PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Growing up a feral horror fan, I knew Saturday afternoon TV shows were as good as Saturday morning cartoons. I remember shows like The Munsters Today, wrestling with all the classic promos and segments, Small Wonder, and more. However, I looked forward to that early Sunday morning when I could watch Tales From The Darkside reruns. I was familiar with George A. Romero; he was a very early idol and is still today. Knowing he worked on this show made me interested. I wasn’t let down; I love the entire series. In this article, I am here to dig deep and share my top ten episodes from Tales From The Darkside Season One, with more seasons to come.
10. Answer Me
An English actress is driven mad and sleepless in her apartment. The apartment next door has an ever-longing telephone ringing night after night. Will she find someone having to do with it? Or maybe answer it?
I remember this episode because, for some reason, it freaked me out the most. I jumped right into all the other episodes and enjoyed them. Even before I knew what I meant, there was a mental illness to deal with. This episode sticks with me for that reason. It will always be in my top ten because it did its job and scared me.
9. Mookie and Pookie
Mookie is a terminally ill young man who is also a computer wiz. His twin Pookie longs for her brother, and eventually, he answers his family in another world of technology that he has always been so interested in.
I loved this episode because it explored the idea of technology and what the future could hold. Can we live inside its realm? We discover from one man’s dreams that we can get to this part for memory. How do we connect with someone at this rate? Will it ever be possible? As I got older, I understood this episode and appreciated it more.
8: Djinn No Chaser
Connie Squires finds an old lamp. A disgruntled genie who hates granting wishes appears when she takes it home and rubs it. This genie pushes the couple to their limits and drives Danny Squires (Charles Levin) completely mad.
This episode always made me laugh. The genie is over the top with his drama, and guest star Kareem Abdul Jabbar perfectly portrays him. Another treasured episode is about someone’s story of spiraling into insanity. However, this episode was hilarious, so it never scared me.
7. All A Clone By The Telephone
A failed TV screenwriter is controlled by an ominous voice speaking through his answering machine. What starts as a fantastic change in his luck. He quickly learns that the machine makes the rules in this relationship.
As a writer, I feel this episode is extra hard now. If I only had a maniacal answering machine to help me through my day, I would probably get more accomplished. I would never let that machine go or make it mad. That’s my thoughts on that.
A Clone By The Telephone is a little higher in the rankings now; when I saw these episodes as a kid, this one never impressed me, and I would get bored. I retract my thoughts on that because I am giving it a positive mention here.
6. If The Shoe Fits
Candidate Bo Gumbs (Dick Shawn) thinks that politics are an entertaining joke. As he is helped by a maid and bellhop in his hotel, little by little, Bo Gumbs turns into the actor he always plays.
This Tales From The Darkside episode has extra special meaning in the US today. In a world where politics are just entertainment, it is another episode I was never really interested in, but it grew on me. All these episodes affect me in one way or another.
Some episodes still don’t thrill me; it’s a top 10, though, because I can retrace my steps. I don’t have room for the ones that didn’t leave me feeling some way. At 40 years old, this episode makes me feel warm and cozy. The ultimate gimmick is the candidates themselves.
5. It All Comes Out In The Wash:
Henry Gropper (Vince Edwards), a cheapskate realtor, is referred to a Dry Cleaning shop run by Chow Ting for a costly cleaning of your sins. Henry is enthralled and takes advantage of covering up all his wrongdoings. What price will he pay in the end?
This episode of Tales From The Darkside always made me wonder: What if all our sins were cleaned out in the laundry? Would we need a spiritual being? My guess is no. We wouldn’t have to fear a place we can’t see. Would you devote your life? Or would you go with the flow?
How long would it take for your sins to spill over if you did believe? These are the questions I asked as a kid; I was always smart enough to process things I shouldn’t have even been wondering about. Can it all come out in the wash?
4. Anniversary Dinner
Henry (Mario Roccuzzo) and Eleanor (Alice Ghostley) Collander are celebrating their anniversary as a girl named Sybil (Fredica Duke), who is down on her luck, lands on their doorstep. As Fredrica discovers the secrets of the husband and wife, she begins to regret ever coming to their home. Will she be staying for dinner?
This episode thrilled me at the end. I have a strong love for the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. However, this was different; it made everyone seem friendly and helpful. It was one of my top-tier episodes, the only one that didn’t creep me out.. Not that I don’t love that enjoyable fear. It’s like a car accident: You are scared to see what’s ahead but still have to look when you pass by.
3. The Word Processor Of The Gods
Rochard Hagstrom (Bruce Davison) is a troubled writer who lives in constant putdowns and an inconsiderate son is gifted a new custom computer by his recently deceased nephew. He learns that any problem in his life could be solved with this computer, even the ability to make things disappear. How far will he go?
This one is definitely in the top three for a reason. As an outcast kid since kindergarten, this episode was my most fantastic escape from bullies and a weird mom. You could still say it’s a comfort episode; sometimes, being married with kids weighs on your shoulders. This episode was made just for nerdy and awkward people like me.
2. A Case Of The Stubborns
Jody Tolliver (Christian Slater) and his mother (Barbara Eda-Young) are grieving the loss of grandpa Titus Tolliver (Eddie Bracken). One day, however, Grandpa comes back to harass his family once again. As each day goes by, the zombified old man starts to deteriorate little by little, not even the Reverend Peabody (Brett Spiner) can convince the old man that it’s time to cross over and rest in peace. Titus repeatedly refuses to accept his death. Will Jody and his mom ever find peace? Will Titus ever figure out his situation?
This was a hard one. There is only one Tales From The Darkside episode in the entire series of this show that I loved unconditionally, and this is a very close second. My favorite monsters are zombies, and this episode was funny because the talking zombie and Grandpa were a riot. I will forever cherish this episode because it holds memories of my grandparents and the love they gave, even if they were stubborn.
1. Trick Or Treat
Gideon Hackles (Barnard Hughes) is an angry old miser who only plans to make children fear his home on trick-or-treat night. This year, he placed IOUs around his house to play a game with the kids in the neighborhood. You will never win at Gideon’s little game, running in fear from being scared as they hunt IOUs. The day of reckoning soon comes as monsters of the past torture Gideon. One by one, they scare him until the very end of his life.
I have saved the best for last. The episode changed my life even as a little kid, barely old enough to pour my drink or cut my food. I would watch every episode of this show with my grandpa, and I got to watch the reruns on Sunday mornings. Trick Or Treat was the pilot episode that grabbed me forever. I was scared as crap as the ghouls in this episode, but I realized they were doing good. It made me see them differently. They were out to get the bad guy, and it made monsters more relatable to me than being a human kid.
Tales From The Darkside will always be my most cherished TV show. I even have the entire series on DVD (yes, they still exist), and I use it to my advantage. Tales From The Darkside also intrigued my daughter, who is now getting into many horror movies. It does that to people; it’s not scary but not too hokey.
Do you agree with this list? Let us know!
