Rod Serling
Birthday: 25 December 1924, Syracuse, New York, USA
Birth Name: Rodman Edward Serling
Height: 163 cm
John Phillips is the name used by longtime television and film writer Rod Serling when he asked that his real name be removed as the writer of the pilot episode of the series "The New People" ...Show More
[on hosting The Twilight Zone (1959)] There I am. Five feet five of solid gristle. I really don't li Show more
[on hosting The Twilight Zone (1959)] There I am. Five feet five of solid gristle. I really don't like to do hosting. I do it by default. I have to. If I had my druthers, I wouldn't do it. I just tense up terribly before going before the cameras. It's an ordeal. If I had to go on "live," of course, I'd never do it. It's like boxing. I'm the only fighter in history who had to be carried both into and out of the ring. Hide
Writing is a demanding profession and a selfish one. And because it is selfish and demanding, becaus Show more
Writing is a demanding profession and a selfish one. And because it is selfish and demanding, because it is compulsive and exacting, I didn't embrace it. I succumbed to it. Hide
I've had my moments of depression but I guess you'd say I'm a pretty contented guy.
I've had my moments of depression but I guess you'd say I'm a pretty contented guy.
Hollywood's a great place to live... if you're a grapefruit.
Hollywood's a great place to live... if you're a grapefruit.
[on The Twilight Zone (1959)] It's not a monster rally or a spook show. There will be nothing formul Show more
[on The Twilight Zone (1959)] It's not a monster rally or a spook show. There will be nothing formula'd in it, nothing telegraphed, nothing so nostalgically familiar than an audience can join the actors in duets. The Twilight Zone (1959) is what it implies: that shadowy are of the almost-but-not-quite; the unbelievable told in terms that can be believed. Hide
[on expanding The Twilight Zone (1959) to an hour long format] In the half-hour form we depended hea Show more
[on expanding The Twilight Zone (1959) to an hour long format] In the half-hour form we depended heavily on the old O. Henry twist. So the only question is: Can we retain The Twilight Zone (1959) flavor in an hour? We may have to come up with something totally different. Hide
[on The Twilight Zone (1959)] We want to prove that television, even in its half-hour form, can be b Show more
[on The Twilight Zone (1959)] We want to prove that television, even in its half-hour form, can be both commercial and worthwhile. We want to tell stories that are different. At the same time, perhaps only as a side effect, a point can be made that the fresh and the untried can carry more infinite appeal than a palpable imitation of the already proved. Hide
Being like everybody is the same as being nobody.
Being like everybody is the same as being nobody.
[on The Twilight Zone (1959)] I guess a third of the shows have been pretty damn good. Another third Show more
[on The Twilight Zone (1959)] I guess a third of the shows have been pretty damn good. Another third would have been passable. Another third are dogs -- which I think is a little better batting average than the average show. But to be honest, it's not as good as we thought or expected it to be. Hide
Fame is short-lived. One year after this show [The Twilight Zone (1959)] goes off the air, they'll n Show more
Fame is short-lived. One year after this show [The Twilight Zone (1959)] goes off the air, they'll never remember who I am. And I don't care a bit. Anonymity is fine with me. My place is as a writer. Hide
If you want to prove that God is not dead first prove that man is alive.
If you want to prove that God is not dead first prove that man is alive.
(on being born on Christmas Day, 1924) I was a Christmas present that was delivered unwrapped.
(on being born on Christmas Day, 1924) I was a Christmas present that was delivered unwrapped.
In my writing, I work with a secretary and a recorder. I dictate everything. It's a freewheeling thi Show more
In my writing, I work with a secretary and a recorder. I dictate everything. It's a freewheeling thing. I act out all the parts. I do three or four drafts but by the time I get through with the second, things are pretty well set. Hide
If you need drugs to be a good writer, you're not a good writer.
If you need drugs to be a good writer, you're not a good writer.
[to an interviewer during the third season of The Twilight Zone (1959)] I'm tired of it, as most peo Show more
[to an interviewer during the third season of The Twilight Zone (1959)] I'm tired of it, as most people are when they do a series for three years. I was tired after the fourth show. It's been a good series. It's not been consistently good, but I don't know any one series that is consistently good when you shoot each episode in three days. We've been trying gradually to get away from the necessity of a gimmick, but the show has the stamp of the gimmick and it's hooked for now. It's tough to come up with them week after week. Hide
[on The Twilight Zone (1959)] Each story is complete in itself. This anthology series is not an asse Show more
[on The Twilight Zone (1959)] Each story is complete in itself. This anthology series is not an assembly line operation. Each show is a carefully conceived and wrought piece of drama, cast with competent people, directed by creative, quality-conscious guys and shot with an eye toward mood and reality. Hide
[on the near cancellation of The Twilight Zone (1959) during the latter half of the show's third sea Show more
[on the near cancellation of The Twilight Zone (1959) during the latter half of the show's third season] Anybody would rather quit than get the boot. On the other hand, I am grateful. We had some great moments of vast excitement and, on occasion, achieved some real status. But now it's time to move on. Hide
Rod Serling's FILMOGRAPHY
All
as Actor (29)
as Director (2)
as Creator (10)
