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Here's what Rod Serling had to say to people who thought The Twilight Zone was ''too far out there''
Being "too far out there" should've been The Twilight Zone's biggest compliment, but it led to complications.
The Twilight Zone, to some, is a journey into imagination. For others, the series was just "too far out there." No matter which side you choose, The Twilight Zone sparked a lot of conversation.
For those who criticized the series, Rod Serling, the creator and narrator, stood firm in his belief: The average American needed his series. It opened people's eyes to new worlds, creatures, and, of course, new fears—many of which are still thought about today.
For Serling, his biggest issue with gaining an early fan base was that many thought the series involved "too much thinking." With other series dominating on air, such as Gunsmoke, The Untouchables, and Leave It to Beaver, The Twilight Zone seemed too far ahead for its time.
According to a 1959 interview with The Star-Ledger, many told Serling his show couldn’t compete with the TV shows on at the time, but Serling was less worried about the competition between shows and more focused on his message.
"It's true that Twilight Zone is a think show," Serling said. "You can't afford to miss a line of dialogue without maybe losing the plot. But is this a crime? Ninety percent of TV talks down to the audience. Twilight Zone isn't attempting to uplift or enlighten the viewers but simply entertain them in a little different manner."
The Twilight Zone had a total of five seasons and 156 episodes. While critics may pick and choose only a few standout episodes, fans who watched it during its original run and in syndication find it hard to pick a favorite.
What bothered him most was that critics and executives alike said The Twilight Zone was too complex for the average viewer. Serling didn’t think so. He gave viewers credit and encouraged them to expand their thinking with his series.
For those who had an issue with it, he had a solution.
"I would like to know if viewers think The Twilight Zone is 'too far out there' or over their heads," Serling said. "Tell them to write me a card or letter and send it to me at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio, Culver City, Calif."
According to the interview, Serling’s concern was that he wouldn’t be given enough time on the air to prove his point. Most sponsors operated on a 13-week basis, and if the ratings went down, it would have meant the end for him and his message.
But he kept fighting, and eventually, we came to know The Twilight Zone as it is today, even spawning a spinoff produced by Jordan Peele. Serling made a difference in television with his new dimension, even if, at the time, people thought it was "too far out there."
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It did have 156 episodes, but over 4 1/2 seasons, not a full 5.
CBS cancelled the series after Season 3, only to decide a couple of months into the 1962-'63 season that they needed and wanted the show back, and asked Serling to resume production, which he did for the half-season from the end of 1962 till late May, 1963 -- in an hour-long format with which the producers were never comfortable (and which obviously took longer to film) -- with one more full season from September, 1963 to June, 1964.
For the entertainment of us all.
I ever received. Still watch it today. That and the original Outer Limits really made me appreciate sci fi and these well written stories.
