If it’s New Years, then it’s time for the Twilight Zone marathon on the SciFi Channel. Lots of good episodes this year, which have prompted some questions:
Which actor appeared in the most episodes? My bet is either Burgess Meridith or Jack Klugman. Anybody know for sure?
Besides Rod Serling, who wrote the most episodes? My bet here is Richard Matheson.
Just poped in to say that I got a good chuckle when I noticed “Scotty” from Star Trek had a bit part in one of the shows.
I’ve also seen William Shatner in a few a well.
The best one is still the one with Billy Mumy. I can’t tell if it’s a hamhanded allegory about an arbitrary god, or a hilarious sendup of overindulgent parents and the monsters that result. Made me think of my sister’s first kid. I’m over there, the kid’s upstairs napping. I sneeze. My sister freezes stiff, eyes wide, face white as a sheet. Whispers fiercely: “Don’t do that! You’ll wake him up! If you need to sneeze do it outside!”
The writer with the most eps besides Serling is Charles Beaumont. According to the IMDB, he wrote 21, as opposed to Matheson’s 16. Makes sense, since I think he’s the author with one of the strongest popular ties to the series besides Serling. IMDB also says an actor named Jay Overholtz appeared in eight eps, probably more than any “name-brand” star. 
lissener: Sounds like your sister didn’t want to have to rock a squalling baby to sleep for ANOTHER three hours. Not necessarily overindulgence.
So the aliens want to serve man. What’s so bad about that?
Absolutely nothing. Say, why don’t you try on this grotsque mask and keep it on until midnight? Indulge a dying man.
I can’t. I need to get books. You see, a nuclear war has just broken out, and I’m the only survivor, so now I have time to read.
At least until Robert Redford comes knocking on your door.
You know, my daughter got the cutest doll for Christmas. My husband doesn’t like it, though.
That bastard wished it into the cornfield!!
Don’t blame him. He was angry because the plastic surgery failed.
Three scoops of chocolate ice cream for a nickel? I can’t get over it.
Hush, you guys. I’m listening to thirty-year-old radio broadcasts.
You know, there’s some really ugly gremlin outside my window.
And I’ll leave town as soon as the fortune telling machine tells me it’s safe.
Some guy’s offered me his car if I can get a cigarette lighter to work several times in a row.
Should I take his offer?
Quiet, willya? The next boxing round’s about to start.
Serling had a thing for boxing, as well. Several of the episodes featured boxing in some way.
Boxing you say? Hmmm. Maybe if I quit drinking and take up boxing, I can beat the stuffing out my living dummy that blames me for its creation.
If only I was the strongest man on Earth.
Perhaps if you entered the fourth dimension behind the bed …