Why Rod Serling hated being the narrator of Twilight Zone

Each episode of the 1959 speculative anthology collection “The Twilight Zone” was presented by series creator and head writer Rod Serling. All through the present’s first season, Serling merely offered voice narration, however from the second onwards he additionally appeared on display, all the time sporting a pleasant swimsuit and sometimes smoking a cigarette.

It seems Serling by no means wished to be the narrator of “The Twilight Zone.” As previously reported by /FilmOrson Welles was to be employed to relate the collection. Welles, after all, had a prolific radio profession within the Thirties, a couple of decade earlier than he moved into movie, so his crisp, sonorous voice was nicely rehearsed. CBS wished Welles not just for his fame, but additionally as a result of his presence would invite comparisons to CBS’s hit 1955 anthology collection, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” This present featured on-screen introductions from Hitchcock himself, so it made sense that one other cinema legend would introduce “The Twilight Zone” (regardless that Welles had nothing to do with the manufacturing of “The Twilight Space”.

In fact, to rent Welles, CBS would have needed to shell out a tidy wage for the filmmaker, and, nicely, they only could not afford it. CBS then turned to a brand new narrator, an actor named Westbrook Van Voorhiswho really narrated the opening segments of the unique “Twilight Zone” pilot “The place Is Everyone?” Van Voorhis was finest recognized on the time for narrating newsreels and documentaries, so his voice could be comforting to viewers.

The producers of “The Twilight Zone,” nevertheless, felt that Van Voorhis appeared too pompous. With manufacturing time operating out, Serling was pressured to intervene on the final minute. CBS thought this was good as a result of they would not have to barter new contracts.

Serling hated it. He confirmed this in a 1963 interview with the Sacramento Bee, easily transcribed by MeTV.

Certainly one of Serling’s most important issues along with his on-screen look got here right down to easy self-importance; he hated the best way he appeared. He was nicely conscious of his physique and measurement. His spouse did not do a lot to ease his nerves both. Serling stated:

“My spouse says I seem on the tv display trying like a constipated boxer. […] It is as a result of there’s nothing in entrance of the digital camera to match myself to. However right here I’m, 5 toes 5 inches of strong cartilage. I actually don’t love doing internet hosting. I do that by default. I’ve to.”

Moreover, Serling competed as a flyweight boxer within the Forties, whereas coaching to turn into a paratrooper. He was even recognized for his “berserker” combating fashion. It appears he considered his personal physique as that of a boxer…and wasn’t positive what he was seeing. He was additionally uncomfortable with performing; he most well-liked writing and producing, hoping to solid his performing duties over a rotating roster of acquainted faces. Getting into entrance of the cameras, Serling admitted, gave him a nervous breakdown. He continued his fight metaphors by saying:

“I simply tensed up terribly earlier than I appeared in entrance of the cameras. […] If I needed to proceed stay, after all, I might by no means do it. It’s like boxing, I’m the one fighter in historical past who needs to be carried each out and in of the ring.”

Serling additionally acknowledged in the identical interview that fame was fleeting. He had successful collection on his fingers with “The Twilight Zone,” however there was each purpose to imagine he could be forgotten the next yr. Which suited him nicely; he preferred anonymity. Serling, who died in 1975, nevertheless, couldn’t have predicted the lasting influence his present would have on the tradition as a complete, nor how nicely he could be remembered.

“The Twilight Zone” was revived in 1985, 2002 and 2019and is revised to today.