Everything I Need to Know I Learned in the Twilight Zone

January 23, 2017
Dawidziak (The Bedside, Bathtub, and Armchair Companion to Dracula) combs through one of television’s most beloved series in this tongue-in-cheek self-help book. The loving tribute encompasses nearly two-thirds of the original Twilight Zone episodes in the course of its 50 short essays, lightly analyzing a vast swath of “moralist in disguise” Rod Serling’s work (as well as that of his writing team). Making references to the online gaming site Pogo, It’s a Wonderful Life, and his own personal life, Dawidziak draws readers in with a friendly tone that’s inviting even to the uninitiated. His survey is by no means comprehensive, but it doesn’t need to be. The point is proved easily enough: The Twilight Zone deserves its immortal status not only for its artistry but for its timeless life lessons. The book includes a touching foreword by Anne Serling, Rod Serling’s daughter, and “guest lessons” by legends such as Harlan Ellison, Mel Brooks, and Dick Van Dyke. B&w photos.

February 1, 2017

In the early 1960s, Rod Serling's Twilight Zone television program was de rigueur viewing. Serling introduced each show and wrote 92 of the 156 episodes that ran from 1959 to 1964. Part sf, part horror, with famous actors of the day starring, according to veteran TV critic (Cleveland Plain Dealer), author (The Columbo Phile; The Night Stalker Companion), and member of Rod Serling Books' editorial board Dawidziak, the show was also a series of morality plays that could serve as guides to life. Although the author includes descriptions of most episodes, he states that this is not a program guide nor a history of the show but rather a lighthearted self-help book, in which each episode is linked to an old saying. For example, Walter Bedeker (David Wayne) sells his soul to the devil in "Escape Clause." Lesson? "Read every contract...carefully." While his title pays homage to Robert Fulgham's 1988 best seller All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Dawidziak considers this book a step up, calling it "postgraduate work." VERDICT Fans might enjoy finding their favorite episodes in this work, but one can't help but wonder how many there are remaining and whether or not they want this kind of detail.--Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA

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