The Twilight Zone Companion by Marc Scott Zicree Book Review

Calling all Twilight Zone fans: here's a book you might want to check out if you haven't already. :)
Link to my "Why I Love the Twilight Zone" video, circa Oct. 2015: • Why I Love The Twiligh...
Oh dear, I used the word "slack" two different ways in a ten-second span. How embarrassing. I don't even like that word. :/

[@joseluisherreralepron9987]

I received the first edition, with purple covers and dust sleeve, for Christmas in 1983. I had been watching the show since '79 but this was a fantastic gift as I could read up on each episode as it was being shown.

[@CarlB_1962]

Love the original Twilight Zone series. There aren’t too many TV writers who could match Rod Serling’s ability to produce such thought-provoking and entertaining stories.

[@nathanearl2586]

Love this book! Picked it up while stationed in Charleston back in 1993. Was already a fan of the series from my youth, but loved reading the backstories of episodes and the narrations. My older kids have been reading it now to further their love of the series. Thanks for the review!

[@radioclash8175]

The original Twilight Zone has always been one of my favorite shows. About a year or so ago I picked up a very nice DVD box set of the complete series at Walmart for $50.

[@pamelahall517]

This book was very informative and while I have different takes on some episodes I enjoyed Marc's takes. I've always loved background info on what I read or watch and if its something I enjoy, I do extensive research. Also, I love "extras" on DVDs. And I usually will re-watch a whole movie or TV episodes with commentaries on instead of the dialog after I watch it. This book reminded me of doing just that in written form. Sometimes they meander on in the commentaries and that isn't great, but I don't think Mark meandered at all in his book. Thanks for another great review.

[@irwinisidro]

You should start a Twilight Zone episode review series! Especially the ones you've yet to see.

[@winterburden]

The only thing better than reading a Twilight Zone Companion is hearing all about it from my favourite connoisseur of books and media 😊

[@vgovger4373]

Always liked the episode " The Lonely".

[@Weiselberry]

That's a really good one!

[@BobPlaysOfficial]

Been killing it lately with the videos Jerome! 👍 If you want to do a Twilight Zone episode then I'd say do a "Favorite Episodes So Far" video. You can just explain at the beginning that you've only watched the show up to this season. Also, I'd only bother with the episodes that are your favorites. It's your video and you shouldn't have to feel compelled to give lip service to a certain episode if you don't want to, even if it is popular. That's just how I'd do it though. Keep up the good work. Also, have you ever watched Black Mirror? It's considered to be a modern successor to The Twilight Zone and it has its share of fascinating stories.

[@Weiselberry]

Thanks! :) Yeah, I've heard that about Black Mirror from several people. Haven't watched it though.

[@MisterCasket]

As an 80ies kid, I mostly have memories of that tv run. I saw the 60ies one every now and then but never all. Recently I discovered the 2002 BBC Twilight Zone radio dramas and I LOVE that!! Sometimes listening during work, or just on the couch with headphones It really can take me away to another place. To the Twilight Zone. Thinking of buying this book to give more insight to the episodes.

[@sams5963]

I do enjoy the marathon's but the individual episodes have been edited down so that they can add more commercials and that really annoys me.

[@canonwright8397]

The 4th of July usually means (for me) fire works, cook-out, beer and monster trucks. But, Ok, Twilight zone... yeah, I can see that. You're expanding my horizons (Jerome Weiselberry), keep up the good work. My favorite episode of the TZ is "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" Man! That one cracks me up! (every time). =].

[@Weiselberry]

Haha, thanks! Ah yes, that's a classic! It scared me when I was little. Not so much anymore, but it's still very good. :)

[@Weiselberry]

Also "There's something on the wing!" is probably the most-quoted Twilight Zone line in our family.

[@rktect78]

... and to my British friends, "In yer face, redcoats!"

[@jlovebirch]

Sometime do the same for The Outer Limits (which also has a similar "official companion" book).

[@missioncodez]

*The Twilight Zone Companion* is a book that has marked various points on the timeline of my life. As a kid growing up in Ohio, my mother would take us into Dayton so she could go shopping for clothes. She would let me roam free downtown and I would usually stay parked in either one of two bookstores: the (now-defunct) Dragon's Lair comic book shop (man, the memories!) or the giant chain bookstore (which I _think_ was a Waldenbooks). At any rate, *The Twilight Zone Companion* was AMAZING to see in a bookstore in the early '80s. It was our internet, and we thumbed through it greedily (much like we do online now), trying to take it all in, but knowing we never could. Then, decades later, living in North Carolina, I became more aware of the author, Marc Scott Zicree, as he was (maybe still is) a perennial guest on the local Allan Handelman late night radio show, which was here in Raleigh at the time. It was a treat to finish work and drive home on a summer's night down a long lonely road, listening to the radio audience calling in and sharing their favorite _Twilight Zone_ memories. Years later, we're around another campfire of sorts, a digital one, and my favorite KZbinr has asked that question that will be asked until the end of time: _"What are some of your favorite Twilight Zone episodes?"_ Off the top of my head.... *Favorites* Any episode with Burgess Meredith. I just love that man. _"The Invaders"_ (SE02E15) - Wonderfully atmospheric, with virtually no dialogue. _"A Nice Place to Visit"_ (SE01E28) - Always makes me think about what really drives us, our motivations and our sense of spiritual fulfillment. _"The Hunt"_ (SE03E19) - A celebration of man's best friend. Has perhaps one of the greatest lines in the entire series. As notorious and as uneven as the 1983 film was, I really love the George Miller-directed remake of _"Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"_ . Sometimes, a bigger budget and a bit more polish _does_ make a difference. I also love a manic Lithgow. *Twilight Zone: The Movie* also has claim to the title of the: *Creepiest* I never really think of Twilight Zone as a horror-centric enterprise, but it does have moments of creepiness and dread. *Twilight Zone: The Movie* has the single creepiest and scariest moment of any of the many incarnations. I won't dare tell you when it happens, but those who have seen it know.... *Saddest* _"Static"_ (SE02E20) - An older bachelor finds a special radio, which seems to operate on a broadcast band from another time. The older you are, and the more life you have lived is equal to how impactful this one will be to you. *Most Thought-Provoking* _"The Big Tall Wish"_ (SE01E27) - As an eternal optimist, who has spent a lifetime deluding himself into thinking he's a realist....well, I struggle with the message of this episode. I honestly don't know how to feel about the theme. It's kinda haunted me ever since I caught it on Netflix several years ago. So, those are just a few episodes which have stayed with me. As for any future _"Best of..."_ videos, I would suggest that maybe you could just chime in whenever you have just watched a particular episode and you would like to share it here. That way, the episode is fresh in your mind and you can give it all the attention, versus watching the entire run and then hoping to evaluate them all after the fact. That approach will also help you to retain more in the long run. And, eventually, you could do a Top 10/20/156 list as well. However you decide to approach it, I'm just hoping for more *TZ* from you down the line. I'm greedy like that! : ) Happy 4th, and please be safe. If Mama Weiselberry has to outfit you in full knight's armor to protect you from a single sparkler, then I'm all for it!

[@4CardsMan]

It's available every night on Me TV, which runs via broadcast. Decades is also available via broadcast.

[@Retired_Gentleman]

While I can't name favourite episodes as I'd need to mention most of the series there are two episodes that perhaps mean the most to me. The first is Walking Distance written by Rod Serling. In it a man walks back to his old hometown but somehow back to his the time of his childhood too. I was in tears seeing this episode. Every man gets only one summer and I, like the character Martin in the episode, had mine long ago. Indeed, those past summer breezes and concerts are now just ghosts in my mind. But I also know there are merry go rounds and band concerts in my present time too and just maybe (in the words of Browning) the best is yet to be. The second is The Changing Of The Guard also by Rod Serling. In this episode a retiring teacher wonders if he made any difference at all. Ghostly apparitions reveal themselves and make clear he did make a difference greater than he ever knew. I'm a newly retired school teacher with thirty eight years in the classroom and feel/felt much the same as he. Just this past week while in our town office to pay my tax bill I came across a parent of two girls I taught many years ago. She told me that her daughters visited her this past summer and spoke of me remembering and comparing what I taught them so long ago. Back in my car I had to sit a few moments for I remembered this Twilight Zone episode and like the professor in it was made aware through happenstance or providence that yes, I made a difference perhaps greater than I'll ever know.

[@Pb-ij4ip]

Yup. That book is massive. I don’t think I managed to finish it. My favorite episode is probably “Night of the Meek”. And if you haven’t checked out “Requiem for a Heavyweight” yet, it’s beautiful. I think it was mentioned in the “Companion”, but it was pre TZ Serling. Appeared on “Playhouse 90”.

[@frankg7177]

It's an entertaining book and a very useful reference source. There are so many really good episodes that it's hard to narrow them down. However, here are five of my favorites, one from each season: Season One "Mr Bevis", Season Two "The Howling Man", Season Three "A Game of Pool", Season Four "Miniature", Season Five "Spur of the Moment". Hope that you will have a GREAT Fourth of July!

[@Weiselberry]

I love that several of your favorites are slightly "off the beaten path"! I don't think I've seen "Mr. Bevis" or "Spur of the Moment" or "Miniature" yet, and "Miniature" is one of the ones I most want to see after reading this book! Great choices! Thanks!

[@jjdvideo]

There is a lot of good info about Twilight Zone in this book. I agree with you when you mentioned about Zicree's comments about the episodes. The one really aggravating thing about the Twilight Zone Companion, is that he seems to add criticism to just about every episode. And this guy is a fan? The concept of this book is good, but I wish somebody else wrote it. I also agree with you that even the bad Zones are better than most other tv show episodes. I hope you get to see all the Twilight Zones sooner than later, and finally join the "seen them all" club.

[@Weiselberry]

Thanks for sharing your take on it. It's reassuring to hear that I wasn't the only one who felt that way. Hm, right now I guess I'm in the "seen about a third" club. :)

[@bobnelson9480]

I have the TZ Companion and enjoyed it although some TZ fans have strongly criticized it for various reasons. I bought it long before the Internet was around so it taught me quite a lot about TZ. I've since supplemented it with a couple Serling biographies.

[@Weiselberry]

There's certainly room for criticism, but it's also a trove of information and a great resource if you want to know about a particular episode at a glance. So overall my reaction, like yours, was positive. The biography Serling's daughter wrote, As I Knew Him, is very high on my to-read list.

[@gastronomist]

What did you think of the new TZ from last year?

[@feslenraster]

Huh, I really should've known it was also a book...thanks for the info, Ms. J! I loved the original tv show series, will check this out.

[@bartolomeuomacduibheamhnad6855]

I do love the original Twilight Zone, so watchable and easy to digest especially the 30 minute format from the first three seasons, unfortunately we didn't get the Syfy marathons here but we would get two episode reruns a week for a time as I was growing up, I'm still discovering episodes I haven't seen and really enjoy " On Thursday we leave for Home' is the most recent, when you believe you've seen them all you may find that you'll discover a new one - in a place called the Twilight Zone 🌀👁🚪✨lol. There's currently a Twilight Zone play in London also, I hear the reviews have been good. The companion book you've kindly reviewed here, looks very interesting, I'm sure it would be fun to read episode sections as you're watching the episode itself. ~ thank you Ms Weiselberry and have a happy 4th of July ~

[@Weiselberry]

Yes, that's the great thing about there being so many episodes--there's always bound to be something new, or at least, if you've gone through them all, one you're not as familiar with! I keep trying to imagine what a Twilight Zone play would be like. :)

[@123probando]

I have that one Got it in Los angeles in 1993 i believe, i still have it

[@Videogamelover58]

Great review :D Love me some Twilight Zone!

[@scottjo63]

Oh I forgot, ya gotta watch the Stan And Ollie movie. Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly (Kong Island), are spot on and the movie was a love letter tribute to those guys. Oh one of my favorite TZ s was the reader of books, Burgess Meredith , I don't think I need to say more do I?

[@meowza3k]

SyFy always plays the same episodes in their marathons :( In my 'hood we get Decades channel over-the-air. Zicree has a yt channel known as Mr. Sci-Fi

[@Weiselberry]

Yeah, there are some episodes I think I've seen half a dozen times, while there are others that I'd never heard of before. The repeats are classics and usually among the best, but it is nice when they mix it up and throw a "new" one in.

[@kevint5451]

It doesn't get the same level of attention, but I wondered if you liked The Outer Limits too?

[@Weiselberry]

I've liked what I've seen of it so far, about 20 episodes.

[@kevint5451]

@@WeiselberryI hope you do a review of it and maybe compare it the The Twilight Zone and how it differs.

[@BuffaloC305]

There is a new DVD/BluRay set of the original series now available. I've made it thru Season 1 and I don't find anything worthy of re-purchasing. OUTER has some weak/forgetable episodes scattered throughtout, and like every other TV series, nothing has the imaginative appeal that TZ has, top to bottom. I'd find it far easier to list my Bottom 5 ("least rewatchable episodes") than I could create a Top Lilst.

[@williamblakehall2773]

Another Jerome video in time for the Fourth! Strangely enough, I may spend this Fourth trying to start writing a political thriller novella -- that's sort of an American tradition, right? (And, of course, I'll be hanging with Mom and Dad.) I have great respect for TZ, though the real impact on my single-digit years came from The Outer Limits -- which has its own wonderful (if I do say so) Companion, by David J. Schow with Jeffrey Frentzen. I won't bug you right now about merits of shows or episodes, but I've one idea. Don't worry about "top" shows, ditch the whole "top list" idea -- I know, the whole world does it, but you're you, you can be different. I wouldn't mind your rummaging around in TZ episodes and coming out with a video, say, at the end of the month, saying "Here are TZ episodes I liked the best when I was going through some in July 2019." So that way you get more of a diary than a strict hierarchy. We are hungry for your ideas and opinions, so don't let some mere abstraction be the enemy of that happening. All right, happy Fourth to you, and be safe with those fireworks!

[@Weiselberry]

Oh, interesting! Perhaps I'll check out The Outer Limits Companion after I've finished watching that series. Hm, I hadn't thought of doing it that way. It's kind of like what I do with the "what else" videos... I'll mull it over. There are a few different ways I could tackle it outside of a standard "top #" list, I guess, and it's encouraging to know that people would be okay with something different. Thanks!

[@ronfowlermusic]

Do you ever wonder if you think too much? I know I do.

[@glinser]

The original TZ is my ne plus ultra for TV shows.. It inspired my YT name, which is an anagram...

[@Weiselberry]

Ah, very clever!

[@scottjo63]

Hey get on that script you were thinking about and send it, you never know. Just wanted you to know, 2nd season The Terror 2nd trailer is out here it is kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHyWaKKoaL-dfNk. As always great review even if it's not Day Of The Dolphin (remember that request hehehe). Actually I sort of changed my mind, a better recommendation is to seek out Islands Of The Stream based on Ernest Hemingway novel starring George C. Scott. He definitely looks like Hemingway sporting a beard and not playing the gruff Patton. Oh again I ask is your mom ever going to cameo, a lot of your fans including me would love to see that! Keep up your videos you do a great job on them.

[@davidlyttle1919]

Submitted for your approval... I too have come to deeply love all things related to Twilight Zone. I too have read this book and I was looking forward to the review of "And the Sky was Opened." I found it disturbingly errie and creepy. I was deeply disappointed about Zicree's comments saying the story doesn't hold up well since we know what happens when we send people into space. Astronauts do not vanish. This ticked me off since TZ was not a factual documentary of the future. It's the Twilight Zone for josh sakes. All the episodes could be said not to hold up. For example Zicree could have written, "The Purple Testament," doesn't hold up since we've had lots of wars and soldiers never get the power to see the faces of soldiers strangely lighted, forecasting who will die in battle. Twilight Zone is about oddness and obsolescence. Otherwise it would be the Ordinary Zone. Rod Serling was America's forgotten genius ... Like you I love those opening and closing narratives, but most of all I love Serling's way of writing, his word choice and unique phrasings. Submitted for your approval? Yes, Mr. Serling I approve indeed, and I look forward to finding that wonderous place of shadow and substance, of things and ideas , whose boundaries are that of the imagination, found on any map... in the Twilight Zone.

[@woobbryant]

I have that book. I used to rely on it heavily as my main Twilight Zone reference book. I actually like the fact that he reviews each episode, even if he is opinionated. I feel the same way as you do that some of his opinions are off base - at least if I can humbly use my opinion as the Gold Standard by which I compare it to! ;-) But I don't mind that he is wrong some of the time - it just help me to clarify why my opinions are different in those cases. And some of his reviews are spot on - such as his review of Walking Distance, to name just one.

[@richelliott9320]

It’s a cook book!😜

[@Entedeficción]

So we could have met, but you don't remember. Bad memory. I'm just joking. Have a nice day!

[@Weiselberry]

That is entirely possible. :)

[@Entedeficción]

Ha ha ha! You're so kind. 😊

[@AngelZaragosa]

After four years I thought I'd check in on your progress through The Twilight Zone (original series). My approach to the Companion when it first came out (1983 😮) was to watch episodes first (if I hadn't seen them before) and then read the author's thoughts as well as behind-the-scenes details of the specific episode. Reading Zicree's opinion may inadvertently color your own (similar to reading movie reviews which invariably contain spoilers). Behind-the-scenes details concerning automobile visual tricks for a couple episodes immediately increases the urge to rewatch those short scenes and applaud the technical ingenuity of the crew. I'll only give two episodes in which my opinion flip-flopped over the years: "Back There" was a favorite when I was a child, but as I aged the clunky exposition bringing the general audience up to speed with the plot began to distract me more and more from the story itself. In physical terms, it's like being bitten by a mosquito and scratching the irritated area. The more you rub at it the more it becomes enflamed. "Number 12 Looks Just Like You" originally felt like a younger sister to "Eye Of The Beholder". Not as attractive and somewhat of a gangly preteen misfit. As my tastes grew more refined with age "Number 12" became a knockout surpassing "Beholder" in terms of subtly enticing story attributes. I will say that one quick line of dialogue will open a new window into the society and exposes what is trying to remain hidden. Key on the two words "you people" heard early in the episode [strong shoutout to John Tomerlin who ghostwrote Charles Beaumont's credited episode based on Beaumont's original short story.] If you want to organize a manageable approach to work your way through the series an interesting option would be to tackle episodes by writers. Serling will be your backbreaker (at 92 total stories), but stories by Richard Matheson, George Clayton Johnson, Earl Hamner Jr., Charles Beaumont, and Montgomery Pittman do tend to flow well in a certain style.

[@gargantuaism]

The real crazy wonderful thing about the show is you grow with it. For instance the episodes that I thought were boring and too adult when I was a kid are now my favorite episodes. "Shadowplay" and "Nothing in the Dark" are perfect examples.

[@MisterMasterShafter1]

If I may add something else about the book, on top of the points on Zicree and his biased attitude toward the episodes, which I wholeheartedly agree with - this book came out originally around 1982. I have an original copy that I still try and hold together, but I don't know if there were such things as TZ season sets even on VHS yet, thus Mr. Zicree only had edited syndication episodes in which to make his critiques by. Unless he had seen the uncut eps somehow when writing the book, he kinda should rewrite the book anyway.

[@BuffaloC305]

My definition of "favorite" is based heavily on (1) rewatchable and (2) memorable, where quotes or scenery (a room's setting, a staircase, landscape, office, etc) come to mind. I have movies that I can't/don't rewatch (SOPHIE'S CHOICE) that I consider 'favorites' or even great, but SOPHIE'S is simply too hard to want to endure The Choice. I have movies I like but seldom rewatch voluntarily (ie, pull off the shelf or select from a menu of films) because so much of the movie is remembered. I have a real love/bored relationship with TZ marathons, though. I can't watch 10 hours or even 8 or 5. I end up missing favorites... and they invariably start with Season 1 Episode 1.

[@d.s.archer5903]

Nice review. One of my favorite TZ episodes is “The Silence” (Season 2, Episode 25), starring Franchot Tone as Colonel Archie Taylor and Liam Sullivan as Jamie Tennyson. Taylor bets $500,000 that Tennyson cannot remain silent for one year. No spoilers here, but the ending is real twist that comes out of nowhere! The episode also stars Jonathan Harris (later to be famous as Dr. Smith from Lost in Space) in a non-hammy, positive role.

[@Weiselberry]

Thank you, and thanks for sharing your favorite! I saw that episode a couple years ago. It's a good example of how the TZ could be spooky and disturbing without any special effects or makeup or aliens.

[@feslenraster]

@@Weiselberry One of my favorite episodes was with a very young William Shatner....ironically, since I didn't like him as an actor or as Captain Kirk ;)

[@CepiTheNomad]

Great review as always, I haven't seen the show in about 13 years lol this makes me want to watch it again!

[@tim2269]

👍🎆

[@alansmith1989]

The one I loved most was with the various attired people trying to get out of a deep pit. One managed it and the `revelation` just blew me away!

[@anthonymalik9952]

That one was called Five Characters in Search of an exit. Some very deep philosophical implications in that episode. Excellent choice!

[@trekzilladmc]

I'd say one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes is "The Thirty-Fathom Grave" #104. I hate to spoil it for you if you haven't seen that one. It's about a navy ship picking up strange, banging sounds coming from a wrecked submarine called "714" sunk 20 years earlier. Upon investigation from a diver, it's discovered that the only surviving crewman, now serving on board the navy ship, was essentially responsible for the submarine's demise due to him dropping a signal light and giving away their position to the enemy Japanese who fired upon them. The crewman suffers multiple delusions about seeing his fellow mates and eventually goes crazy and jumps into the water to a watery grave down to the sub. That's when the noises all of a sudden stop. After a search goes back down to the sub, the inside of it is a wreck and the remains of eight dead sailors are present. It's found that one of the periscope shears was broken and swinging around, giving them the impression that it was the culprit of the banging sound they picked up. But the twist is the haunting image of what the diver saw. One of the dead sailors was holding a hammer in his hand! (Fade away with Twilight Zone music) ;P

[@jorgelopez-pr6dr]

I don't give up the hope that someday you will give a review of the TV series The Night Gallery and Tales from the Darkside.

[@Weiselberry]

Night Gallery is definitely on the to-watch list, especially after reading more about it in this book.

[@mountainsoutofmolehills8352]

happy fourth, weiselberry! so i guess you're not going to review independence day resurgence this year? 😇👽

[@Weiselberry]

Nnnnnnope. :)

[@feslenraster]

@@Weiselberry I saw it. it was bad

[@niallboyle5211]

Asking someone to watch THAT movie could merit being brought before the International Criminal Court in the Hague!

[@Rickbearcat]

Do you think that you should have said "thickness" rather than "width"?