If you enjoyed the original Twilight Zone series then you will absolutely love Alfred Hitchcock Presents

During the pandemic I found myself watching a lot of METV and experienced a wonderful benefit. I began enjoying the original episodes of the Twilight Zone and also Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Often when I fell asleep, I would wake up and not be able to tell which program was on. This was because many of the same actors were on multiple episodes of both television series. If you enjoy the old black and white television programming from the 1950s and 1960s and were a fan of The Twilight Zone, you will really enjoy watching Alfred Hitchcock presents. The reverse is also true.

if you are nostalgic for classic suspense, murder, drama the unexpected, and the unexplained these shows will deliver. In addition to the actors who appeared on both, there were at times sets that looked similar. You will not, however, come away with an attitude of if you have seen one episode you have seen them all. Both series are unique to the era in which they were taped and remain original in spite of seeing the same faces and similar plots. I always get a feeling of Deja Vue when watching these programs and seeing the actors who crossed over from one to the other.

In addition to the occasional similar storyline there was one theme that actually came from the same source and was utilized by both programs. The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents each drew from Ambrose Bierce’s 1890 short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Alfred Hitchcock used the theme of a captured Confederate soldier escaping and returning to his wife during the 5th season of his series. Rod Serling paid $20,000 for the rights to use this theme in his final season of The Twilight Zone in 1964.

I am having a really good time noticing how the same few actors could play such diverse roles. Child actor Billy Mumy is best known as Will Robinson on Lost in Space but he was also in The Twilight Zone episodes It's a Good Life, and In Praise of Pip. Mumy was also in Alfred Hitchcock Presents in the episodes Bang You're Dead and The Door Without A Key. Other well known actors who were in several episodes of both shows include Gladys Cooper, Peter Faulk, Robert Redford, John Williams, Burgess Meredith, Henry Jones, Maggie Macnamara, Peggy Mccay, Ron Howard, Maidie N0rman, Gig Young, Jason Keith and others.

There are so many talented actors that I admire now, who got their start on one or both of these classic television shows. I enjoy when I recognize a face and cannot put a name with it. I find out who the celebrity is and then look them up online to see what else they have been up to. This is the added bonus to watching both of these programs because it gives you something else to focus on that is fun. I enjoy paying close attention to see if the actors actually take on the role of their characters or if they walk, talk, and speak the same in every part they play. Versatile entertainers can be a loving husband or wife on one program and a mad killer on the next. Sometimes actors who were spouses on one show will ber siblings on another.

Both Rod Serling and Alfred Hitchcock produced their shows on CBS so it's logical that the same actors would be utilized by both programs. The Twilight zone aired from October 1959 until June 1964. Alfred Hitchcock Presents was on CBS from 1955 until 1962. These two series gave quite a few actors steady work for about 9 years. Each show had a theme relating to suspense, the supernatural, and drama. If you enjoyed either one you will also want to watch the other. Both rod Serling and Alfred Hitchcock narrate their programs and give viewers a sneak peek at what the episode is about. Hitchcock returns at the end of each of his shows to sum things up but Serling does not.

If you enjoy memorable television with twist endings you can currently catch The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and The Twilight Zone on MeTV, Hulu, and Roku television. You can also pull up episodes online. One fact about these two classic series that may be offensive with many viewers today is the fact that most of the African American actors portrayed maids and butlers. I view this as simply the way things were and can keep it in perspective. This way I can turn off the lights and enjoy my favorite black and white episodes by creating a mood in the room where I am watching.

If you are a Hitchcock fan please do yourself a favor and check on The Twilight Zone. If you enjoy Rod Serling's work then by all means view a few episodes of Alfred Hitchcock presents. take a stroll down memory lane toa time when suspense was king and you could sit on the edge of your seat without gore, guts, profanity or excessive nudity. If you truly love to be thrilled and get the chills and have much left to the imagination these two television series are just what you have been waiting for. As you watch be sure to keep with familiar face and see of you can name some of your favorite stars from days gone by.