The Night Of The Meek - Twilight-Tober Zone

[@ChannelAwesome]

Everyone wish Walter a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! Watch more Twilight-Tober Zone here - bit.ly/TwilightToberZone Follow Walter on Twitter - twitter.com/Awesome_Walter Follow us on Twitch - www.twitch.tv/channelawesome

[@trinaq]

Happy Birthday, Walter! Wishing you a Fantastic day, and I can't wait to watch more episodes of this brilliant retrospective! 💕

[@melindoranightsilver9298]

Happy Birthday Walter!

[@omarsalem1219]

Happy birthday Walter

[@rogue7723]

Happy Birthday, Walter!! 😊🎉🎈Lucky for you to get one of the best episodes of _The Twilight Zone_ to talk about on your special day. 😊

[@naughtycicero1460]

Happy Birthday Walter!! 🎉🎉

[@covcova]

More often than not, the “twist” at the end of an episode had negative consequences, so to have one with a happy one puts it among the elite of the series, in my opinion

[@trinaq]

Likewise, I loved that the central character was a benevolent guy who genuinely wanted to help people, and it's a rare example of a happy ending in the Twilight Zone.

[@petergray7576]

There was a negative consequence. Art Carney was later cast in the Star Wars Holiday Special.

[@magicamadeye]

@@petergray7576 depends on if you see that as a negative...i mean, he probably has a physical copy somewhere that he can whip out like a cross to keep everyone else at bay, we know carrie fisher supposedly did

[@augustthenuz984]

A happy ending doesn’t just make it a great episode. You can still have bad episodes with good endings. The mighty Casey and mr Bevis are 2 examples of episodes that were kind of boring or not great overall but had some pretty happy endings.

[@wesleycook7687]

The endings always fit the story. If the people were bad, they got what they deserved. If they were good , they always had a happy ending. Exceptions like Time Enough At Last and Obsolete put Burgess Meredith in a losing position but in Obsolete , it's the Chancellor that gets his just desserts..Time Enough At Last was really sad.

[@trinaq]

This was such a sweet, heartwarming episode, especially in a show renowned for its darker endings. It definitely fills you with the Christmas Cheer to see Corwin receive his happy ending as a reward for his good deeds.

[@rogue7723]

I love how in this episode Corwin is thrilled to be Santa Claus just to spread goodwill to people and make people happy. He’s not doing it for monetary gain or for fame and glory or even to prove himself to people who besmirched him. 😊

[@davidg.8031]

Trust me, as a retail worker, John Fiedler perfectly portrays about a dozen managers I've had in my tenure.

[@kathleenking47]

I think, he was a tall dwarf...since he didn't look like a short person Bh his natural voice He played on the original RAISIN IN THE SUN as well

[@aracelisantos2350]

😂😂

[@lowrider993]

The scene where the 2 kids ask the mall santa for a job for their dad always gets me.

[@johnham7886]

I honestly love this episode. In my house it’s a YEARLY tradition to watch this around the holidays. Even with the kinescoped look we still love it. A classic.

[@fabulousben]

Absolutely, better than 90% of holiday specials.

[@aracelisantos2350]

❤❤❤❤

[@CaptainRiterraSmith]

The man who needed the magic of Christmas most of all got to share it, and become Santa himself. That is the heartwarming feeling I need when the holidays kick off.

[@Jaydoggy531]

Back at graduate school when The Twilight Zone first appeared on Netflix my friends and I would binge watch Twilight Zone mid-day while waiting on the bus. When we saw there was a Christmas episode we were like "WHAT!? Oh this is gonna be tragic" But then we watched... and... we all felt so good and warm inside. I love this episode so much.

[@philipportelli7700]

At the time, there were complaints over making "Santa" a drunk!

[@geoffreyfyfe2248]

It's like they'd never seen "Miracle on 34th Street" with the drunk Macy's Santa berated by Kris Kringle.

[@philipportelli7700]

@@geoffreyfyfe2248 Well the drunk Santa wasn't the star of the movie!

[@bushidotestu1997]

This is my FAVORITE twilight zone episode, it’s basically just about a beaten down, but good natured, person just doing what he can to make everyone he meets night better and gets a rightful and nice reward for it

[@NightfallShadow]

This to me is one of the greatest Christmas specials ever made.

[@gr33n3ggs4]

Exactly!! Forget your Home Alone, Die Hard, Elf..... this is it

[@NightfallShadow]

@@gr33n3ggs4 Amen brother!

[@kathleenking47]

@@gr33n3ggs4 HOME ALONE has TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD vibes.. Except, character SCOUT was with friends

[@Matterz25]

SpongeBob Christmas special?

[@aracelisantos2350]

❤❤❤❤

[@b3rz3rk3r9]

While this may not be the best episode I've seen, it's definitely among the best Christmas specials ever made. The fact that our lead character starts as a miserable drunk wishing to help people and ends with becoming a kind and jolly Santa makes it all the better for a more heartwarming character arc. I even did a review of it last Christmas after trying (and failing) to get my dad to watch it. He loves heartwarming Christmas stuff like this, but won't watch The Twilight Zone because of his idea that it's a horror show. While I cannot deny that he has evidence to support his claim, I still find it sad that he's missing out on this very beautiful and fun Christmas episode. The arc and character motivation are handled well as he does embody that saying of what's within a Cynic: a disappointed optimist. I like how he's just a sad person because he wants to help, and ultimately fulfills his own wish by granting others' wishes; it's a very beautiful cycle of love. I also love the idea that this is one of those speculative stories that tries to focus on the good parts of humanity. Most speculative fiction I do find interesting in how the failings of humanity can bring out the worst outcomes when a great gift or disaster comes our way, I love a feel good optimistic story like this that reminds me of the good in us and that humans aren't all bad.

[@nickkurtz512]

With how cold it’s getting, this is prefect for a Christmas episode. Also Happy Birthday Walter!

[@feathero3]

Let Halloween and Thanksgiving have their time first though lol

[@melissadahl7561]

It's like Lew Bookman in One For The Angels, but almost with more meaning because unlike Lew Bookman, for whom giving and being good is easy (or at least its easier for him to be good-natured about it), here is this guy who has this one joy in life and wants to give, but feels he can't, although he tries his best anyway, battling through alcoholism and, I would say, depression, and thats what's admirable. In a book I read with an analysis of this episode, it says that Corwin possibly dies in the snow at the end and the appearance of the elf and sleigh is his escort into the afterlife. It's a possibility but a bit dark for me. I just want it to be magic cause I want good things for him. And yeah...totally agree that its weird to think of the guy who plays piglet being the big intimidating store manager. He does do a good job of coming off as mean, though. I do give him that. The filmed look isn't as weird in this one as it was some of the others, and this is definitely an unsung one for me that I watch (along with the similarly heart-felt and underappreciated "Changing of the Guard") when I want to really feel things and maybe even cry a little.

[@themaninblack7503]

Don't forget this guy also played redjack in the Star Trek episode A Wolf in the Fold.

[@ChillsWithSloths]

This is the greatest Christmas special on a television show period

[@claytonrios1]

The absolute best Christmas episode I've seen from the series and one of the best TV Santa's too. The Nostalgia Critic chose well for that Top 12

[@seanpatrickcain2]

He sure did

[@Spectahman2.0]

I always get goosebumps whenever I hear The First Noel play in this episode.

[@TomMSTie1138]

I love Night of the Meek. I cry like a baby every time I watch it.

[@princessangel821]

I got emotional the first time i saw this one, such a sweet story

[@geoffreyfyfe2248]

Serling had worked with Art Carney before. Years earlier, Carney had starred in "The Velvet Alley", a Serling-scripted "Playhouse 90" episode where he played a writer who makes it big in Hollywood at the cost of his soul and everything he really cares about (Jack Klugman also stars in it as his loyal agent who gets thrown over once he goes Hollywood). It's a very interesting piece to view because you can tell Serling was using it to work through his conflicted feelings about his own success.

[@Charlesperalo]

My dads favorite twilight zone and one of my favorites. I love the darker talking Tina type episodes, but man, this is a great thing to watch during the holidays.

[@Sate12]

Most episodes start with someone on top, in a joyful or comfortable life, who is either miserly or cowardly or discontent despite how good their life is. The twist takes their greed and twists it against them. This one takes the down trodden, the pained, the harmed and the wretched and turns it back to give hope and joy to all those who need it most. As fun as it is seeing bad people get their comeuppance or comical to see a long running 'joke' pay off (My bibliophile side always feels pity for Mr. Beemis in time enough at last but my black, shrivled little heart laughs) it's nicer to see a Wholesome Christmas episode where good people get the happiness they deserve. But it would be boring if it were every week

[@ChrisOnStage2]

Every year I watch this and every year it chokes me up.........every time...............guaranteed.

[@ThenewTchannel]

I know it isn't one of the best episodes, but it's still one of my favorites. Art Carney is such a sympathetic character, and it's so wonderful when he finally gets to make some dreams come true. I've been waiting eagerly for this episode to get discussed, and I couldn't be happier knowing it's been given such positive light

[@miciarokiri5182]

I think this is one of the greats because of how different it is. How It shows the fall into despair and then seeing the good and BEING the good brings him out of it. He had such hope for something better and that fire is re-ignited. It's not just a great Twilight Zone episode, but one of the greatest TV episodes.

[@camerondodge2070]

This episode, along with "Changing of the Guard" are usually the ones I bring up first in discussion, because they help show those unfamiliar with the show that there's more to it than just science fiction tales and a monster of the week.

[@brentparker7359]

Art Carney was best known at the time for his role on "The Honeymooners" and "The Jackie Gleason Show." He would later become better known for his role in another Christmas Season classic, "The Star Wars Holiday Special."

[@jenniferschillig3768]

And he'd play Santa again (as well as an evil double) for the Jim Henson Christmas special The Great Santa Claus Switch, shown on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1970. (That special, which I think you can find on KZbin, features the first appearance of the puppet who would become Gonzo, though with a different name, puppeteer, and voice.)

[@jprogaminggd]

This episode is truly heart warming. I can't help but tear up.

[@brucepatrick2655]

I like this one, I watch it every Christmas.

[@trinaq]

Me too, it's such a classic Christmas installment of the show! 🎁🎄

[@legendaryrat]

I watch this episode every year at Christmas time.

[@benjamincastro6063]

The well placed usage of the music box style of noel playing always puts tears in my eyes, never fails especially when they show the officer and mr. Dundee looking up to see corwin leaving the town with his only wish fulfilled

[@JoseMorales-lw5nt]

Always appreciated the fact that Rod Serling was in fact a religious man. Note how Mr. Dundee ends the story with the line " .... and we'll thank God for miracles." Even for its day, network executives were weary of putting religious connotations into their primetime programs. Even Tennessee Ernie Ford wrangled with NBC executives to end his variety show with hymns.

[@darkman060]

Here we go...my second favorite episode of the Twilight Zone (behind Eye of the Beholder). It's become part of my Christmas tradition and like so many people have already said in the comments, the fact that it's one of the few stories that has a truly happy ending makes it among the best episodes

[@TankCop]

I watch this show each year in December.

[@pem1974]

Rod's closing speech at the end of this gets me misty eyed every time I hear it!

[@JD-iu6rv]

This episode has stuck with me ever since I was a little kid. It always made me feel happy and hopeful

[@IamTheaveragegamer]

When they do Twilight Zone marathons around New Years, they show this one at one point, and god do I love it. What a heartwarming, episode.

[@epp6681]

This channel once again lives up to its name. John Fielder's performance was perfect for this lighthearted short story. From the music, atmosphere, characters, perfect episode.

[@Merit2397]

To all those out there who celebrate, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Let this season bring joy to the young and the meek.🎄

[@Morgil27]

I absolutely love the music box rendition of The First Noel that plays throughout the background all through this episode. It really helps punch up the more emotional moments.

[@Pwn2win]

Favorite Twilight Zone episode and favorite Christmas special. The fact that this episode was so cheerful really made it stand out amongst all the grim and depressing themes that the series was known for. I remember recommending this to a friend once. Friend: What's it about? Me: Well, Art Carney plays a drunken mall Santa... Friend: Sold.

[@antonmassopust568]

I'm sorry you're wrong this is a really one of the best Twilight Zone story most people think when I talk about the Twilight Zone something scary I said no not always and sometimes nothing more better Bittersweet wonderful story as Santa Claus idea of giving and becomes before an ordinary man will become the real guy if I had any wish anyone should all it would be to do this every year

[@babysinclairfan]

This is possibly my favorite episode in the entire series. I just love it so much :)

[@cassyblack3346]

This is one of my favorite episodes and I watch it every December. Rod Serling's closing narration always gets to me.

[@Ringey247]

Percevil Smithers : “Look mom Santa Claus is loaded! ”

[@FreihEitner]

"The Night Of The Meek" was a great episode and with some great lines, including "Santa's a lush." and then later, "I fancy a bottle of cherry brandy, vintage 1902." to which he replied, "Oh, that's a good year!"

[@GregNumber5]

As someone who watched TZ on old CRT televisions back in the day, I always thought the video tape episodes had a clearer picture with a little more of a dimensional effect. Though on modern televisions the quality isn’t as good as the other episodes.

[@yukimikasaki9705]

That allegro jazz guitar riff that makes the Tober Zone theme is so relaxing. Like comfortable sedation in a hospital bordering on peace, and dreaminess. I know sedation and hospitals aren't strictly the finished visualization of sheer calmness, but it's like whenever I log in to the Tober Zone, the characters we hear about are all together in some place of tranquility, and about to receive their nightly sedative, along with us....in The Twilight Tober Zone!!

[@Brenda-cg1px]

Nobody could write a sentimental TZ episode like Serling. Although this isn't one of my personal favourites, I do love how it captures that warm, magical joy of Christmastime. As dark as the Twilight Zone could be at times, I loved when episodes would end with a sense of hope, like this one. Art Carney's earnest, sympathetic performance perfectly complements Serling's touching script. Incidentally, if I were to rank all the TZ protagonists from good to evil, I'd definitely put Henry Corwin in the top 3 most good, along with Professor Fowler from "Changing of the Guard" and Lew Bookman from "One for the Angels."

[@jessetorres8738]

Love this one, as well as the 1980s version.

[@geoffreyfyfe2248]

The 80s one has William Atherton as Mr. Dundee, which is just perfect casting.

[@miroslavtomic7038]

Apart for bad quality due to being videotaped, another major issue in this episode is that in virtually all of outdoor scenes you can hear a windmachine blowing snow at the actors. Most noticably during Serling's opening narration.

[@mothra24]

Even talking about this episode moved my agnostic heart to tears

[@Gwaithmir]

Art Carney was superb in this episode. It brought tears to my eyes,

[@devonhill9099]

I was young when i saw this episode on sifi, the way the music capped off the happy ending still makes me cry even to this day.

[@nickswegins6342]

I can’t believe you forgot to mention the kickass cover of “Noel” in this episode. It’s so basic yet so creepy and heartwarming and slow at the same time and I love it. It’s just sucks that I can’t find it ANYwhere on KZbin.

[@jay-day]

Art Carney was absolutely brilliant in his bittersweet portrayal of the drunken Santa. Kudos to the great Rod Serling for his vision in bringing this to us.

[@hayleybartek8643]

Fake Santa is sad because he just wants to spread joy and cheer. Rod: “Someone get this man a sleigh!”

[@melissacooper4282]

Art Carney gave a solid performance in this episode! Ironically many years later he would play Santa Claus in the 1980s Christmas movie The Night They Saved Christmas.

[@richewilson6394]

This is always a staple of Christmas for my family I love the fact that there's actually a portrayal of a 1950 ish Karen

[@Ninnative]

I love this episode and I personally think the way it was shot adds to the fantastical atmosphere of the story.

[@julieporter7805]

Nice to see a happy twist on the show.

[@jamesgarrett8833]

The twist of this episode being the Santa Claus worker was in fact the Santa Claus. Wow, what a shocking, happy & jolly twist

[@SofaKingWeTodEd666]

I remember as a kid the first time I saw this episode it was soo heart felt it legitimately made me cry.

[@rustyshackelford312]

I watch this every year when December rolls around.

[@Sate12]

It's not the "Best" in the sense of the quintessential Twilightzone. But it's definitely one of the most heartwarming and endearing. It is a fun little Christmas special

[@PhoenixHealing]

Rod Serling and whimsey, those are two words I didn't expect would ever go together

[@milestrombley1466]

Santa gave him the gift of being a Santa. 😊😊😊

[@TheInternetHelpdeskPlays]

This is my favourite episode of twilight zone. Just because it ends happy.

[@raywalton1291]

Happy Birthday Walter! I do agree that while "Night of the Meek" is not a favorite, it is still a very good episode, especially Art Carney's performance. You can't go wrong with his speech in the department store.

[@yukimikasaki9705]

Happy Birthday, 🎂 Walter. Keep 'em floating!! I'm enjoying the Tober Zone.

[@jimdavis5849]

This was one of my favorite episodes ever. I try to get my friends to watch it who think the twilight zone is too creepy or scary for them.

[@lightningrodstudios2441]

The twilight zone is famous for having characters that are content in life get a bad ending. I love episodes like this where a character is in a bad place at the beginning and the twist at the end gives the character a great ending

[@MandleRoss]

Who else expected him to fly away on the sleigh and the final reveal to be his body he left behind frozen to death in the snow?

[@jeffreyberkin-ez3uh]

Kinda morbid. I prefer the empty bag ending 😅

[@jeffreyberkin-ez3uh]

My number 96 episode. A drunken Santa? I always remembered representations of Santa as jovial and plumb (too many cookies, perhaps?). Tolerable for Christmas only.

[@MandleRoss]

@@jeffreyberkin-ez3uh Well, it IS The Twilight Zone. Morbid more often than not.

[@TheCreepypro]

I wish more episodes of the twilight zone were like this

[@daveroche6522]

Terrific. This episode remains an example of television/drama at its best. Nowadays we have, em, sorry, blank!

[@kyleshiflet9952]

I watch this episode every year on Christmas eve

[@rockycuro7737]

Hey Walter make sure to come back here and tell us if watching it around Christmas time changes anything for you

[@joshuahitchcock5888]

This is my personal favorite episode.

[@cherylcampbell9369]

Truly one of my favorites, even with the low-quality video.

[@benraya9405]

Happy birthday, Walter

[@Debatra.]

The first time I saw this episode, I'd tuned in after the introduction, et al; and between that and the lower quality of tape vs the usual film, I had no idea it even was The Twilight Zone until I was surprised by Rod Serling's voice at the end. I'd thought I was just watching some cute holiday short.

[@austinmorrison6953]

I’m glad that not every episode of Twilight Zone ends on a somber or creepy note.

[@EccentricGentelman]

I was hoping you'd do this one. I've never really seen this show, in fact watching Twilight-Tober is the closest I've ever gotten. But from what I gather, it typically involves people getting trapped in nightmarish situations. At best the endings were bitter sweet and that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It was a pleasant surprise to learn about this episode, I like it because it's so different to it's norm and I think it's perhaps the only episode I'd really enjoy. It's kind of like the Santa Clause but without Santa falling off that roof. In a way this episode is kind of like that scene from A Christmas Carol, where Scrooge talks with his nephew Fred in his counting house. Scrooge is the regular Twilight Zone with his/it's negativity and Fred is this episode saying "God bless Christmas!" I like to think that when the elf said they'd been waiting for Santa, they meant waiting for Santa to become real, someone to take up his mantle.

[@FurryMcMemes]

It's a part of my Christmas tradition to watch this episode on Christmas Eve, close to midnight.

[@articusramos808]

A good way to slowly end Christmas day

[@TheRegius13]

I can’t thank you enough for doing these.

[@MatecaCorp]

I really love this episode, and having worked at a toy store it was quite cathartic to see the crappy mother and the snarky manager get some comeuppance. I have heard (but cannot confirm) that the train set in the episode was also used as Gomez’s famous train set in The Addams Family

[@karlamckinney8947]

I think the format really improves this particular episode because it makes everything seem so real. I don't know why but I've always felt something different about this episode, could be the great performance by Carney, but I think the format helped.

[@ericjanssen394]

No matter how many annual Christmas viewings it gets (along with accompanying Christmas Kleenex episode “Changing of the Guard”), the floodgates always open whenever that little celeste “Ding ding ding…ding-ding ding ding….” First Noel shows up to follow poor Henry on the music track. 😭

[@sarahwilliamson8646]

I almost wanted to cry at the end

[@beauwalker9820]

I didn't even notice that was Art in that role. It's amazing how many comedians can give such genuine, touching, and dramatic preformances. My favorite part is when after being fired and called a lush, he gives a rather saddening speech about why he drinks. I kinda disagree that the boss should of been played by someone more gruff, and deep voiced. I liked how instead they had a more weasely, shrill, geeky, unthreatening boss as a change of pace, and there are people like that who act tough supervisors, but are just big dweebs. I think it was a nice change of pace, and it was interesting to see John Fielder in a more antagonist role. It also makes the moment where he has to eat crow (or ironically drink) more satisfying.

[@RG-zt4ox]

Such a good episode

[@Mr72Dolphins]

And now, The Star Wars Holiday Special makes perfect sense!

[@Kiku91]

I wasn’t expecting a Christmas episode from that title, however as someone who loves the 1947 “miracle on 34th street” this is one I need to look up soon.

[@Demon666x3]

I was not expecting feels in my twilight-tober zone episode!

[@KingRandor82]

Every time I hear the voice of Piglet come out, I just laugh my ass off now, when he's trying to be serious....

[@TheRocketman217]

i watch this episode every christmas

[@georgewebster5198]

I watch this episode every December

[@OfficialBugBoi]

🐐 episode. Watch it every Christmas

[@BaronOfHell666]

I was just thinking about this episode.

[@aidanhever3369]

I think it was the inspiration for the Christmas special of The Flintstones where Fred became Santa.