Cinematic Excellence

I've started NetFlixing Night Gallery lately. It's what Rod Serling did after the Twilight Zone. The biggest difference is this is in color. After a couple of lousy segments, I think I finally struck gold tonight.

First off, it's written by Serling himself. Not everything he wrote was gold, but the break between shows gave him a change to recharge his creative batteries. As usual, it's a hero everyone can identify with, a moral lesson and a twist at the end. I'll give him credit though, while most of us see the twist come from a long ways off, he delivers it and then trumps himself. I'm happy because I guessed right and happier because he then made it better.

Second, it was directed by Stephen Spielberg. While the material didn't require and wouldn't have benefited from any fancy directing, it's solidly done. Watching a stand up comic die on stage is tougher when you see the fear in his eyes and sweat on his face so close than you start to feel it yourself.

And finally, I was treated to no less than TWO sitcom legends. Tom Bosley plays the comic's agent and Al Lewis is the club owner. Bosley is a name we should all know, especially since he started shilling for AARP and the like. Al is better known as Grandpa Munster. He's so identified with the character that when he was running for public office wherever he lives now, he wanted them to put Grandpa on the ballot instead of his real name! Always sad when your character's more famous than you are.

Thanks to this miracle combo, I'm really looking forward to more episodes, despite the general agreement that it's pretty much downhill from here. This one's got Phyllis Diller AND John Astin. GTG!