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[[Image:Rod Serling.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Rod Serling (1959), the creator and host of ''The Twilight Zone]]''

[[Image:Rod Serling.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Rod Serling (1959), the creator and host of ''The Twilight Zone]]''

'''''The Twilight Zone''''' is an anthology [[television]] series created by Rod Serling. It was aired by [[CBS]] for five seasons from 1959 to 1964, and ranked #5 on TV Guide's Top 65 TV shows.<ref>http://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/</ref>

'''''The Twilight Zone''''' is an anthology [[television]] series created by Rod Serling. It was aired by [[CBS]] for five seasons from 1959 to 1964, and ranked #5 on TV Guide's Top 65 TV shows.<ref>http://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/</ref> Like most [[science fiction]], this innovative show was fundamentally [[conservative]].

Two different attempts at reviving the show (in 1985 on CBS and later in [[broadcast syndication|first-run syndication]] and in 2002 on UPN) were not as successful (lasting for three seasons and one season, respectively); a third attempt is planned for 2019.

Two different attempts at reviving the show (in 1985 on CBS and later in [[broadcast syndication|first-run syndication]] and in 2002 on UPN) were not as successful (lasting for three seasons and one season, respectively); a third attempt is planned for 2019.

Many famous actors and actresses appeared on the show, including Ron Howard (better known as Opie Taylor in ''The Andy Griffith Show'', later as Richie Cunningham in ''Happy Days,'' and then as a movie producer), [[William Shatner]] (later known for ''[[Star Trek]]''), Jack Klugman (best known for his Broadway, and later TV, portrayal as Oscar Madison in ''The Odd Couple''), Billy Mumy (best known as Will Robinson on ''Lost in Space'') and [[Burgess Meredith]] (best known as The Penguin in the ''Batman'' series of the 1960s, and later as the trainer in the early ''Rocky'' movies): Klugman and Meredith were in four different episodes, tied for the most by any actor or actress.

Many famous actors and actresses appeared on the show, including Ron Howard (better known as Opie Taylor in ''The Andy Griffith Show'', later as Richie Cunningham in ''Happy Days,'' and then as a movie producer), [[William Shatner]] (later known for ''[[Star Trek]]''), Jack Klugman (best known for his Broadway, and later TV, portrayal as Oscar Madison in ''The Odd Couple''), Billy Mumy (best known as Will Robinson on ''Lost in Space'') and [[Burgess Meredith]] (best known as The Penguin in the ''Batman'' series of the 1960s, and later as the trainer in the early ''Rocky'' movies): Klugman and Meredith were in four different episodes, tied for the most by any actor or actress.

A notable episode, "The Obsolete Man", featured a dystopian future where Christianity is outlawed.  A librarian (appropriately named Wordsworth, played by Meredith in his third appearance on the show) is tried for being "obsolete" (the State has also outlawed books), is found guilty and sentenced to death.  Wordsworth is allowed to choose his method of execution: he requests a personal assassin (the only person to know how he will die) and that his execution to be televised (whereupon he will announce his method of execution), both of which are granted.  Wordsworth summons the Chancellor (who presided over his trial) to come to his study for the announcement: Wordsworth announced he will die by a bomb at midnight.  But secretly he locked the door (thus, the Chancellor will be killed as well; the State refused to risk losing face by an attempted rescue) and calmly begins reading his Bible while the Chancellor panics.  Ultimately the Chancellor begs to be released "in the name of God"; Wordsworth unlocks the door and releases the Chancellor, then stays and is killed; the Chancellor now faced his own trial for being "obsolete".

A notable episode, ''The Obsolete Man'', featured a dystopian future where [[Christianity]] is outlawed.  A librarian (appropriately named Wordsworth, played by Meredith in his third appearance on the show) is tried for being "obsolete" (the State has also outlawed books), is found guilty and sentenced to death.  Wordsworth is allowed to choose his method of execution: he requests a personal assassin (the only person to know how he will die) and that his execution to be televised (whereupon he will announce his method of execution), both of which are granted.  Wordsworth summons the Chancellor (who presided over his trial) to come to his study for the announcement: Wordsworth announced he will die by a bomb at midnight.  But secretly he locked the door (thus, the Chancellor will be killed as well; the State refused to risk losing face by an attempted rescue) and calmly begins reading his Bible while the Chancellor panics.  Ultimately the Chancellor begs to be released "in the name of God"; Wordsworth unlocks the door and releases the Chancellor, then stays and is killed; the Chancellor now faced his own trial for being "obsolete".

==References==

==References==