Rod Serling on Creative Control Of Night Gallery | The Dick Cavett Show

When I think of the great Rod Sterling, I think of two things. Number one, he sold all the rights to the Twilight Zone before home video technology came out. I don't know what he was paid for selling off those rights, but had he kept them the wealth he and his family could have had would have been incredible. The other is the 3-4 pack a day cigarette habit he had his whole adult life that caused his early death at 50. Even while in the hospital in 1980 (shortly before his death) for one of the early heart bypass surgeries he kept on smoking.

When Rod had his final heart attack, it fell apart in the surgeon's hand.

Wow! Two of my boyhood idols on a program I had great respect for, owing to Cavett’s intelligence.

Genius

RS…a man who knows what is good, he knows what he wants.

…Dennis Miller’s father?

Night Gallery still has the best creepy opening and closing theme ever!

Sterling’s command of the English language was on full display.

Please post this entire interview!

I am shocked by the success of Dick Cavett as a interviewer...often times he seems to be lost and completely scattered with his questions.

You always feel smarter sitting through a Cavett Show - especially with the likes of Rod Serling and Arthur C Clarke.....can you imagine this cerebral format working on todays TV? :) Rod was a genius....

wow . What a time in history. Really sounds like they scrwed him on Night Gallery.

One of the most authentic people in entertainment. So much respect for his genius and character.

That was hilarious seeing Dick Cavett argue with Arthur c Clarke about the television standards when you consider that Arthur c Clarke actually invented the communication satellite.

Awe ! I was waiting for Rod Serling to do his famous words at the being of the Twilight Zone when he says " a most uncommon elevator is about to ascend into your very own episode of The Twilight Zone ", etc .

This man was a genius, sad typically the "board" screws up everything lol

His nightmare was cigarettes it took him too a early grave!

Aurthur C Clark is fascinating too .

Rod Serling talks cool as a cucumber 🥒

This is like Alan wake 2

Mere months after this broadcast I attended a lecture given by Serling at Duquesne University. He had a few similar and pointed remarks about Night Gallery then as well, but what I most fondly recall was his spending time-and-a-half more answering "the kids'" questions, principally about creative writing, than lecturing. And the auditorium had "kids" sitting on its window sills listening to him. An indelible memory.

A genius, and brilliant mind who reflected a period of post-war development.

One can only imagine what Rod Serling would say about the declining state of Sci-Fi, Horror & Fantasy these days.

Sir rod serling imo is the most prolific writer of all time, brilliant imagination, mixed with social, science, consciousness, supernatural and all human endeavors & experiences!

Shame that him and his name was used (but not much else) to help promote "Night Gallery". Really foolish as well when the producers had at there disposal such a creative and experienced man as Serling himself.....who was also willing!

It feels so weird to see Rod in colour.

Ahh yess
Back when people had class and charm

I keep trying to imagine what Serling or Clark would say about many of today's stories and situations - like artificial intelligence, loss of privacy/surveillance systems (many Orwellian themes), the destruction of education by corporations (forcing their own curricula), 24/7 news cycles, etc. Tons of subject matter to draw from. This is where we miss those who had real insight and imagination. -- And this is where I really dislike Cavett, because he forgoes any sensitivity for his guests and becomes a paparazzi reporter - asking irrelevant, personal questions designed only to embarrass, elicit negativity, and scandal. He just wants to "provoke" in this segment - forget everything else. He's right when he says, "We'll be back with what friends I have left." -- What an asshole. He's a smart guy, but I've seen him do this too many times. Just go for the jugular, right off the top!

Rod himself made a big thing about how he created and designed TWILIGHT ZONE so he would have creative control over it as the poor man was tired of watching his stuff getting butchered for "content".

And it was so exhausting being creator, head writer and executive producer (as well as host as everyone already knows). Truth is he wanted to change ZONE'S format to horror--the genre he claims he preferred--but the network told him that wouldn't work.

So he made sure his next show (after the short-lived western LONER flopped) was horror. But he wasn't a producer as he didn't want to be so consumed like he was on ZONE. Well, you'd think after how successful ZONE was, they'd trust him to go with his vision.

But... once again, he watched his stuff get completely censored left and right. He was disappointed with GALLERY and all but disowned it. Eh, fucking Hollywood. Go figure.

Rod Serling has a great laugh - so assured, so relaxed. Enviable.

His untimely death at age 50 is really tragic. One has to wonder how many great films and shows died with him.

He'd be 98 if he was still alive, so we were easily robbed of 30-40 more years of his genuis. 😢

Sounds like where Carl Sagan go the idea for "Contact."

Mary Shelley had a productive dream.

It's so sad he isn't here to enjoy and thrive in the age of television that his work was so vital in creating.

Rod and Arthur C. Clarke on the same show. I wish we still had shows like this today.

What a magnificent voice.

Rod was and is years beyond his control

The twilight zone episode "Number 12 looks just like you" warned us of a future that is already here.

What a panel! Clarke and Serling, two men responsible for an incredible amount of inspiring writing.

TV was more intelligent back then and opinions from any side were debated. No ridiculous morons telling like today .

ROD SERLING was a pure Genius 😎✌

Where do i find the full episode

See the interview shot just two years prior to this at Indiana State University. He ages visibly -- and hugely -- between 1970 and 1972. Not sure what happened, but he looks much older here. I gather there were quite a few fights with the producers on Night Gallery...

NBC did really bitch up a couple of Serling's Night Gallery segments--"Make Me Laugh," "Clean Kills and Other Trophies" and "The Different Ones" being the most egregious examples. But others, like "Lone Survivor" and "The Waiting Room," hold up beautifully.

William Burroughs often used his dreams as material for writing, but of course the kind of writing he did was much less dependent on a coherent linear narrative than that of Serling or Clarke.

"Rod Serling UCLA Lectures"

All you need .
There are at least 3 lectures.

He is absolutely wonderful and loving and inspirational to the young students listening.
The lectures are between 1966 and 1973 .

He speaks of black rights and free speech and communication in place of wars.

Just type "Rod Serling - UCLA"

Put your earphones in , lie back and smile with emotion for 3 hours.
❤❤❤❤❤

Artur Clarke and Rod Serling in one show! Wow!

What. ....no cigarettes???????

it is NOT "england" - it is THE BRITISH ISLES ! Or The United Kingdom Or The UK. You ignorant yank...(or is that canadian ?)

He laughs like Billy from "Predator".

I almost didn't recognize him in color.