Rod Serling on Kamikazes

”The most unfettered imagination belongs to young people, and they don’t walk through life; they fly” - Rod Serling in 1963.
If you've never seen the Twilight Zone, you're missing what might be one of the smartest and most thought-provoking television series of all-time. On the surface, it mimicked ordinary life. The pace was ordinary until challenges to the deepest fears and uncertainties that lurk inside the mind took hold.
The series ran from 1959-64 and was created by Rod Serling. The show was mesmerizing audiences across the U.S. when he was interviewed for Australian radio by Binny Lum. We came across this conversation in Australia's National Film and Sound Archive and it's one of those delightful back and forths that makes you stop and listen. Serling jumps into the conversation, there's little apprehension, and suddenly he takes you on a journey thinking about your own past and childhood, and the ultimate realization that "you simply cannot go home again."
Enjoy and learn more about Rod Serling and the Twilight zone on our website: blankonblank.org/rod-serling
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Credits
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
David Gerlach
ANIMATOR
Patrick Smith
SERIES PRODUCER
Amy Drozdowska
COLORIST
Jennifer Yoo
SOUND DESIGN
Mixology Post / Rob Kahn
MUSIC
Oskar Schuster
"Sneeuwland"
Kevin Macleod
"Dances And Dames"
via APM
Paul Pritchard "Descent Into Darkness"
Nigel Mark Bates "Alien Zone"
Eric Caspar "UFO Story"
Sarah Natasha Penelope Warne "Uptempo Swing"
Help us caption & translate this video!
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[@Engineer_Who]

And here I thought he put on a weirdly dramatic voice in Twilight Zone. Nope. That's just how he talks.

[@BlankonblankOrg]

amazing, right?

[@fatpowerful]

It's crazy that's he has a voice like that. But he was a writer.

[@corporalclegg9640]

He was a great writer, and wrote many scripts for TV. They used to be called Teleplays. Both he and Gene Roddenberry used to write Teleplays. Serling came from Syracuse, NY. I believe...his production company was called Cayuga productions. He was one of the greats from TV's Golden era.

[@kelleytm57]

Corporal Clegg witness if you will...

[@mushmorant9253]

He had a cottage/summer residence on Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes of central New York State that being the origin of the name of his production company.

[@jordanlewis4983]

This dude had kids, could you imagine that voice getting you in trouble?😂 “Now girls, we’ve come to a crossroads in which you can admit wrongdoing or not, but in this universe we must protect absolute truths, lest we be sent spiraling into... the Twilight Zone.”

[@rubyscoville9340]

John Doe Ok I need to say, this comment is gold.

[@bigdaddyaen]

Imagine if you will: A rug in a living room floor, like hundreds of millions of living rooms across this country. A pristine, white rug which only remains that color from the hard work and tender care of it's owners. This particular rug, however, isn't quite as pristine as we were led to believe. No, near the table edge in the center of the rug the color shifts from ivory to a dark purple, and is accompanied by the unmistakable scent and dampness that would normally accompany grape juice. Now, this would normally be easily explained, easy to wrap ones head around, in that one of two girls who occupied this living room had spilt grape juice that was resting on the table. But how does one account for contradicting testimony that both girls were nowhere near the living room in question, and have no earthly idea how the ivory rug lost it's color? We'll try to reconcile this question...in the Twilight Zone.

[@pclone5019]

@@bigdaddyaen Thank the algorithm for letting me find this chain of comments.

[@snailsaredumb9412]

I read this in his voice in my mind

[@illegallemur4024]

*snaps belt together*

[@ashboppin8208]

the part where he talks about going home and walking through his hometown was turned into a real Twilight Zone episode.

[@danieljm2608]

Ashton Baham which episode and season?

[@TheDBbrothers]

Daniel Jaimez-Meneses season 1 episode 5 "walking distance"

[@funkmonster]

ashtray B there were a lot of episodes about returning home. Including the train with the next stop at Willoughby and the kick the can episode - all desires to return to a more youthful time.

[@jamesmack3314]

Yes Willoughby was great especially when his boss is ragging on him saying it's a " push push push business "!! Great stuff

[@ButcherSevenActual]

"Young Man's Fancy" also sort of falls into that category.

[@TheMaddogMiner]

This audio is about 50 yrs old but it sounds like it was recorded yesterday

[@RandomDudeOne]

It was recorded analog, it sounds better than today's crappy digital.

[@nyanscout3413]

They probably had the best dang microphones money can buy

[@indridcold8433]

The nature of sound is analogue. It would then be logical to record it in analogue to avoid quantizing noise. But someone thought it a better idea to record it in digital and get the stupid occasional robot sounding sound error. Is this really progress? Digital imagry is brilliantly beautiful. Digital sound, not so much.

[@bearsleethere6996]

ironically this audio (for this cartoon) was cleaned/restored and (re)mastered in a DAW, so yall are actually complimenting digital audio by trying to shit on it lol.

[@brightbite]

@@bearsleethere6996 Maybe that is the future of sound: record on analogue, then utilize digi cleanup methods.

[@gabe_s_videos]

4:00 It's kind of comforting to know that kids were doing this as far back as the 1920s.

[@GreenEyedDazzler]

Robogabriel seriously!

[@SharpDesign]

I have memories of both being that kid, but also hating that kid..lol

[@guillermoluciano7774]

I was that kid, but it was in rock, paper, scissors, and i would always choose superman

[@pumpkin_the_snek]

In rock paper scissors I would always choose black hole

[@sirmemesalot84]

It’s sad because at my school (i went recently) the teachers would punish us for playing games like that and say it was too violent

[@joerobson6800]

You're entering the vicinity of an area adjacent to a location...

[@lonerChise]

The kind of place where there might be a monster, or some kind of weird mirror

[@Pynaegan]

Wow....that door. What ever is behind it must be.....

[@21309ichiro]

The scary door

[@thegoogleshill8657]

There's a floating eye... That may or may not see things.

[@corwinorr]

IT TURNS OUT IT'S MAN

[@tpp5151]

The Twilight Zone's genius isn't in the science fiction aspect but that it presents moral dilemmas and emotional horrors, like what do you when you watch someone make a grave mistake or what do you do when your greatest fear confronts you? It's one the best television shows ever made.

[@robertjones811]

Horror, yes. Not gore, but true horror - such as the absolute fear of a 6 yr old farm boy, like every 6 yr old doesn't want to go to bed, wants to watch TV, and gets mad when disciplined would with a mere thought instantly disfigure you or put you " in the corn field", or even "make you dead". Don't dare say the snow he just conjured will kill your crops!

[@writerconsidered]

In a word Rod Serling's genius was understanding human nature and playing with.

[@The22on]

@@robertjones811 Shut up! That episode is the only TZ one that I cannot watch! It gives me nightmares. I hate that episode! Especially that damn jack-in-the-box. Arghhh!

[@richardwicks4190]

*"The Twilight Zone's genius isn't in the science fiction aspect but that it presents moral dilemmas and emotional horrors"* Almost all science fiction did back then. Now it's dumb 'splosions and nonsensical writing. They don't want people actually thinking, they want people conforming.

[@Warrior99980]

I agree with you 100%.

[@TheGuitologist]

I love Rod Sterling. He was a real one of a kind.

[@dlmullins9054]

You are weird.

[@paulwardle4761]

That's Serling.

[@Louzahsol]

@@dlmullins9054 most guitarists are, that’s why we gravitate towards guitar

[@marstuber2836]

Rod Serling you lying piece of shit.

[@gaminganimators7000]

@@marstuber2836 jesus it's just a mistake

[@timy9197]

"Some liars go to prison, others write television shows."

[@ocsspot]

"You know, It's as simple as that."

[@ocsspot]

Eyehead: ...... and accomplish more in 15 months than his predecessor accomplished in 8 years.

[@aangsstaff4174]

Some become the president of the United States

[@ChuckMcC]

@@aangsstaff4174 I know right? Lying about where they were born and what college they went to to be able to get elected... Sad... So sad...

[@aangsstaff4174]

Son's of Liberty yeah it’s not like there’s any evidence whatsoever that he wasn’t born in America, or that he didn’t go to Harvard okay snowflake

[@malikghanoumer6939]

he's a damn well-spoken man ,with good voice and a great writer. I feel like I need to be like him

[@dlxmarks]

Just avoid the chain smoking and having a fatal heart attack at 50 part.

[@MrSloika]

Yes, in the not too distant past, adults could actually speak in complete sentences. Compare that today. For proof just look at the moron currently occupying the white house.

[@javi__...]

Its because he was a radio man. Everyone who is in radio or on media has that voice. Especially in those days.

[@skantiloak]

Take in the good traits of all you look up too , and don’t adopt their bad traits

[@winstonchurchill3597]

@@MrSloika Lowest unemployment and a booming economy, ISIS a mere shadow of itself, better trade agreement with Mexico and Canada - I think you see a moron every time you look in the mirror - just saying.

[@pseudo3100]

Oh god Rod Serling was one of those kids who did the "everything proof shield" thing.

[@fsmith45]

I was too unfortunately

[@robertmartin8907]

it is kind of inspiring to realize that even the most despicable of beings can grow to become useful to society.

[@oWoUwUoWoUwU]

I was one of those

[@illegallemur4024]

Nah the real fkrs were the kids that would say “time out” just before getting tagged

[@pseudo3100]

@@illegallemur4024 true

[@friedelt]

dude, Rod was really sort of a genius.

[@davidb5205]

@MrBrenman21 - Appalled about what exactly? TV and film is far less censored than it was in the 1950/60's. Rod Serling fought against corporate censorship (e.g. Ford Motors removing references to the Chrysler Building) and political censorship (e.g. networks avoiding heavy topics like race and xenophobia).

[@davidb5205]

@MrBrenman21 - Did you actually watch the clip you sent me? It reinforced everything I said. He was pressured to change a story about racism in the South because of censorship. He also changed a story about gas chambers because of pressure from corporate sponsors. The vocal minority of prudish viewers existed back then as well. Nothing he said contradicts what I said. The 3 Stooges doing Nazi satire isn't groundbreaking. That still exists today. The whole "Downfall" internet meme is modern day Hitler satire. South Park, Family Guy and other shows have frequently lampooned Hitler among many other topics. No one bats an eyelash. But that doesn't matter to you. I know your type. You shriek about "left wing propaganda" and "muh es-jay-dubya bogeyman" because it fits your narrative. Have a nice one.

[@davidb5205]

@MrBrenman21 - The Office, It's Always Sunny, Arrested Development are all far more risqué and cover way more "offensive" topics than All In The Family or Hogan's Heroes (Really? That's your example of offensive? Hogan's Heroes was a snoozefest campy sitcom, no more racy than MASH or Gillian's Island, with plots just as generic). The Office has done every type of joke: racial, sexual, political, otherwise. Michael Scott is far more risque than doddering geriatric Archie Bunker. And all those shows I mentioned are insanely popular to this day. To your point about corporate sponsors, here are actual examples of why they censored Rod Serling's work: "Constant changes and edits made by the networks and sponsors frustrated Serling. In _Requiem for a Heavyweight,_ the line “Got a match?” had to be struck because the sponsor sold lighters; other programs had similar striking of words that might remind viewers of competitors to the sponsor, including one case in which the sponsor, Ford Motor Company, had the Chrysler Building removed from a picture of the New York City skyline." Corporate meddling had nothing to do with being afraid of offending viewers. It was purely selfish. It was always about their bottom dollar, nothing more. Why am I not surprised you pulled out the "Cultural Marxism!" freakout? You're exactly who I thought you were. HA!

[@lawr5764]

Sort of??

[@williamjordan8603]

@@davidb5205 wow. Stereotype much?

[@BaggyMcPiper]

He had a fantastic voice.

[@AnthonySforza]

What's funny is that I got into it with someone about Jared Leto as the Joker and while I like both the character and the actor, I wasn't feeling the portrayal. So they asked me what my ideal Joker that hasn't been shown yet would be like. Honestly, somwhere between Heath Ledger's mannerisms and ability to scheme and Mark Hamill's psychosis, but definitely with a Rod Serling like voice. Like how "matter of fact" he was at the beginning in every episode of the Twlight Zone. As though he was the only one that was in on a huge joke being played on the world and the conviction that went with it. Which oddly enough, is what lead me to this video.

[@vinayseth1114]

+Anthony Sforza Haha- yes, the voice of a confident, unfazed, condescending elder. Caesar Romano's Joker immediately comes to mind!

[@richardday3136]

Another documentary on Serling referenced Carry Grant influence, but I'm thinking a strong dose of Humphrey Bogart. As for the joker I really liked Jack Nicholsons.

[@commentatron]

Smoking chains will do that for you.

[@KeggleStomp_Pogrompa]

“He grows wings and flys off” that’s a very tame example, it’s more like he melts into a liquid and escapes through the gutter

[@worldcomicsreview354]

Special effects technology allowing. There was a children's show in the 90's about a girl who could do that. Alex Mack the Chemical Kid, or something. I need to look it up, now, I bet the CGI is retrospectively hilarious.

[@gregstark6842]

This guys is too suave man.

[@rainmanslim4611]

Greg Stark The deffinition of cool

[@mattk3645]

Greg Stark You know you can edit comments to fix things like grammar mistakes. Just a friendly reminder.

[@samishah6710]

Couldn't agree less Satie

[@SirReal1958]

Rod Serling = Don Draper's mentor.

[@39PSIOnTheDaily]

Rainman Slim nah, that’s Steve McQueen dude

[@ShanOakley]

When I was a child of 6-years-old, Rod Serling had a cabin on Keuka Lake ( one of the "Finger Lakes" in western New York state), next to my grandfather's cabin. They would sit outside on lawn chairs and talk the afternoon away. I would sit nearby and listen to them spin wonderful yarns that captivated my childhood imagination. I had no idea then, that Mr. Serling was a famous writer. He would actually listen to my grandfather tell stories, in his Irish brogue, more than he told stories to my grandfather. My grandpa was a prolific story teller. I realized how lucky I was years later, to have experienced such a wonderful window of time in my early and formative years.

[@gamerpro021]

Shan lucky you sounds awesome realizing that now he talking to someone famous.

[@PC4USE1]

Picture if you will, a young lad given a window to that strange and eerie place that would be called The Twilight Zone.

[@reverendfunk5900]

Shan Anybody from Interlaken or near it knows that you're talking bullshit so stop making up lies and stories because Rod Serling's home was on Cayuga lake not Keuka lake and it's central NY not western NY. His home was in Intertlaken NY It's a half hour drive north of Ithaca. He's buried near Interlaken at the Lake view cemetery as well and I've visited his grave a few times and placed pennies on his grave because he was a WW2 vet before he became a famous playwright. On an other note I also know where Carl Sagan is buried too. It's Ithaca.

[@yeraschitt2642]

Rev Funk. I'm from a small town near Watertown NY and I've always heard that he lived somewhere around Cayuga lake close to Ithaca. That's why he named his production company for The Twilght Zone, Cayuga productions. If you're going to lie, Shan, then do a little research first other wise some people who knows the truth are going to call you out

[@yeraschitt2642]

I just got done watch a tv series called "The loner" A western written and produced by Rod Serling and the production company was called Interlaken productions which makes Reverend Funk's reply to you more creditable.

[@duffstah1]

I think I've watched this over 30 times now. What a mind. "You simple cannot go home again" kills me every time.

[@glennso47]

duffstah1 Hotel California: You can checkout any time you want, but you can never leave.

[@pjdougherty6442]

There’s a Twilight Zone episode about that exact concept. A man goes back in time to relive his childhood, only for the world and time period to reject him. At the end he learns that he can’t keep looking behind him, he needs to move on.

[@gersonkphone]

@@pjdougherty6442 Aren't there like 20 episodes about this concept? But I guess the one closest to what he's talking about is Walking Distance, which is from '59 and it looks like the interview is from '63.

[@nextstoplife2646]

It's a shout out to Thomas Wolfe, an explorer/chronicler of the human experience.

[@The_sound_Of_Thunder]

Really articulate guy.

[@QuotesYes]

Why is it not surprising that the creator of The Twilight Zone didn't want to fly on the same plane as his wife because you never know what might happen up there?

[@Pynaegan]

Quite a rational (if not expensive) concern.

[@waterdamnaged]

Because there's always something on the wing.

[@stranger59]

Pynaegan, actually, it's still two tickets, so it should be the same price. Probably a bother to wait for whoever is landing second though.

[@jamesmack3314]

Classic episode but man that gargoyle costume was terrible...really cheesy

[@bassred7065]

@@jamesmack3314 If you really look at it, its sort of realistic. Looks like an evolution of human

[@isaiahfowlkes]

Interesting fact: One of Sterlings biggest influences in his writings for the Twilight Zone was during the war he watched a food crate fall out of a plane and decapitate a friend of his. The randomness of the death made him question mans place in the universe and stayed as a common theme in a lot of his writings after the war

[@pagamenews]

55 years later and his made-for-TV series is probably better than most of what Hollywood presents in cinemas these days.

[@jerobriggs6861]

All, not most, The Twilight Zone is better than all of Hollywood's sci-fi cinema, especially today's cinema.

[@riccaruso7791]

Did you know that was one of the Screenwriters of the late 1960s movie 🎥 THE PLANET OF THE APES 🦧?

[@babydriver8134]

Not probably. Definitely better that 99% of what's available today.

[@fubarmodelyard1392]

Not probably.

[@nodishtoodeep3053]

I’ll take it one step further, interviews like these are better than what’s around today on tv. I find myself listening to old historic interviews more often then watching tv of any kind.

[@tmrezzek5728]

"Some writers go to prison, others write television shows." Oh, man...Rod Serling was one-of-a-kind. His series 'Night Gallery' often gets overlooked, but some of the episodes are equal to the best of 'The Twilight Zone.'

[@matchavez6915]

TM Rezzek I dont believe he wrote any of the NG episodes though. Just hosted.

[@lukewise1227]

I think the comment was "some liars go to prison". His lectures and words of wisdom are more relevant today than ever. He should be studied before Shakespeare in English classes. He is more relevant today than Shakespeare ever was.

[@worldcomicsreview354]

​@@lukewise1227 You use phrases coined by Shakespeare (and the Tynsdale Bible) every day.

[@jamesa.smiddy2680]

Though I'm 18 I still grew up watching some twilight zone. This is a spectacular find. Serling is just a classic man.

[@karlhungusjr1]

i'm almost 50 now and the older I get the more amazed I am at Rod Serling and the more i come to terms with why i was drawn to the Twilight Zone when I was a kid.

[@fluorosco]

Type in Rod Serling UCLA on youtube for three lectures he gave on the sixties and seventies. If you like Rod Serling, you will love them

[@jamiestewart48]

Thank you so much. Thank you. Just spent a few hours over the past two days now and they're an absolute treat.

[@fluorosco]

@@jamiestewart48 That is brilliant!!! I'm glad you like them. I love listening to the ucla lectures. He really cared didn't he. Funny too. Sometimes i listen to them when im doing jobs in the house or going to sleep at night. There are great programnes on the BBC RADIO PODCASTS TOO. Like DESERT ISLAND DISCS. They go back to the 1940s and right up to present day. Just type in google " desert island discs". Glad you like the lectures. Take care ☺

[@ImperfectWeapons]

"It was already predicted by good science fiction 25 years ago." Extremely telling that all the most accurate predictions about the future of technology have always come from writers of fiction, rather than professional futurists, engineers, etc. Any good writer has an innate understanding of human nature, and through that what resonates with man about a certain machine and what hopes and hungers it inspires. That's 10x more valuable than a detailed understanding of how that machine works and, on paper, what the next logical step should be in terms of discover/advancement. That's also why we should find it extremely disconcerting how science fiction of the past several years has become overwhelmingly cynical.

[@stuvs830]

My thought is that writers are drawing more freely on other elements converging at the same time, for example one aspect of space travel leaning just as heavily on our ability to package foods as it does on aerodynamics. "Blade Runner's" marvelous photo-imaging machine, seen treated as an everyday object, is one of my favorite things.

[@GabyGibson]

+Celine StClair Indeed.

[@daysleeper999]

+ImperfectWeapons Extremely well put, and very, very true.

[@vinayseth1114]

+Stu VS 'Photo-imaging machine'? You mean the one that Ford's character uses to zoom in on a photo?

[@TheBluMeeny]

I really don't see how you make the comparisons from writer to scientist. Both exist in, for all intents, separate realms. While writers might draw on the work of scientists to birth fictional universes, they are nowhere near "more valuable". Its an impossible claim to substantiate, I would like to see one try.

[@liljohnnotbigjohn]

Serling served in the 11th Airborne Div, in case anyone was curious.

[@migmadmarine]

i think he made jump on corregidor

[@rasarmusic1]

“Quick to whip up a script like Rod Serling” - MF DOOM

[@aventually72]

rest in power

[@evanschmitt2830]

Which song is that from?

[@purplethumb8961]

Couple touches I really liked: The way Rod is huge when returning to his home-town, and how everything is in black and white.

[@jokerzwild7835]

His response to the question at 3:43 actually made me LOL. Gotta love Serling

[@mascadadelpantion8018]

Anyone who's ever been a fan of Rod Serling darn well knows that he is a kind and caring man who's been through a lot and it shows

[@calvinscheuerman]

When he's describing wanting to go home, but not being able to go back, he's describing a twilight zone episode; like, perfectly. I wonder if he thought of the episode concept after making that observation in this interview...

[@hwhic2874]

Man I love this guy. And he was a paratrooper too!? Wow

[@monkeyfeed908]

Do you think he realized how big he was going to be in the world for the next 100 years?

[@40GamesAG]

Hopefully longer?

[@Soulace1]

He’s only 5’4

[@sidneyshaw1608]

Shadow Spear LOL got emmmmmm!

[@travis_redfern6771]

I think he liked writing stories, and that was all.

[@Cupcakes76]

I forgot what this was from, might be from a behind the scenes bit; But Serling said something along the lines of “This program will be known for generations”. Perhaps he expected the series was going to be big for a decade or two but in no way did he expect it to be relevant and discussed in 60 years from its original airings. I wonder how he would react if he knew that it’s impact is lasting this long, I like to think he’d be very pleased to know his work didn’t go unseen or unheard

[@PerKiryu]

Rod sterling and the masterpiece that is The Twilight Zone I feel doesn’t get talked about enough for how genius it really is.

[@210raab]

Sterling?

[@johndeer5033]

They don't walk through life, they fly. I love that line.

[@soitgoes290]

He seems like so much fun to chill with

[@sonicguyver7445]

Rod Sterling had such a capacity to keep you enthralled as he talked. There is a reason he is still regarded as a genius in storytelling.

[@callumgillies9611]

Rod is such a stud I can feel the tensions between them in audio snippets. GOAT.

[@jauger99]

This is the first time I've ever heard Rod outside of his monologues on the twilight zone. His "Oh indeeed" made me smile so big.

[@AliasUndercover]

I can't even imagine not having seen the Twilight Zone. It may be one of the first things I ever saw on TV.

[@Valizan]

This was very cool. Every time I hear an interview with Mr. Serling, I realize the world lost a great man. For his imagination, his depth, his intelligence and his dry wit. And the stories he told on Twilight Zone are still relevant to this day.

[@matthewlee4697]

I remember being a kid in the 90s and I use to watch the twilight zone on the sci-fi channel with my mother. I will always have appreciation and respect for rod and the twilight zone...the twilight zone was apart of my childhood.

[@lizardart99]

oh my god. Rod Sterling is such a cool guy!

[@210raab]

Sterling?

[@tehapu7358]

Watch out for the Spelling Police. They'll getcha.

[@johnchief270]

I agree Rod, this is the nicest interview, makes me feel warm too

[@irenicum]

What a delightfully brilliant and humourous interview! This makes me love Rod Serling all the more! He had and continues to have even to this day a profound influence on my own story telling and ethical centre.

[@warrenpierce5542]

The world is a better place because of Rod Serling.

[@mistermagee]

One of the best in your series, thanks for this interview.

[@PogieJoe]

Extraordinary interview and animation. God, what a smooth-taking badass he was.

[@MrUndersolo]

I love this so much... Serling made one of the greatest TV shows ever and could be very charming and articulate about many topics. Great to hear this!

[@robertwilson7532]

Absolutely excellent interview. Glad and honoured to view it, a few years later. Superlative storytelling Sterling, as always. Grand.

[@benconnor3206]

This animation is just such a gift and so cool, I really appreciate them doing this. Rod has always had a significant impact on my life especially my childhood with twilight zone, I really think Jordan Peele is doing adjusters and I just love the hear rod speak sometimes like this

[@joshwalker2152]

Morgan Freeman's voice is overrated compared to Rod Sterling's voice. I could listen to this guy talk all day

[@210raab]

Sterling?

[@andrewlineberger7544]

👍

[@ivanmcallister4882]

👍

[@AllTheBestCO]

Would you listen to Morgan Freeman's voice describing the evolution of porn -- from his personal perspective///

[@freeze2869]

@@AllTheBestCO is that an actual video?

[@erinbunbury9210]

I could watch this so many times and never get bored of it.

[@scottloar]

Educated and articulate a public man in interview expressing his craft and insights into the human condition. Such a rarity now.

[@Z-Zack]

I just need a 10 hour long video of Rod Serling talking. It's so relaxing I could fall asleep to it.

[@Kinochan28]

Oh i really admire this man, he´s such a charismatic, intelligent and creative person.

[@BartKing]

I loved this so much. Thank you for posting it!

[@timbylander7015]

The greatest story teller of all time.

[@vladtheimpala5532]

I didn’t realize he had such a great sense of humor. I should have realized it. He was very intelligent and imaginative. He had a great sense of irony and the ability to take the ending in an unexpected direction.

[@schawangus]

Growing up as a kid in this age, I’ve only ever seen and heard Rod Serling while watching the Twilight Zone with my dad, but I never thought about the fact that he exists outside of the show, so hearing this, and hearing him chuckle at times is really strange. Very cool though, he was such an awesome guy.

[@clevertitle3767]

The imagery or his giant presence to his tiny home town is fantastic, I love this much

[@kernjames]

Great little production. Thanks !!

[@JohnSmith-il7jn]

Rod Serling witnessed the bloody decapitation of his best friend during World War II in the Pacific theater. I don't think he ever forgot it and I think that single event weighed on his storytelling for the rest of his life. In the back of his mind, this is what he may referring to the illusive happiness of the pre-war period of his hometown.

[@IdealX-fr4eg]

he will never be "OBSOLETE!"

[@alfrancisbuada2591]

We will never forget that smooth tone and his well voice

[@wormswithteeth]

Great interview. One of my favourites on here!

[@haroldguenthner6534]

I've been watching this series for over an hour now. I keep saying "just one more..." It's incredibly engaging and raw--what you've done brings real character back into these figures that are mostly portrayed in the media as a billboard of (what is considered to be) their greatest achievement. I started here, with Rod Serling, and it's my favorite--though I love the Carl Sagan, Carol Burnette, and Janis Joplin ones as well. Kurt Vonnegut episode is great too. Kudos. I hope you decide to do a Buckminster Fuller or Joe Strummer one someday--unless you already have. I'll go look for them now. Thanks!

[@Nortorock]

I wish more interviews in the world were like this one.

[@scolkereybel]

That's... I never thought I'd hear that voice be conversationally humble in the first seconds of an interview

[@IAmValenwind]

that was absolutely wonderful, and a joy to listen to! rod serling was a genius way ahead of his time

[@TheMadisonMachine]

Night Gallery was pretty cool too

[@GabyGibson]

It was pretty good.

[@catherinemathers5325]

+Indrid Cold true

[@vinayseth1114]

+Indrid Cold Yes, I think the greyscale works really well in TZ. I'm not sure exactly why- maybe because it removes it well from reality, and maybe it gives you a feeling of the past- perhaps because it makes you look as a document, and thereby a lesson for your time!

[@THX11458]

Yes, all the ones that don't have Gary Collins in them :D

[@renevizcaino4579]

Indrid Cold I remember that that Night Gallery Theme Song was creepy enough also!!!

[@TopsideCrisis346]

One has to appreciate Serling's unique rhetorical style, not just because it makes for some incredible delivery of monologue, but because, well, that's just the way he talks. The Rod Serling you saw on The Twilight Zone wasn't a character - that was the real Rod Serling, presented plainly, perhaps reading from cue cards, but never deviating from his genuine self. When one can present his true self in an effective and engaging manner, that isn't just a true talent for rhetoric - that's real charisma.

[@Troubleshooter125]

Yet another interview with Rod Serling I had never heard before ... EXCELLENT! Thanks for posting this!

[@Warrior99980]

Thank you for posting, Rod Serling was a genius. You wont see another person like him in the next hundred years.

[@mysticlore2828]

every time he finishes a sentence I keep expecting you are now entering the twilight zone.

[@dcbenitez]

He had the lady dripping by the end of the interview lol

[@dansmusic5749]

Great interview. This had a genuine quality about it. A bit fast and cheeky maybe, but truthful. I wish people like Serling were around now, giving advice. Pontificating, if you will.

[@albatani27]

I can't get enough of Rod Serling's interviews. Listening to him speak makes you want to try your hand at writing. Even if it's just for your own journal.

[@GalactcusSpartan]

Mmmm the Rod Serling's voice.

[@TheJthedog]

If his real personality is even half of what’s shown here, he is truly the type of guy (not to sound cliche) who you can seriously see yourself have a beer with and just have probably the best conversation of your life.

[@bjpowerequipment1023]

He was the real deal. Imagine just hanging out with him and hearing his story ideas.

[@hauntedhose]

Such a big heart❤️ Thank you Mr. Serling

[@Sly88Frye]

Thank you for actually bringing this interview to all of our attention nowadays especially with this really cool animation!

[@amphitheatre]

Twilight Zone is one netflix for anyone interested. One of the very few reasons I keep shelling out $8/mo

[@stuvs830]

The series was too scary for me when it aired. I'm supposedly old enough now but I'm still afraid to click on it in my queue.

[@amphitheatre]

Stu VS its tame by today's standards for "horror" (which is really just shock horror). TZ is suspense a lot of the time, which is great.

[@nlewis2386]

there is a marathon on sci-fi every new years/Halloween

[@AnthonySforza]

What's funny is that while tame... many times I've walked away thinking about it days later. Really thinking about it, like in an intellectual way, not just remembering. Can't say I've done that with something scary, per se.

[@ryanisnerdy5186]

I bought the DVD boxset. Night Gallery is collected or is being collected. The other TZ series (80s/2000s) is also collected.

[@WordUnheard]

When are they going to make a movie based on Rod Serling's life? WHEN'S GONNA BE HIS TIME? I'd love to see a movie that is half based on his life, and half an homage to The Twilight Zone, with Serling being in a surreal scenario throughout the film.

[@worldcomicsreview354]

No time! Must make big budget biopic about Michael Jordan 's shoes.

[@virginiapicker]

This is brilliant! Love the animation. Thank you!

[@austinjackson7103]

I could listen to this man talk for hours

[@danpatch4751]

I can think of a few times I could have given a medal or ribbon to service I received in the back of a cab

[@orsonhurst1248]

Rod Serling is the real Don Draper.

[@Jakepearl13]

Wasnt expecting this to be a PBS production,major props!

[@Sedlan18]

Rod Serling brilliance in story telling and that smooth talking. Definetly a mind from another dimension.

[@derekseven1647]

Great animation. Keep animating vintage interviews. I would pay have the twilight zones animated by you on a DVD. Keep up the good work.

[@SOLIDSNAKE.]

It's amazing how the show only ran for 5 years but it's stayed relevant for all these years

[@Idolhands7007]

This is one of the most delightful things I have seen. Ever.

[@kathrynmcelroy5658]

What an incredible man thank you for doing this one. Love blank on blank!

[@kinkyyogi]

Such an interesting man. Very articulate

[@mycollegeshirt]

well spoken.. is racist code

[@commentatron]

@@ddqwf You know you said that out loud, right?

[@WorldsWorstBoy]

Rod is an exceptionally awesome man

[@pennise]

Rod Serling was a genius for tapping into our innermost thoughts, hopes and fears, then putting it into words and on film.

[@TheBahafis]

Another brilliant storytelling moment!!

[@generaltophat5877]

“Some liars go to prison, others write television shows”