Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To The My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form
Nicholas Parisi (Rod Serling: His Life, Work & Imagination)

130 | Nicholas Parisi (Rod Serling: His Life, Work & Imagination)

Posted on October 1, 2019March 6, 2023 By Sammy Younan No Comments on 130 | Nicholas Parisi (Rod Serling: His Life, Work & Imagination)

My Summer Lair Chapter #130: How Much Do We Know About The Fifth Dimension’s Narrator?

Rodman Edward Serling was born on December 25, 1924 and passed away on June 28, 1975. And in between those two dates is a wealth of work. For example: Rod Serling wrote 92 of The Twilight Zone scripts (70 originals and 22 adaptations).

I’m delighted to welcome to My Summer Lair writer Nicholas Parisi whose dense and delicious non-fiction book is Rod Serling: His Life, Work, and Imagination a massive undertaking that documents Serling’s impressive body of work.

In this interview Nicholas and I explore a fascinating aspect of Rod Serling’s work…and ultimately his legacy. People―our society―had to be taught to have a suspension of disbelief.

Like the idea of somebody time travelling was a surreal concept. Viewers in the 50s into the 60s couldn’t fully grasp the notion what viewers in say the 80s or 90s fully understood. Currently…for us: an individual who time travels is at the start of an adventure not the entire adventure. Back to the Future is a trilogy not a 30 minute Twilight Zone episode, right?

I mean check out these significant nerd/sci-fi Big Bangs…
Action Comics #1 April 18, 1938
The Twilight Zone October 2, 1959 – June 19, 1964
The Fantastic Four #1 August 8, 1961…the beginning of Stan Lee and his Amazing Friends’ Marvel run
The Outer Limits September 16, 1963 – January 16, 1965
Doctor Who November 23, 1963 (day after JFK’s assassination)
Batman 66 January 12, 1966 – March 14, 1968
Star Trek September 8, 1966 – June 3, 1969 (for the original series…it’s still going…)

That’s the (pop culture) foundation of our disbelief and our attraction to wonder and mischief. We are indebted to Rod and his work; his astonishing writing.

I’m deeply grateful Nicholas hung out with me so we can talk about Rod Serling. Anything and everything to keep his legacy alive: we don’t get quality like this often. Treasure it like a trip to the Fifth Dimension.

Nicholas Parisi @ W • T • F

Host & Photography Sammy Younan

Recorded: Wednesday August 28, 2019 at 6:30 pm

Stress free pop culture tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter so we can have some fun…in the friendship zone!

My Summer Lair, Podcast Tags:Books, New Book Alert, Nicholas Parisi, Rod Serling, Television, The Twilight Zone, TV Shows

Post navigation

Previous Post: 129 | Kat Rosenfield (Stan Lee’s Alliances: A Trick of Light)
Next Post: 131 | Benjamin Percy (Suicide Woods)

More Related Articles

The Sentimentalists (Mysterion & Steffi Kay) My Summer Lair 91 091 | The Sentimentalists (Mysterion & Steffi Kay) My Summer Lair
My Pal Sammy Episode 3: Thanos Was Right…Right? Podcast
Reed Tucker (Slugfest: Inside the Epic, 50-year Battle between Marvel & DC) 070 | Reed Tucker (Slugfest: Inside the Epic, 50-year Battle between Marvel & DC) My Summer Lair
Fred Peabody (The Corporate Coup D'Etat) 116 | Fred Peabody (The Corporate Coup D’Etat) My Summer Lair
049 | Diana McCallum (Texts From Superheroes) My Summer Lair
Michael Dobell (Jam3) My Summer Lair 100 100 | Michael Dobell (Jam3) My Summer Lair

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • #SetTheVCR: March 20 – 26, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Big Names in this week's #SetTheVCR: The Sandman, Mr. October, David Koresh and Tom Cruise. All they require is a Watcher, Britpop supplies the soundtrack.
  • #SetTheVCR: March 13 – 19, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is a fantastic TV tour: from Local comedy, to Irish hospitality to an Essex County visit after seeing Changeland you'll want to wear comfortable pants. Or no pants…even better!
  • #SetTheVCR: March 06 – 12, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    We got historical farts, spies in a cold war and a talking seashell…that can only mean it's #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: February 27 – March 05, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Selective Outrage, a ghost and a Lil Yoda…obviously it's time for #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: February 20 – 26, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Smile! It's a fresh week of TV; you don't need The Consultant to know the Circus is back in town. It's #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: February 13 – 19, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week in #SetTheVCR we go to space, technology runs amok and the American Government has been keeping UFOs secret. Welcome to the future…in this week's TV.
  • #SetTheVCR: February 06 – 12, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    A #SetTheVCR week that starts with a #GOAT…but will it end with a #GOAT?
  • #SetTheVCR: January 30 – February 05, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Ark you excited for another #SetTheVCR? Train your Watchful Eye on these fresh recommendations that'll make you Stand and cheer.
  • #SetTheVCR: January 23 – 29, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Can you read my Poker Face? You People are gonna enjoy this week's #SetTheVCR selections.
  • #SetTheVCR: January 16 – 22, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Two Canadians: one esteemed, one disgraced, Al Pacino is hunting Hitler and The Daily Show host is regenerating…kinda. It's not strange if it's on TV; it's #SetTheVCR!
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: DCEU Is Pee-Ew | Batgirl vs HBO MaxAugust 5, 2022
    Sammy & Rob Gaudette discuss and review the status of the DCEU following the cancellation of Batgirl on HBO Max. Rob still has hope.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: Contact Photography Festival 2022 | Culture SnapMay 12, 2022
    Sammy is joined by photographer Henry VanderSpek aka Culture Snap to discuss and recommend a happy handful of Contact Photography Festival exhibitions.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: A Taylor Hawkins MemorialMarch 28, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss the shocking and sad passing of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on March 25, 2022.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: All The Batmans | Keaton To Nipples to BatfleckMarch 10, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss All The Batmans: from Michael Keaton to Ben Affleck.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: 2021 Induction Ceremony | Rock & Roll Hall of FameNovember 25, 2021
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss their happy highlights from the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

  • Yaron Weitzman (Tanking to the Top) and Sammy Younan in My Summer Lair 148
    Under-Review: Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers
    by Sammy Younan
    Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and the Most Audacious Process in the History of Professional Sportsby Yaron WeitzmanPublished by Grand Central Publishing on March 17, 2020NBA // Non-Fiction // 76ers One of the best lines in Yaron Weitzman’s NBA book: “Hinkie triggered a culture war.” Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and...

    READ ON “Under-Review: Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers” »

  • New Book Alert: January 10-14, 2022
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: January 3-7, 2022
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: November 8-12, 2021
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: November 1-5, 2021
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

Copyright © 2023 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme