![]() The Twilight Zone is, believe it or not, one of those American creations that unites people of all generations, regions and perspectives. You, dear reader, could well be one of those people yourself. TWILIGHT ZONE MARATHON TVJust try listening to the radio or watching a network TV sitcom this week if you don’t believe me.įrom a lifetime of conversations with people from all walks of life and all generations, I know that so many of us love this show and will always stop their channel surfing to see which episode is on if they hear Rod Serling’s voice. Being creative is a risk, an adventure, and if you do it right, a gift to the world and potentially to the future – it’s far more profitable to be formulaic in this world. The Twilight Zone is a personal favorite for several reasons, most notably the originality and creativity that went into the stories. With the Fourth now behind us, I’ll focus on a completely unrelated but somewhat popular rite of summer – the annual Twilight Zone marathon they show on cable TV every July 4th. A desert climate threatens two explorers stranded in Peru’s Valley of the Volcanoes on “Dual Survival” (9 p.m., Discovery).Last week I wrote an editorial citing a few of my favorite Independence Day quotes.Dan fights crime on the cheap on “The Good Guys” (8 p.m., Fox).A controversial talk-radio host takes his guest hostage on “Flashpoint” (8 p.m., CBS).The Noisettes, Lyle Lovett and Doves perform on “Live From Abbey Road” (7 p.m., Sundance).A civil war grave hides remains of a much more recent vintage on “Bones” (7 p.m., Fox).Taylor fears for his team’s safety on “Friday Night Lights” (7 p.m., NBC).And USA devotes the entire day to “Royal Pains” (11 p.m. Syfy unfurls 13 consecutive episodes of “Merlin” (9 a.m. Catch 10 episodes of “Whale Wars” (7 p.m. On the eve of the three-day Independence Day weekend, several cable stations go into marathon mode.A “horse of a different color,” if you will. One of the oddest things about “Oz” is the fact that for the first two-thirds of the movie, the dramatic action is propelled by the songs and then, after the Cowardly Lion dons his cape and sings “King of the Forest,” the songs cease entirely and we seem to be an entirely different film. Perhaps that’s what happens when you spend too much time whiling away the hours, consulting with the flowers. TWILIGHT ZONE MARATHON MOVIEA much different take on the movie emerged in the 1990s when adventurous viewers synched up the movie to Pink Floyd’s 1973 album “Dark Side of the Moon” and seemed to “discover” new aspects to both cultural artifacts. Some theorized that the “Oz” books were an elaborate political parable about the monetary policy of the Progressive Era. Much like “It’s Wonderful Life,” this Technicolor fantasy did not become a classic until the advent of television and as audiences committed it to memory through continual repeats.įew films or stories have been subject to as much scrutiny and interpretation. Look for surviving cast members and Munchkins to reflect on the making of the movie in the documentary short “Memories of Oz” (9 p.m.). As it has for several years now, TCM celebrates the Fourth with a reairing of the beloved 1939 musical fantasy “The Wizard of Oz” (7 p.m., TCM).Performers include comedian George Lopez, Dick Van Dyke and his quartet, the Vantastix, Renee Fleming, Lionel Richie and Kelly Clarkson. Look for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in the audience. The site of one of the nation’s greatest tragedies - the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln - has for years been the venue for a variety show of comedy and song. Ty Burrell, who plays the clueless Dad Phil Dunphy on “Modern Family,” hosts another curious holiday tradition - “America Celebrates July 4th at Ford’s Theatre” (8 p.m., ABC).The retitled network will air a mini-marathon of “Greatest American Hero” on Sunday instead.Īs if already aware of the wailing and gnashing of teeth from “Zone” fans, SyFy has assured us that the “Twilight Zone” marathon will air “later this year.” So it’s with a heavy heart that I warn the TV faithful that there will be no “Twilight Zone” marathon on SyFy this Fourth of July weekend. Few holidays have as many traditions as Independence Day. ![]()
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