Twilight Zone Definitive season 4....when? (1 Viewer)

[pitchman]

Dane, I don't know for sure, but I'd say that this may be a typo and that "Bear" should be "Beer." Back in the day of Twilight Zone there was a popular beer in the Northeast (originally brewed in Rochester, NY) called Genesee Beer. I'm guessing that this is a recorded pitch (possibly regional) that Rod did for the brand somewhere along the line, since there is a significant "upstate New York" tie-in with the product. I believe that the Genesee brand is no more today, but the brewery still produces "boutique" beers like J.W. Dundee's Honey Brown.

 

[Ric Easton]

Genny is still around!

 

[Craig Beam]

Jeremy: Not sure if the Serling documentary reveals any TZ spoilers. I'd get it while it's still available and save it till after you've watched every episode.

Jeff#: I didn't EXPECT "The Time Element" to be included on the season 4 set, but I was hoping. I haven't seen it in years, and it's painfully absent from my collection.

 

[JeffT.]

All I can really say that's (positive) about the upcoming fourth season (1963) DVD collection of TWILIGHT ZONE (CBS 1963-64) is that at least we're getting the 18 hour long, black-and-white episodes along with the original next week previews (which in this single half season are actual previews utilizing scenes of the episodes) newly restored to pristine condition but beyond that the extra features are really not that special. "Meager" would be the best way to describe them.

It certainly wouldn't have hurt to add the DESILU PLAYHOUSE (CBS 1958-60) presentation of "The Time Element" (24/11/1958) and the AMERICAN MASTERS documentary "Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval" into the package as well...surely the experts involved with supervising this Definitive Collection series are well aware of both and their importance in presenting the show's (illustrious) history.

I (personally) also expected much more in the way of audio commentaries for example it would've been fantastic if both Anne Francis and James Best could have been secured to discuss "Jess-Belle" (14/02/1963) to cite but one example.

If you're going to do something then do it great!

In this department a much better job could have most definitely been done here but as I said as it now stands we'll just have to content ourselves with the fact that the complete, fully restored episodes along with the original next week previews will be provided.

Jeff T.

 

[PaulP]

I think it makes the most sense to put The Time Element and Submitted for Your Approval on the last boxset, since they weren't on the first. Why should they be on the fourth?

 

[Stephen PI]

JeffT:
All I can really say that's (positive) about the upcoming fourth season (1963) DVD collection of TWILIGHT ZONE (CBS 1963-64) is that at least we're getting the 18 hour long, black-and-white episodes along with the original next week previews (which in this single half season are actual previews utilizing scenes of the episodes) newly restored to pristine condition.......

With regard to the above I feel safe to say, when the time comes, you will all be giggling like schoolgirls.

 

[JeffT.]

THE TWILIGHT ZONE (CBS 1959-64) was originally conceived by ROD SERLING as an hour length fantasy-dramatic tv series and his script for "The Time Element" was intended to be the pilot presentation for the show but the idea was (initially) shelved by CBS Television Network executives ultimately (mainly through the efforts of television producer Bert Granet) being featured as a segment of DESILU PLAYHOUSE (CBS 1958-60) instead whose (overwhelming) audience ratings success encouraged CBS-TV to proceed ahead with yet another pilot episode written by Rod Serling for THE TWILIGHT ZONE.

Since the fourth season (1963) saw the tv series (temporarily) expanded to an hour length (as originally envisioned) this would seem to make "The Time Element" an appropriate addition to this particular DVD collection more so than any of the others...with the possible exception of the first season (1959-60) set that is!

But let me put it this way just what fan of THE TWILIGHT ZONE wouldn't want the opportunity to have access to "The Time Element" regardless of what DVD set it were to be included with? This (surely) must have been one of the (foremost) considerations by the specialists involved with this Definitive Edition series. Let's face it! It's absence from such an ambitious (definitive) undertaking is a very conspicious one to say the least.

Yes perhaps the AMERICAN MASTERS tv documentary "Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval" would be more appropriate as an extra in the fifth season (1963-64) collection serving as a kind of series overview wrap...but will we even see that done?

Giggling like schoolgirls? Is that good or bad?!

Perhaps that's a (veiled) reference to the (live) taped and (documented) audio interviews that have been provided for the fourth season collection.

Jeff T.

 

[JeffT.]

Well I think because of the (truly) tremendous start initiated with the first season (1959-60) DVD collection we were all a little spoiled in our expectations of just what might follow.

Anyway apparently the fifth and final season (1963-64) definitive collection due out on December 27th, 2005 will go back to including audio commentaries (as recently announced on the TV Shows on DVD online website) which is certainly welcome news indeed.

I'm particularly excited about the participation of (gifted) actor Michael Constantine who appeared in one of my (personal) favourite fifth season episodes "I Am the Night...Colour Me Black!" (27/03/1963) which I so enthusiastically recall seeing on its original (and only) CBS Television Network primetime broadcast back in 1964.

Now that I think about it this brings to mind a (nagging) point-of-contention: Has anyone (else) noticed that frequent contributing TWILIGHT ZONE scriptwriter Richard Matheson the only surviving member of the legendary Rod Serling-Charles Beaumont-Richard Matheson writing triumvirate wasn't secured to provide (impromtu) audio commentary for any of his segments on the show?

Somewhat amiss to be sure! Considering that we're getting all the episodes in the best condition possible (which is definitely appreciated) this sounds like (further) carping...but still! Richard Matheson should have participated with some of the audio commentaries just the same...at least in my opinion!

Jeff T.