons stories written by Serling....in maybe 1970? When the 3 part movie of Night Gallery premiered..I was hooked and glued to the screen. The first episode and season of Night Gallery were the greatest television ever aired at the time. Serling was trying to transcend Twilight Zone, where he had been so constrained. ...and ended up once again creativly throttled by the networks. I stopped watching when they shoe horned in the ridiculous "The Sixth Sense". ....but worse was, after Rod died, at his wish, the family stopped allowing re-runs of Night Gallery...any of them. Still remember Sunday nights at 9 (central) staying up. The music, the paintings the chill up the spine.. What awesome television.

[@browneyedotter1010]

Cool guest!!

[@Steve.Cutler]

Night Gallery still has the best creepy opening and closing theme ever!

[@zp7741]

All 3 of these guys are so fun to watch!

[@harpmanb]

My personal Top 5 Night Gallery episodes: Camera Obscura The Cemetery A Question of Fear A Feast of Blood The Dead Man

[@jasonbeard4713]

Don't you enjoy "The Other Way Out"?

[@harpmanb]

@@jasonbeard4713 indeed. That's a good one as well.

[@superdavid002]

Many Night Gallery episodes were very good. Rod Sterling, amazing writer! Gone too soon...

[@gartwilliams3347]

Sterling’s command of the English language was on full display.

[@jamessmithe5490]

They should have given him control of Night Gallery, though there are episodes that were memorable.

[@CyclonicDeath]

The painting one was so fucking good.

[@liduck52]

The one with Joan Crawford, which was directed by Steven Spielberg.

[@millenniumman75]

@@liduck52 That was his debut - the first thing he ever directed. He was from Cincinnati and Rod Serling got his start in radio and television in Cincinnati.

[@ultramannick]

While it was frustrating for Serling to work with XP Jack Laird, Laird was a BIG DEAL at Universal. Laird was able to use the entire Universal backlot to film episodes--plus Universal owned all the rights to the classic Universal monsters which appeared at points in the series. Laird just didn't take the show as seriously as Serling; he wrote several of the short "filler" segments and even starred in some episodes. Scariest episode? Has to be "The Sin Eater" and the director got Barbara Steele out of retirement to film the episode. Scared the CRAP out of me!

[@ultramannick]

@@liduck52 One-third of the "Night Gallery" pilot TV movie.

[@lafence3275]

He went to my high school

[@batman5224]

It’s a tragedy against art that Rod Serling died so young. Just think about this for a moment: If Rod Serling had lived, there’s a good chance that Vic Morrow never would have died in the accident that occurred on the set of Twilight Zone: The Movie. For one, the movie probably never would have been made, and if it had been made, Rod Serling probably would have supervised the production, something that could have possibly prevented John Landis from being careless and negligent.

[@batman5224]

@grozbeek mose If Rod Serling had still been alive, I highly doubt they would’ve made the movie without his involvement.

[@clintonsmith5163]

Let's not forget about the two children who died in that helicopter accident.

[@standardofexcellence]

Miss them both dearly

[@rogerhenry6489]

Serling was brilliant .

[@antarcticorb9197]

Two of my favorites right there!

[@zx1400a7f]

Rod Serving was a giant in the field, truly humble. He came from a generation where Hollywood worshipped it's audience. Dick Cavett was an egotistical ass who always tried to invoke a reaction instead of conducting a real intellectual conversation.

[@electrolytics]

I agree. Although sometimes he had good questions. His monologues were atrocious.

[@dr.barrycohn5461]

A genius, and brilliant mind who reflected a period of post-war development.

[@martinbeneteau309]

I have read that he suffered nightmares from his time during the war. And that they influenced TZ episodes that delt with war.

[@PeresDanilo23]

Dreams into histories... the fifth domension...

[@fluorosco]

"Rod Serling UCLA Lectures" All you need . There are at least 3 lectures. He is absolutely wonderful and loving and inspirational to the young students listening. The lectures are between 1966 and 1973 . He speaks of black rights and free speech and communication in place of wars. Just type "Rod Serling - UCLA" Put your earphones in , lie back and smile with emotion for 3 hours. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

His honesty about Night Gallery is so refreshing. There's some good episodes, but mostly a lot of garbage.

[@ultramannick]

Oh totally disagree! The "garbage" ones were those "Sixth Sense" episodes that were forced upon Serling. At first, he refused to do any of the intros, but Universal paid him a ton of money to do so.

[@rickhobson3211]

Now I have to look for footage of Cavett interviewing Clark in this same show!

[@TuttleCapt]

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." --Arthur C Clarke

[@Grigsy]

He's wrong.

[@johnp515]

@@Grigsy Why is he wrong?

[@Grayvorn]

What a magnificent voice.

[@tommytitmouse]

Awe ! I was waiting for Rod Serling to do his famous words at the being of the Twilight Zone when he says " a most uncommon elevator is about to ascend into your very own episode of The Twilight Zone ", etc .

[@msantos545]

Artur Clarke and Rod Serling in one show! Wow!

[@hazlitt1]

Rod Serling…A Great Guy. A Good Old Fashioned Great Guy.

[@edwardglass1173]

Legendary.

[@josephclark4153]

Classic materials 😀👍

[@sgtlz]

The twilight zone episode "Number 12 looks just like you" warned us of a future that is already here.

[@msqundhari]

OMG!!!!! That is sooooo true! Good observation!

[@johnnydunleavy5583]

Arthur C Clarke✌️

[@I_am_Dane_Youssef]

He notoriously didn't get control of NIGHT GALLERY. He won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for writing the pilot (all three episodes). And he notoriously wrote over a third of the scripts for the show. But he didn't take the part of "executive-producer" because doing show kept him too busy on TWILIGHT ZONE. And so the network once again butchered what he wrote. NIGHT GALLERY had it's fans. But still... it wasn't the show he set out to make. He struggled with that a lot throughout the course of his life.

[@Milo30066]

a very great man

[@tommegalis]

Rod talks with his mouth closed. Very interesting.

[@cityhawk]

I noticed that as well. Did he have issues with his teeth or jaw?

[@tommegalis]

@@cityhawk No I think he was just very shy and reserved so that manifested itself in his speech. A theory.

[@electrolytics]

@@tommegalis Yeah he starts loosening up even in this short clip. I thought the same as you.

[@PrasanJ]

Zero dislike for the real OGs.

[@vexomnight3079]

Ahh yess Back when people had class and charm

[@thilohesse8883]

Wow- Rod Serling and Arthur C. Clarke as talk show guests, on the same show- that is unreal.

[@battlestarmarc]

night Gallery was one of the best TV shows ever. Wish night Gallery lasted longer and Serling had more control over night Gallery.

[@guygrip9634]

Yes the show had best ADAPTION OF HP LOVECRAFT EVER

[@davidbrown4271]

Aurthur C Clark is fascinating too .

[@trenthesterman2665]

He fought in the Pacific during world war two.

[@zyxmyk]

He died almost exactly three years later, june 12, 1975

[@jonathanmitchell9886]

NBC did really bitch up a couple of Serling's *Night Gallery* segments--"Make Me Laugh," "Clean Kills and Other Trophies" and "The Different Ones" being the most egregious examples. But others, like "Lone Survivor" and "The Waiting Room," hold up beautifully. William Burroughs often used his dreams as material for writing, but of course the kind of writing he did was much less dependent on a coherent linear narrative than that of Serling or Clarke.

[@Grigsy]

One of the best writers of all time. BTW, is these are the 2/3 giants of 20th century sci-fi together on the same stage. Arthur C. Clarke and Rod Serling. The only person missing was Issac Asimov! Serling was a master of the stage and TV and was not a novelist.

[@clintonsmith5163]

Actually, Robert Heinlein, along with Clarke and Asimov, were for decades commonly referred to as "The Big Three", in terms of science fiction writing. At least, in regards to the 1940 to 1990 time frame.

[@stephen5804]

Rod was and is years beyond his control

[@NadeemHayek]

A request please dear show family. We want the clip of boxers Muhammad Ali and Jurgin blin together in the show. It was Nov 18 1971. Please

[@jameswood3689]

See the interview shot just two years prior to this at Indiana State University. He ages visibly -- and hugely -- between 1970 and 1972. Not sure what happened, but he looks much older here. I gather there were quite a few fights with the producers on Night Gallery...

[@tayachting6345]

Night Gallery was an extremely creepy tv program. I just knew that the music from the opening of season 2 was going to be playing in the background when he was introduced. I'm glad it wasn't. Good series.

[@ultramannick]

The theme music, written by GIl Mele, was the FIRST TV theme song that was all electronic.

[@tayachting6345]

@@ultramannick It certainly was chilling. It made the Hammer House of Horror them sound quite upbeat.

[@nunyabizness6595]

Gil Melle also did the great theme music for Kolchak.

[@cast390]

Rod looks like Columbo

[@brainsareus]

a bit

[@Dane_Youssef]

Rod himself made a big thing about how he created and designed TWILIGHT ZONE so he would have creative control over it as the poor man was tired of watching his stuff getting butchered for "content". And it was so exhausting being creator, head writer and executive producer (as well as host as everyone already knows). Truth is he wanted to change ZONE'S format to horror--the genre he claims he preferred--but the network told him that wouldn't work. So he made sure his next show (after the short-lived western LONER flopped) was horror. But he wasn't a producer as he didn't want to be so consumed like he was on ZONE. Well, you'd think after how successful ZONE was, they'd trust him to go with his vision. But... once again, he watched his stuff get completely censored left and right. He was disappointed with GALLERY and all but disowned it. Eh, fucking Hollywood. Go figure.

[@stellapatchouli6652]

An American PROPHET. Aside Persian poets and Elvis, Rod Serling is who I admire the most.

[@painterphilippe]

Nice mix!

[@loyalman692ndaccount]

Genius