Hot Rod

I've been going over Nicholas Parisi's book on Rod Serling.  It discusses every script Serling ever wrote for television, and he wrote hundreds. Even before Serling created The Twilight Zone he was recognized as one of TV's best writers, winning Emmys for his scripts Patterns, Requiem For A Heavyweight and The Comedian.

It's interesting to see who worked on his early shows.  To pick just one example, look at "The Velvet Alley," first aired in early 1959 on Playhouse 90.  The plot is about an unsuccessful TV writer with an agent who believes in him.  He ultimately finds success and fires the agent. (The was somewhat based on Serling's own story--perhaps he felt guilty.) It was directed by Franklin Schaffner, who would go on to direct Planet Of The Apes (with a Rod Serling script) and Patton.  And what a fascinating cast.

The two leads are Art Carney and Jack Klugman.  Both would star in Twilight Zone episodes. Also, Carney created Felix in the original Broadway production of The Odd Couple, while Klugman would replace Walter Matthau in the role of Oscar, and later, of course, be Oscar in the TV version.

Also in the cast, Leslie Nielsen, a romantic leading man at the time who'd become most famous for the wild comedies of his later years.  And child actor Mickey Braddock, who'd grow up to be Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees.  And in small roles, future movie stars Burt Reynolds and Dyan Cannon.

It makes you want to watch these old show to see what all the fuss was about.