For me, one of the most poignant and emotional episodes Rod Serling had to offer, and not really having anything to do with the main story itself. This is one of relationships, father and son specifically, and it's based on an idea of how things could have gone an entirely different way if the father (Jack Klugman) had been a stronger influence in the life of his son (Billy Mumy and Bobby Diamond in age specific roles). I have to admit the episode brought me to tears, and helps me come to grips with what could have been my own shortcomings as a father. But it goes both ways you know. One son turned out to be a professional, and another a chronic substance abuser. So how does one succeed and fail at being a parent at the same time? It's why I choke when I see stories like these, and then spend somber moments reflecting on them well after they're over.
From the vantage point of history, "In Praise of Pip" is also remarkable for it's early mention of Vietnam. The original air date was 9/27/1963 - John F. Kennedy was still alive and weighing his options for escalating the conflict. In hindsight, this might be one of the most surreal TV episodes in the history of television. I would make reference to a similar and equally astounding treatment of future cultural significance to the 5/29/1960 airing of a TV Western - 'The Rebel' - starring Nick Adams as a Rebel soldier. The episode I'm referring to is 'Night on a Rainbow", which dealt with the burgeoning problem of drug abuse at a time well before it garnered front page prominence on the national scene. As I come across these frozen moments in time, I marvel at the prescience and wisdom of screen writers for committing them to film for the benefit of future generations.
So it's remarkable to me how these Twilight Zone stories, (some, not all), have this unique ability to touch the viewer some half century after they originally aired. Even more remarkable if you were there like I was, to see them the first time around. Today the stories mean something entirely different than they did fifty years ago, yet they still manage to impart some relevance no matter what one's age might be.
From the vantage point of history, "In Praise of Pip" is also remarkable for it's early mention of Vietnam. The original air date was 9/27/1963 - John F. Kennedy was still alive and weighing his options for escalating the conflict. In hindsight, this might be one of the most surreal TV episodes in the history of television. I would make reference to a similar and equally astounding treatment of future cultural significance to the 5/29/1960 airing of a TV Western - 'The Rebel' - starring Nick Adams as a Rebel soldier. The episode I'm referring to is 'Night on a Rainbow", which dealt with the burgeoning problem of drug abuse at a time well before it garnered front page prominence on the national scene. As I come across these frozen moments in time, I marvel at the prescience and wisdom of screen writers for committing them to film for the benefit of future generations.
So it's remarkable to me how these Twilight Zone stories, (some, not all), have this unique ability to touch the viewer some half century after they originally aired. Even more remarkable if you were there like I was, to see them the first time around. Today the stories mean something entirely different than they did fifty years ago, yet they still manage to impart some relevance no matter what one's age might be.