This creepy episode of Rod Serling’s Night Gallery originally aired on the NBC network on the night of February 23rd, 1972. The first tale stars Richard Thomas (The Waltons), Michael Dunn (The Wild Wild West), Geraldine Page (The Rescuers), and Barbara Steele (8 1/2). It deals with a young man (Thomas) who must pretend to be a Sin-Eater at a nobleman’s wake.
The second tale in the episode deals with an abusive couple who mistreat their maid, in this case a robotic servant. It stars Cloris Leachman (Young Frankenstein), Broderick Crawford (Highway Patrol), Henry Jones (Vertigo), Severn Darden (The Six Million Dollar Man), and Lana Wood (Diamonds Are Forever). I have to say that I’m always very moved by Dr. Kessler’s (Darden) righteous anger towards the couple in this tale, he really does a great job with it.
A big thanks to the Rod Serling’s Night Gallery: A Shadowy Museum of the Outre site for the screencap of the painting from You Can’t Get Help Like That Anymore.
Nothing better than Night Gallery on the weekend before Halloween.
Is there an episode where a women goes into a basement with straw around and is shocked to see herself in a coffin? I Remember this from a little kid, but can’t find the episode. I’m sure it was night gallery. I believe I saw season 1 and 2 on DVD.
Hm, James…that one is not ringing any bells. But to be fair my memory banks are getting rusty, if I stumble on the episode I’ll be sure to post the name of it, friend. :)