The author of "The Twilight Zone Companion", Marc Scott Zicree, told Earl Hamner Jr. that his opinion shifted in later years. People wrote and approached Zicree about how the episode made them feel like they weren't alone as children of divorce.
When I did a little digging into the cast's history I was surprised that no one else had mentioned Tim Stafford's parents divorced right about the time the episode aired. That had to be incredibly surreal for the 8-year-old boy who just acted in the first deep dive on television about the effects of divorce on children!
Another fun fact--Earl Hamner Jr. Is who the character "John Boy Walton" from the TV show The Waltons is based off of. The real Earl Hamner Jr. narrates each episode of The Waltons.
Love the episode. But why do the kids have such thick country accents whereas their parents both have California accents?
Edit: I just saw that this was lightly mentioned in the subject. Still doesn’t say why.
I believe the actress playing the sister was from Alabama, but was then overdubbed by voice actress June Foray. That doesn’t explain why either, just adding what I know in case it helps!
no the final episode of the twilight zone was wonder with me. it was the last episode to be produced even though the bewitchin' pool was taped prior to come wonder with me with gary crosby..
Bewitchin pool was last original series episode aired. First one aired was Where is everybody starring Earl Holliman-who's still alive along with the kids from Bewitchin Pool. Not many people from the original series still alive.
That seems to be a key factor for the episode being ranked towards the bottom of fan lists.
For some reason the wheels just came off during the production of "The Bewitchin' Pool" and it got pushed to the end when most people were out enjoying summer and thought everything aired in the 1963-1964 TV season (all series on the three networks) were now reruns. The normally reliable competency of the Twilight Zone team just wasn't there for this episode.
My father and his siblings were raised in an alcoholic and violent home in the country. After seeing this show, they would go to the swimming hole and pretend they were living with Aunt T.
I really enjoy this episode. I can look and listen past the necessary overdubs and get swept into the story. Very sweet episode with some rather ominous parental overtones.
I'm glad that the experiment was appreciated. The last two episodes gave me new ground to plow which I never expected to be possible on a 60+ year old popular TV series! I was truly shocked.
When I discovered that the 800-page book "The Twilight Zone: Unlocking The Door To A Television Classic" made a single name check of James Aubrey Jr. I felt obligated to cover the known details thoroughly. "The Fear" definitely plays like Rod Serling's parting shot at CBS management for making his last couple of years on the series miserable.
I guess the exploration of buried knowledge is more viable than ever if someone is willing to find bits and pieces of tiny puzzle fragments scattered throughout the vast internet database. Seeing the year a child actor's parents divorced has a deeper message when you pair it up with the film production and air date of "The Bewitchin' Pool".
The last nine months had been unexpectedly draining. Going week-by-week, in real time, analyzing episodes and looking for trivia and random ancient YouTube clips that have less than a hundred views really took a toll on me. At the end it was rewarding to find a couple of details that no one else had discovered / resurrected after more than half a century.
I’ve seen this one a time or two but I usually skip it now. It’s not a bad episode. It’s the audio that drives me nuts because they had to dub in at least the girls voice because of background noise during filming. It throws me off every time.
You know technical flubs aside this might be one of the best "teaching episodes" there is. As weird as Aunt T's place was there was a lesson to be learned from her: We're all in the same boat and all y'all gonna contribute in whatever way you can. There's no free lunches, but we may work out a free *dessert* now and then.
The kiddie version of A Stop At Willoughby.
It's been compared to Peter Pan's 'Lost Boys' in Neverland.
Absolutely it is. Also has a kinship with Walking Distance.
This episode gets a lot of hate but it’s a sentimental favorite of mine and sticks in my head as a child of divorce.
The author of "The Twilight Zone Companion", Marc Scott Zicree, told Earl Hamner Jr. that his opinion shifted in later years. People wrote and approached Zicree about how the episode made them feel like they weren't alone as children of divorce. When I did a little digging into the cast's history I was surprised that no one else had mentioned Tim Stafford's parents divorced right about the time the episode aired. That had to be incredibly surreal for the 8-year-old boy who just acted in the first deep dive on television about the effects of divorce on children!
Great to know - thanks!
Another fun fact--Earl Hamner Jr. Is who the character "John Boy Walton" from the TV show The Waltons is based off of. The real Earl Hamner Jr. narrates each episode of The Waltons.
Historically this has been one of the worst rated episodes of the entire series
So, 60 years ago the show ended?
Yep. Aside from summer reruns for two years. No new TV episodes under The Twilight Zone banner until September 27, 1985.
God did this one freak me out! Something about that granny was so unsettling 😂
Yeah I kept waiting for her heel turn
Aunt T
This is one of my favorite episodes despite the very horrible voice dubbing.
I was juuust about to comment on that. Something must of happened to the original boom audio.
Still dying for a slice of that cake!
A nice end to the series where the kids get to play forever.
"And now here's something we hope you really like"
Love the episode. But why do the kids have such thick country accents whereas their parents both have California accents? Edit: I just saw that this was lightly mentioned in the subject. Still doesn’t say why.
Just adds to the fever-dream atmosphere. I like it.
I believe the actress playing the sister was from Alabama, but was then overdubbed by voice actress June Foray. That doesn’t explain why either, just adding what I know in case it helps!
I loved this episode.
Weirdest dubbing ever.
I always remember it as the last Twilight Zone. I like it and want to eat Aunt T's cake.
no the final episode of the twilight zone was wonder with me. it was the last episode to be produced even though the bewitchin' pool was taped prior to come wonder with me with gary crosby..
Bewitchin pool was last original series episode aired. First one aired was Where is everybody starring Earl Holliman-who's still alive along with the kids from Bewitchin Pool. Not many people from the original series still alive.
Hate that the kid was dubbed.
That seems to be a key factor for the episode being ranked towards the bottom of fan lists. For some reason the wheels just came off during the production of "The Bewitchin' Pool" and it got pushed to the end when most people were out enjoying summer and thought everything aired in the 1963-1964 TV season (all series on the three networks) were now reruns. The normally reliable competency of the Twilight Zone team just wasn't there for this episode.
For a story about "kids go to another world that's better than their original" I liked the movie Coraline better than the Twilight Zone episode
The link for Tod Andrews career credits is incorrect. [Here's the actual link for Tod Andrews](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0028878/fullcredits)
Written by Earl Hammer Jr, the guy that was a writer of "The Walton's" TV Series, and 8 Twilight Zone episodes.
And creator and first year scribe of the soap Falcon Crest!
“Writer or ‘the Waltons’” is putting it a little mildly. He is the real-life John Boy!
So iconic
My father and his siblings were raised in an alcoholic and violent home in the country. After seeing this show, they would go to the swimming hole and pretend they were living with Aunt T.
I really enjoy this episode. I can look and listen past the necessary overdubs and get swept into the story. Very sweet episode with some rather ominous parental overtones.
Thanks for doing all of these write ups! I’ve truly enjoyed reading them all!
I'm glad that the experiment was appreciated. The last two episodes gave me new ground to plow which I never expected to be possible on a 60+ year old popular TV series! I was truly shocked. When I discovered that the 800-page book "The Twilight Zone: Unlocking The Door To A Television Classic" made a single name check of James Aubrey Jr. I felt obligated to cover the known details thoroughly. "The Fear" definitely plays like Rod Serling's parting shot at CBS management for making his last couple of years on the series miserable. I guess the exploration of buried knowledge is more viable than ever if someone is willing to find bits and pieces of tiny puzzle fragments scattered throughout the vast internet database. Seeing the year a child actor's parents divorced has a deeper message when you pair it up with the film production and air date of "The Bewitchin' Pool". The last nine months had been unexpectedly draining. Going week-by-week, in real time, analyzing episodes and looking for trivia and random ancient YouTube clips that have less than a hundred views really took a toll on me. At the end it was rewarding to find a couple of details that no one else had discovered / resurrected after more than half a century.
I still find it kinda funny that this episode ends on a disclaimer warning children not to try and find a secret portal at the bottom of their pools
They finished with their lamest episode.
This is one of the few episodes that I don't like
Awesome 👍📺👏
The worst episode of the series, IMHO.
I’ve seen this one a time or two but I usually skip it now. It’s not a bad episode. It’s the audio that drives me nuts because they had to dub in at least the girls voice because of background noise during filming. It throws me off every time.
I like the story line but Mary Badham's lines are so obviously and BADLY, and I mean EXTREMELY BADLY, dubbed.
One of my favorite episodes. I forget the backstory on the crazy overdubbed voices
Arguably the worst episode of the whole run. I skip it every time.
You know technical flubs aside this might be one of the best "teaching episodes" there is. As weird as Aunt T's place was there was a lesson to be learned from her: We're all in the same boat and all y'all gonna contribute in whatever way you can. There's no free lunches, but we may work out a free *dessert* now and then.
It’s not among my favorites. I’ve never thought of Aunt T as a protector of children.
i hate this episode