dane4385 Reviews

The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)

Brilliant writer

[1 January 2003]

Rod Serling was a man born before his time. He had creative writing talents that are unsurpassed today. The Twilight Zone was a series that was brilliant in its conception. The story lines spurred imagination and evoked both sympathy and, at times, dread and horror. The so-called "sit-coms" and "special effects" drivel that passes for entertainment today can't hold a candle to The Twilight Zone.

The Amos 'n Andy Show (1951–1953)

Great Show

[25 February 2002]

Amos 'n' Andy was one of the first television shows that I remember seeing, when I was a kid. It was a wonderful show, carried out in a clean and simple fashion. There were no vulgarities nor innuendoes to embarrass anyone who might be watching the show with you. Great credit and respect should be given to the cast of this show. It far outclasses shows such as "Sanford and Son", which relied a lot on off-color remarks and suggestions.

Gunsmoke (1955–1975)

The best of the series

[21 July 2001]

The best of the series is the first five years when John Meston did most of the writing. He had a real feel of, what I perceive to be, the Old West to be really like. He did not go in for all of the frivolousness of later episodes. He did not rely on loud talking and grandiose brashness by the actors.

People in the earlier episodes gave the impression that they were ordinary, hard working people who barely eked a living out of a hard land. They did what they had to do to get by, out on the lonely Kansas plains. When they met disaster, it was "implied" on screen and the viewer could use his imagination as to what happened. Those shows did not have all of the "Hollywood" glitz that pervaded later episodes.