Tell It To Groucho - Rod Serling (April 2, 1962)

You Bet Your Life was retooled as "Tell It To Groucho" and sold to CBS for one short season in early 1962. Here's half of one of the very few episodes available to view today, featuring Rod Serling.
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Episode identification and basic description based on "Tell 'em Groucho Sent You", © 1997 by Mark Petty. Used by permission.

[@joebeeber8693]

WE NEED MORE ROD SERLINGS IN THE WORLD TODAY !!!

[@arricammarques1955]

JJ Abrams :)

[@cnussbau]

We need more Patty Harmons too

[@sammyvh11]

More Grouchos too

[@stevebishop9468]

@@arricammarques1955 that's the last thing we need!!!

[@jamaldominicbarr7379]

Hell No!. NOOOOOOO! NOOOOO! Hell NOOOOOOO! JMS during the original run of B5, sure. Maybe in some small way, bad robot, but only during Lost!

[@francism.4525]

I could hear Rod Serling read a phone book, he's great !!!

[@rayjr62]

Rod's voice could melt fucking cement.

[@ms-vv2gg]

Submitted for your approval...

[@kendallbarlow6555]

Yes!!!

[@jacobrengen]

It would still be weird

[@sarcasticallyrearranged]

Him and Orson Welles had such great voices.

[@rebeccalentz1893]

Rod Serling was such a kind, humble man. I just love his beaming smile! And how sweet of him to promote this waiter/singer. Thanks for sharing!

[@donporter8432]

I notice how he doesn't move his jaw when he talks. Speaks through his teeth. For me that greatly adds to his mystique!

[@richardr8753]

@@donporter8432 that’s because he’s a ventriloquist.

[@krunkle5136]

That's what WWII did to people. A strong, wonderful human being nonetheless.

[@sandygrendell3772]

Rod Serling was a close family friend. Such amazing talent that left us way to soon.

[@wetlazer]

Sandy Grendell is it all odd that Rod Serling, on some level, reminds me quite a bit of Peter Falk. I think both of them were such amazing talents.

[@reverendfunk5900]

Sandy Grendell I'll call your bluff. Where are you from?

[@kylefrank638]

@@wetlazer I see the similarities too. I love both those guys' accomplishments.

[@good-dm6gr]

He was the best ever

[@goodwilj]

You were very fortunate.

[@JRec-ql5fc]

i love how he speaks. my gosh. when he went in to the story about the waiter i thought it was the beginning of a twilight zone episode. " i want to tell you about Batista Locatelli..."

[@Chorkaloopa]

Rod Serling seemed like a real stand up kind of guy.

[@deanpd3402]

I'm a stand up guy but I am also a sit down guy.

[@guynorth3277]

@@deanpd3402; Then sit down.

[@realamerican6101]

A lot of baby boy were named Rod in those day because of him !

[@Beefsteer]

I knew Rod personally--he was great--what a genius.

[@guynorth3277]

@@Beefsteer; What a tremendous honor.

[@paulkersey1007]

I'm 23 and he's an absolute legend in my eyes.

[@rob99201]

Awesome that Mr. Serling helped an out of work guy get noticed and that Groucho and him got him some starting money.

[@musicom67]

Better than what was going on "Queen For A Day' in the daytime...

[@mortweiss3151]

Rod Serling was a U.S. Army Combat paratrooper. He saw action in the South pacific.

[@doodad77]

Yet, while put into the dilemma of WW2 where, by chance, he was on the just cause, he was very critical about war beside corruption & injustice promoting conflict, especially what became known as the military industrial complex. He was considerate & compassionate for humanity. He was able to reflect that in TZ episodes.

[@Normalhowaboutyou]

Yes and many of his Teleplays are based upon his experiences. Poor guy smoked himself to death RIP

[@Normalhowaboutyou]

Amazing how Groucho, Carson, Parr and recently Craig Ferguson make the current crop of late night hosts look sick

[@terencedove5047]

@@Normalhowaboutyou ...I would agree with that. Quantity can't replace quality...

[@pennise]

@@Normalhowaboutyou It's not really amazing at all. The aforementioned Groucho, Carson, Parr, and Ferguson had talent - the current crop do not.

[@scottmiller6495]

Two incredible Icons from a time that we will never ever see again Ever PERIOD!!!!!

[@melissahirst3078]

"Any state, any entity any ideology that fails to recognize the dignity, the worth the rights of man [people] ; that state is obsolete".... this is the most amazing and accurate quote I have ever heard. Rod has said a great many things that the world needed and needs to hear, and will not be erased..... RIP Rod you are loved

[@Mr05Chuck]

Never heard of this show before. Both Groucho and Rod had iconic voices.

[@Drummerchick2003]

Same but glad I am here

[@thecursor1]

What's great about this video is that it's two amazing talented gentleman from television's early days. This is essentially a meeting of the tv minds.

[@RossAvery]

Damn that work ethic. 24 hour preparation for every episode, 156 episodes, probably didn't take many days off or vacations, if any. Served in WW2. Real hero, model citizen & overall class act.

[@bigsky1970]

Battista's Hole in the Wall in Vegas is his restaurant, which is still in business.

[@michaelamanek8908]

My proctored is on their wall with Gordie.

[@terencedove5047]

If it's still there, I will visit it when I go to Vegas in a couple of months. I crave authentic Italian cuisine...

[@antarcticorb9197]

That is the first restaurant I ate at on my first visit to Vegas. They serve family style there.

[@CaesiusX]

That is so great! I was sitting here wondering what might have happened to him after this.

[@PhilBagels]

Whoa! I've eaten there many times! I had no idea who "Battista" was, or anything about him.

[@roamlikekane]

So sad he left us too soon. He smoked most of his life and worked long hours. Not to mention the stress of dealing with the politics behind the scenes of him trying to push for his work to be aired on these 'commercially oriented' tv stations. Rod Serling held a lot of integrity and belief in his work and never sold out to the big-wigs, even though he could have easily and thus retired and faded into obscurity like the rest of them. But, for the benefit of us; the viewing public, his work lives on and his legendary status has become cemented in tv history. Btw, loved his narration and hosting of a documentary series on UFO's during the 70's in the ladder part of his life: when he explains the "Krill" alien, hands down one of the most fascinating tv moments in tv viewing history.

[@dariapoklemba2150]

He was a medic and suffered from ptsd. He once said, "I received most of my ideas for my stories from my war experience. "

[@Kozo-Sushi]

Wow, I never would've guessed Rod Sterling was shy considering he would pop into people's living rooms and rant for five minutes about some horrible fate that will befall them on Twilight Zone.

[@gotohellaaron]

It's "Serling". It's a Mandela Effect and a lot of people remember it as "Sterling".

[@davegreene8588]

@@gotohellaaron He never "ranted".

[@gotohellaaron]

I never said he did. You meant to type the other guy's name.

[@sarcasticallyrearranged]

Rod had to be convinced to step in front of the camera because he was extremely shy and had a lot of stage fright.

[@terencedove5047]

Rod and Alfred [Hitchcock] exhibited many of the same qualities both behind, and then in front of, the camera. MeTV shows both "TZ" and "AHP" back to back, with introductions by both men in many, if not every, episode(s) of their respective shows...

[@andrewsharpe3793]

This must be a rare clip as I.have not seen it before. Rod Serling was talented and sadly left us way too soon.

[@SwarthySkinnedOne]

Andrew Sharpe I think he was a "Thorn Bird". Ever seen that movie or read the book (authored by Colleen McCullough I think), "The Thorn Birds"? There is a moving poem in the "Thorn birds" recited in both mediums. The gist of the poem is that a Thorn Bird will impale itself on a long sharp thorn to sing the sweetest Melody for the Earth to be blessed by in it's whaling cries of dying in agony, and thus expiring it's life sooner than otherwise. Point being I don't think smoking alone killed Rod off. I surmise that he had put so much energy and intensity into his work throughout the years of his highly active career on memorable productions of superior quality (the guy garnered 6 Emmy Wards to attest that, remember) that over time it taxed his health, and smoking cigs the way he did from his drive concentrate on his writings away from the set and to meet deadlines, not to mention legions of speaking engagements and lectures on the sidelines he obliged to engage himself wholeheartedly, aggravated the breakdown of his physical self. It was as if he had sacrificed his life to sing the sweetest Melody, in a manner of speaking, and leave he World a rich legacy for future generations to be refreshingly educated and edified by. I learned much from him, me being a part of the following Generation and I'm very hard put to find a way to criticise him. I just can't beef with the man, and I'm a very critical , judgemental dude at that. Rod is truly a phenomenon who I love to hear how he disagrees with my ideas in things, so eloquent and very well spoken in rebuttal, with that delightful expansive literary vocabulary of his. Geeze!!! What a guy!!! How in the world can you hate a man like that? Impossible!!! Insane to try.

[@Rocketpalmgrenade]

You can say that again -he leaves right around 5:00 into this clip. Should've stayed the full time

[@717rocket]

Talent and interesting television, sadly lacking today.

[@paulaharrisbaca4851]

Rod Serling is so shy. He always explained that was why he smoked so much.

[@gibran53]

That's Joy Harmon who was on 'You Bet Your Life'. She was the gal who did the car wash scene in 'Cool Hand Luke'. She owns and runs a bakery in LA.

[@joeambrose3260]

Is this her sister Patty ?

[@termeownator]

Oh my god, it is her. Lucille... Lord, whatever I done, don't strike me blind for another couplea minutes

[@robertcronin6603]

No shit - that's awesome - classic scene 😎

[@KebabMusicLtd]

Yeah, I saw her in an outtake of the other show and in the CHL movie. She was certainly eye candy but I don't believe she made many movies or TV appearances. I think she was the kind of wife I imagined I would have when I grew up.

[@donnajocatlady3839]

Excellent info! Thank you!

[@wasnhas]

So great to see Rod Serling in another setting. A true genius, left us way too soon.

[@goodwilj]

Rod Serling passed away much too soon

[@inhibited44]

smoking will do that to you. My aunt smoked since she was a teenager. She stopped a few years before her death, but she died of brain cancer.

[@ediekoller1144]

Rod Serling was almost 37 1/2 yrs old on this show..born In Dec 1924 and dying in June 1975. I am surprised he did not have a cigarette in his hand. I am a big fan of Rod Serlings Twilight Zone. I don't remember this show and I was 15 1/2 when this episode came on tv. Guess I was too busy with high school then. Thanks so much. Groucho is so funny.

[@sandygrendell3772]

Rod always had 2 cigarettes burning at one time. Never saw him without one until I saw this piece.

[@sandygrendell3772]

He always had 2 cigarettes going at once. Never saw him without one in his hand.

[@batterymakermarkii2654]

Very humble person, you can see it in his body language...

[@briangoguen8547]

I hope that fella did well in life.He seems like a nice guy.

[@CaesiusX]

After watching this, I was curious. Turns out he's very easy to find online. He even wrote a book - *_Ciao, Battista: Memoirs of My Life._* He had a very successful restaurant in Las Vegas. And from what I can tell, he's even still alive. His wife only just passed in 2018. There's too much to write here, but doing a simple Google search brought up a lot. Including a number of images, and it's very clear that this is the same guy.

[@myworms]

His restaurant in Vegas seems to be well regarded

[@thebluerobin]

Rod Serling what a talented individual, and great guy, so sad that he died so young.

[@jontz888]

Rod Serling what a beautiful soul

[@leeharrison7355]

"Tell me, is it possible you're off your noodle?" . Brilliant!

[@goodwilj]

Rod Serling was a national treasure.

[@pennise]

"You know, we're not allowed to fix shows anymore." Groucho

[@1serious0mfr]

I love the way they are both standing on stage at 13:08 Rod standing holding his shoulder head down the other guy poise, its almost like they just pulled Rod up from being a waiter outside from a restaurant lol I hope the singer ended up finding good opportunities in his future

[@thomastimlin1724]

This singer is no slouch, that was brilliant.

[@bryanwarm2471]

I was beginning to think I am the only one who noticed his wonderful voice.

[@MezzMcGillicuddy1]

@@bryanwarm2471 Yeah, everybody’s talking about how great Groucho & Serling’s voices are, and they never sang a note! lol

[@jeffsmith2022]

'Patterns' was just outstanding, one of his best for sure...

[@mr.snicker-doodles7081]

Rod Serling had such an amazing voice. Does anyone remember when he used to Narrate'The Under Sea World of Jacque Cousteau" As a kid I loved those so much.

[@TREVASLARK]

Thanks for this great segment. Love Italy, Rod Serling, and Groucho !

[@majorhemroid]

You could tell Groucho was someone Serling looked up to and admired. The body language gives the impression of someone starstruck. At this point Groucho had been a major presence in show business for 40+ years. Hell, I look at both men and admire their accomplishments, body of and high quality of work. Thanks guys.

[@MezzMcGillicuddy1]

Guy comes out, sings his butt off, and everybody talks about what wonderful voices Groucho & Rod Serling have! Ouch! LOL

[@ladyofthewoods2448]

Rod Serling is smaller than I thought he’s very handsome

[@martinhanley9524]

Groucho was a comic genius compared to the folks today - the guest singer is amazing

[@johntucker7063]

Battista Locatelli ended up releasing one record album. Later he moved to Las Vegas and founded a successful restaurant. In 2002 he survived quadruple bypass heart surgery. After that, Battista became an advocate of the Pritkin diet system and eventually ran a marathon in New York at the age of 71. Joy Patricia Harmon is a former "You Bet Your Life" contestant who subsequently became host of "Tell it to Groucho". She also skipped two grades in elementary school, worked as a model, competed in beauty contests, performed on Broadway, and appeared in numerous movies and television shows. Her TV guest appearances included Gidget, Batman and the Monkees. Her file appearances included Cool Hand Luke, Village of the Giants, and Under the Yum Yum Tree.

[@robertcronin6603]

This is freaking excellent...just excellent.

[@yourhandlehere1]

One of his parents was American which makes him an American citizen no matter where he was born is how I think it works..

[@solcutta3661]

Beautiful unassuming soul of Rod sterling. A legend of TV sci - fi.

[@JamesBWBevis]

Agree 100% except for the last name, which is "Serling."

[@jjstewart2120]

Super humble rod .a true gentleman

[@nicholasjanke3476]

The Twilight Zone dealt with stuff that everybody can identify with-loneliness, addiction, fear, the lost girlfriend, isolation, neighbours you can't stand, wishing you'd done things differently, childhood memories. That is probably the main reason the show is a hit.

[@luislopes2494]

Rod Serling seems shy...

[@TREVASLARK]

That was exactly my impression - he looked down and sideways a lot !

[@fallspeed]

He was shy. He was terrified of doing the on-camera segments on the Twilight Zone. One of the reasons he chain-smoked - to help calm himself down.

[@flaggerify]

Famous people are often surprisingly nervous in interviews on TV.

[@terencedove5047]

Very shy, it seemed; as a matter of fact, almost childish in a sense while being interviewed by Groucho...

[@spactick]

i thought the same thing, odd almost bashful

[@williammorse8330]

wow, what a great clip... a time capsule on so many levels..... and talent !

[@artroraback8663]

It is always a treat to see Groucho and I am thrilled to find this series! Thanks for sharing!

[@truBador2]

A large part of Groucho''s appeal is how sharp he is. And his interaction with people is always tempered with a real humanity.

[@bernardbrenner9240]

He was a good actor.

[@mgrella63]

Rod Serling was so charming and handsome! He seems a bit shy too

[@Dexiray]

The quick witness of Groucho is so splendid, it's inspiring, I want to be like him when I grow up.

[@kt9166]

The young man has a magnificent voice! And Groucho was a big Opera fan (was in The Mikado), so he appreciated this!

[@johnstout5656]

Two of the best together Groucho and rod serling

[@jackiereynolds2888]

Rod Serling was the best writer and story teller.

[@msantos545]

Rod Serling is amazing!

[@Torazah]

$1500.00 in 1962....that was a nice chunk of change.

[@pennise]

$12,500 in 2019 dollars. Not an insubstantial amount.

[@hrundibakshi6830]

1962: 1st class postage stamp 4 cents, loaf of bread 5 cents, gallon of gas 31 cents, pound of ground beef 35 cents, movie ticket 50 cents.

[@MartinSage]

In 1962 my Dad was a Capt. in the USAF. His salary was $400/mon so you can imagine what $1500 would buy then!

[@dennispearson9287]

I'm Surprised They Were Giving That Kind of Money Away in 1962 !!!.....And Maybe That Explains why This Program was So Short-Lived !!!......The Sponsors Just Said " There's No Way We Can Afford This !!!!! ".......

[@bobbyslater1198]

"Patterns" was a great movie.

[@acousticshadow4032]

The Pride of Binghamton NY - and one of the best TV writers of all time; Rod Serling.

[@c.moriarty1178]

Rod is so humbled by the legend

[@Nigelpreece]

Just imagine Rod reciting Kipling's "If".

[@PogueMahone1]

Frankly, I don't think he would've cared to.

[@colinwilliams553]

ROD SERLING/ GRAUCHO MARX... two legendary souls....may their both rest in peace.

[@Rnr196970]

First time I have seen Serling without a cigarette..

[@joshs4594]

11:31 A funny reference to the American quiz show scandals of the 1950s.

[@Doggmatic_]

"Bring him out a tray so he'll feel at home" 😂

[@fatfreddyscat5767]

This is a rare treat! Serlings humbleness is surprising. One minor nitpick... couldn't they give the guests a chair?

[@henrikpersson4698]

How refreshing to see a guy sing really well on tv and the audience doesn't scream and roar after every fucking note like they do now

[@TheORIGINALBrentTheGent]

Mr Locatelli is the Owner of "Battista's Hole in the Wall" Restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada !

[@davep3728]

Yeah, right next to Bally's. I've eaten there a few times, the food is good and the prices are reasonable. Very old school Italian. Kind of cool to see a little bit of the history in this clip.

[@boris1932]

Rod worked so hard with little sleep and smoked quite a bit. He suffered for his art, dying all to soon. I am a hug Zone Head -- bought all the episodes couple of years ago.

[@MrCarp2]

Thank you.

[@thomasbinninger1355]

Wow! Marty Roth was a writer on this show.and many sitcom to come.

[@519djw6]

I assume that Batista Locatelli (hope I spelled that right) never made it as an opera singer. However, although I'm no connoisseur of opera, he sounded just as good as anyone else I've ever heard.

[@jimmymac9843]

He opened a restaurant Battista's Hole In The Wall in Vegas.

[@519djw6]

@@jimmymac9843 I found their website, and one of the pictures on it is of an older man playing an accordion. I wonder if that could be Batista Locatelli today.

[@axiomist4488]

Loved it ! Rod was a great writer, who left us way too soon .

[@TariqBusy]

2 of my favorites

[@julianhermanubis6800]

Two of my favorite people in show business---trapped in one of the worst gameshows ever. Oh well, it's good to see Rod and Groucho interact.

[@CruderQuotient1]

Didn’t know Groucho Marx had a talk show. Glad I found this clip

[@ducttape6425]

Wow. Certainly didn't expect such a big voice from the guy.

[@wecontrolthevideo]

If Rod Serling told a story about me, I would be freaked out, something strange was about to happen to my life.

[@ilitardo160]

wecontrolthevideo if rod sterling started randomly narrating my life, I would probably just jump off a window and do his job for him

[@gracestenberg4188]

It’s been done already with Stranger than Fiction...

[@rerite2]

Awesome. Thanks for posting.

[@keithnaylor1981]

The singer brought an emotional tear to eye. Hope he had success.

[@hallucinati]

Wow. Thank you for posting this and for this channel. First time here!

[@petermetcalfe5280]

Serling had a smile like the Joker.

[@darryle-ov4oy]

Beautiful days 💓

[@jasonchristian958]

Pure genius...

[@u47tube]

wonderful, thanks

[@good-dm6gr]

We miss you rod serling

[@FLUXRAKER]

They don’t make shows like this anymore. People either rod was a classy guy

[@tedlawrence4189]

Groucho was one of the funniest comedians of the 20th. century.

[@brianjohnson3782]

Wow he’s excellent! Speaking of the Twighlight Zone his singing brought me back in time.

[@tomato1040]

Purpose over profit is Rod 'Sterling' Profit over purpose is road stealing. When a story has its way of healing It cures those who love high dealing.

[@laggerjoe]

What a voice

[@krisscanlon4051]

Groucho taking the whiz out of ole Rod...nice...we all need a laugh 😅

[@invaderzim4052]

Rod was amazing! I kind of look up to him.

[@winstonsmith3070]

Outstanding... Funny, witty, tasteful. TV in America once upon a time. "Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio"

[@terencedove5047]

Don't tell me you referenced a brief clip from Simon & Garfunkel's 'Theme From THE GRADUATE'? "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you... Woo-ooo-ooo..."

[@cbranalli]

@@terencedove5047 "Mrs Robinson"

[@terencedove5047]

@@cbranalli ... "What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson? Joltin' Joe has left and gone away... Hey hey hey... Hey hey hey..."

[@electronwave4551]

That singing is the way they sounded on the old gramophone records. I always assumed it sounded like that because of the rudimentary audio standards back then, but obviously not; it was the style.

[@MrCodes84]

Meeting Rod Serling and Groucho Marx in one night gave this man bragging rights for life

[@Fourwheeljive]

Everything I know about opera I’ve learned from cartoons.

[@masercot]

I read a couple of his Twilight Zone short story collections. Amazing stuff.

[@bespectacledheroine7292]

My head would be spinning from the sheer surreallity of this, had I been there. What company to share a room with!

[@almeggs3247]

Great humanitarian show. !