2x14 "Hella Hellish"

Heaven. Hell. What’s the difference? The lines are blurred this week as Craig spins the roulette wheel on the Twilight Zone classic “A Nice Place to Visit” and can’t decide between a halo or a brimstone necklace. He then descends to the cheap and cheesy bowels of 70’s hell for the Night Gallery quickie “Hell’s Bells.” It’s groovy, man.

Theme: “Neither Here nor There (3.5)” by Twin Loops

“Strange Girl” performed by Hubert Laws (from the album Flute By-Laws, copyright 1966 by Atlantic Records)

“Destroyer” performed by The Kinks (from the album Give the People What They Want, copyright 1981 by Arista Records)

“The Girl with the Long Black Hair” performed by Sandy Warner (from the album Fair and Warner, copyright 1961 by Mayfair Records)

“Sacrifice” performed by Elliot Murphy (from the album Unreal City, copyright 1993 by Razor & Tie Records)

“Hell Hotel” performed by They Might Be Giants (demo; copyright information unknown)

“Lighten Up” performed by Beastie Boys (from the album Check Your Head, copyright 1992 by Capitol Records)

“Hell” performed by Squirrel Nut Zippers (from the album Hot, copyright 1996 by Mammoth Records)

The Twilight Zone is a trademark of CBS, Inc.


Between Light and Shadow: A Twilight Zone Podcast is a nonprofit podcast. Music clips and dialogue excerpts used herein are the property of their respective copyright owners; we claim no ownership of these materials. Their use is strictly for illustrative purposes and should be considered Fair Use as stated in the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. section 107. 

TZ Promo: "A Nice Place to Visit" (4/15/1960)

The man lying prostrate surrounded by garbage cans is a two-bit thief named Rocky Valentine, who's just been shot to death by a policeman during a jewel heist gone wrong. In a traditional story, this might be the ending. But we're in The Twilight Zone. This is only the prologue.

Valentine awakens in the care of Pip, a jolly sort who acts as Valentine's guide through his new post-life surroundings. Valentine finds himself the new owner of a swanky bachelor pad, zippy new threads, and women at his beck and call. Despite a life of petty crime, it seems Valentine has made it to heaven.

Sebastian Cabot is spot-on as the enigmatic Pip, who Valentine can summon with a simple phone call. The number? P-I-P. Cabot's hair, which was normally black, was bleached shock-white for this performance. Interesting side-note: I work with a guy who's (almost) a dead ringer for the white-haired Cabot. Mike Lewis, if you're reading this, consider this your official shout out.

Writer Charles Beaumont crafts a diabolical tale of cosmic justice, but in reality it comes off a bit like a half-hour one-liner. It's hardly a surprise when Valentine's true eternal disposition is revealed, and Larry Blyden's over-the-top performance as Valentine doesn't help much either. Having said all that, the episode is technically well done, effectively directed by John Brahm. The highlight comes late in act two, when Pip and Valentine visit the Hall of Records.

We last saw this enormous stairway in "Time Enough at Last" (as part of the destroyed library), but it was first seen in The Time Machine. Shooting at MGM clearly had its perks. This single scene (coupled with Cabot's performance) elevates the episode considerably. However, when you line it up against the embarrassment of riches that comprise this first season of The Twilight Zone... well, it comes up short. Had it been produced in the show's (vastly inferior) fifth season, it would probably be considered a masterpiece.

Next week: Well, nothing. An episode of Playhouse 90 aired the week of 4/22/1960 instead of The Twilight Zone. But on 4/29, the show returns with a story of a school teacher and an annoying little girl. It's not as bad as it sounds. Pour yourself a cup of cocoa and tune in.