Latest news with #RodSerling
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Classic Twilight Zone Episode Inspired by "One of the Greatest Mysteries in Aviation History"
In the late 1950s, British geologists searching for oil came across the wreckage of an American bomber plane in the Libyan Desert. The ill-fated aircraft in question, the "Lady Be Good," mysteriously vanished during World War II in the spring of 1943, after taking off to bomb Axis targets in Naples, Italy. News of the recovered plane captivated the imagination of The Twilight Zone creator and WWII veteran Rod Serling, who used the stranger-than-fiction discovery as inspiration for the Season 2 premiere: "King Nine Will Not Return." For More on The Twilight Zone The Twilight Zone episode inspired by the "Lady Be Good" aviation disaster Marking the Twilight Zone debut of director Buzz Kulik — who ended up helming nine episodes of the classic anthology — the sun-soaked tale centers around the character of James Embry (Bob Cummings), captain and seemingly sole survivor of the titular B-25 bomber that has crashed somewhere in the sands of North Africa. With no memory of what happened to him or his crew members — all of whom are nowhere to be found — Embry slowly begins to lose his sanity, wondering whether he's dead or merely hallucinating the entire thing. The second theory turns out to be closer, with the episode's final moments revealing that Embry had a nervous breakdown after seeing the news that a missing plane from WWII had been discovered after so many years. Why such a visceral reaction? Embry was supposed to be on that particular mission, but was discharged for medical reasons. The headline triggered long simmering survivor's guilt and a highly-detailed fever dream. But then why are Embry's shoes filled with sand...? Per Marc Scott Zicree's The Twilight Zone Companion, "King Nine Will Not Return" was filmed in an actual patch of desert near Lone Pine, California with a surplus B-25 purchased from the Air Force for $2,500 (the equivalent of about $27,000 today). The aircraft was entirely disassembled, shipped to the location in pieces, and then put back together. Solving the World War II mystery that inspired "King Nine Will Not Return" According to the aforementioned Twilight Zone Companion, the Air Force dubbed the Lady Be Good discovery as "one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history." Upon further examination, however, it was officially determined that the crew of nine men was forced to abandon the craft after losing both visibility and fuel. The National Museum of the United States Air Force website states that the remains of eight of the nine crew members were ultimately found, "one near the plane and the other seven far to the north." Miraculously, five of the men had made it 78 miles before dying, while another had managed 109 miles. "In addition, they had lived eight days rather than only two expected of men in this area with little or no water," the site continues. "The body of the ninth man was never found." Classic episodes of The Twilight Zone air regularly on SYFY. for complete scheduling info! Solve the daily Crossword
Geek Tyrant
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Ben Stiller and Leonardo DiCaprio Are Rebooting THE TWILIGHT ZONE as a Feature Film — GeekTyrant
It looks like Ben Stiller is reprotedly stepping back behind the camera and into The Twilight Zone . According to TheInsneider, Stiller is in talks to direct a new feature-length reboot of Rod Serling's iconic sci-fi anthology series for Warner Bros., with Leonardo DiCaprio producing through his Appian Way banner. The guy who gave us Tropic Thunder and Zoolander , and more recently, the unsettling brilliance of Severance , may end up directing a Twilight Zone movie. This might've been surprising news before Stiller made Severance , but his work on that show proves he's more than capable of blending surrealism and paranoia. It's very much in the spirit of Serling's world. DiCaprio, meanwhile, has been attached to a Twilight Zone reboot for over a decade. His company Appian Way, known for backing prestige dramas like The Wolf of Wall Street and Killers of the Flower Moon has been developing a feature based on Serling's scripts since 2008. Warner Bros. was reportedly negotiating with Serling's estate to secure rights to specific episodes with the goal of telling 'one continuing story line based on one or more episodes,' which would distinguish it from the 1983 anthology film. That '80s movie, Twilight Zone: The Movie , was broken into segments directed by Hollywood legends including John Landis, Steven Spielberg, George Miller, and Joe Dante. It adapted several classic episodes such as 'Kick the Can,' 'It's a Good Life,' and the terrifying 'Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.' The new take, if it moves forward, sounds like it will be a single narrative thread instead of a segmented format, which is much more interesting. And this isn't the first attempt at a modern Twilight Zone movie. Over the years, filmmakers like Matt Reeves ( The Batman ) and Joseph Kosinski ( Top Gun: Maverick ) have tried to crack the code. Reeves' version, written by Jason Rothenberg, centered on 'a test pilot who winds up breaking the speed of light; when he puts down his craft, he discovers that he's landed a bit late for supper — 96 years late,' hinting at a possible remake of the 1961 time-travel episode 'The Odyssey of Flight 33.' That version fizzled out, and the franchise instead returned to television with Jordan Peele's CBS All Access reboot, which ran for two seasons before being quietly canceled. With Warner Bros. back in the mix, DiCaprio still onboard, and Stiller possibly directing, this iteration might finally stick. It's too early to say how much of Serling's voice will remain, but I imagine the film will lean into the eerie social commentary that made the original series so influential. But if Stiller brings the same atmospheric tension from Severance and DiCaprio channels his obsession with cerebral, high-concept storytelling, this might actually be the trip to the fifth dimension that fans have been waiting for.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Should we be buying pennis? And why did card company's choke on 'The Choke'?
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) makes a choke motion towards the New York Knicks after hitting a shot at the end of the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference final, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) If you're like me, you hear something is being discontinued and you immediately ask 'should I hurry up and buy some?' Enter The Penny. I'm old enough to remember the thrill of finding a wheat penny in our tub of change at home. I knew it was always worth a little more than an actual penny, but at the end of the day, how much are we really talking? 10 cents? Eventually it just got filed under 'a cool thing to see every once in a while.' Like a buffalo nickel. As an adult, I now buy rolls of wheat pennies off eBay to bury in my lawn and use its copper properties to ward off mushrooms . The innocence of youth, now gone in the name of protecting plants that might produce seven cherry tomatoes this summer. Advertisement I guess this is less of a collector story than it is a paean to the penny. Am I running to buy more wheat pennies? No. Yes. You'll see. But I will miss the little guys, and I will definitely grab a handful of the final printing for my progeny to throw away one day, 100 years from now. This leads us, of course, to the triumphant return of 'Three Things I'm Buying This Week.' Let's get weird. 1. Rolls of wheat pennies ($17 for 100) There's a surprisingly large amount of 97-98% positive ebay sellers in the 'wheat penny roll' search results (this is a bad thing, for those new to buying off the platform). All I can tell you is I bought rolls twice from this person and they were great. Am I buying for nostalgia? Stocking up for a run on pennies as their end draws near? Have I simply planted more tomatoes? A Fickle never tells! 2. Rod Serling autographed check ($ 259-ish ) Call me old fashioned, but a holiday doesn't feel right if there isn't a Twilight Zone marathon. You sit there and watch episode after episode and realize how great of a show it was. Consistently. And the guy behind it all? Rod Serling. So the natural next step is, of course, to find old canceled checks from the 70s written out to random businesses. I feel like prices spiked for a bit but have settled down to about $250. Which now seems like a deal. Advertisement I have bought a few canceled checks in my time, and they all focus more on Pretty Cool People From History and not so much 'I can flip this for double the price in a couple years.' The check is an intimate piece of times past! People paying their phone bill and stuff. It feels noble to buy but weird to re-sell. 3. Topps 'I Am Your Father's Day' set ($ 15-50 on eBay ) If you order now you'll get what I consider the perfect Father's Day gift for the Star Wars fan in your life. There were two sets made — in 2020 and 2021. It was a brilliant play on words and some of the pairings were inspired. I have a calendar reminder every year to 'check for Father's Day cards' just in case they bring them back. One thing I'm not buying A Tyrese Haliburton choke 2.0 instant card— because nobody made one Read the room, people! A Pope 'instant' card sold a billion copies two weeks ago. You have an iconic tribute to the most famous choke gesture in sports, on a giant stage…and nothing. Well not nothing — there were custom art cards. And t-shirts. But there are cards available from the most trite of moments this postseason; why a Haliburton card hasn't been made yet remains a mystery. Alright friends! I am out of here. Time to awkwardly shove more pennies into my dirt. And that is not a euphemism! Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Elementary students join Mayor Kraham for first carousel ride of the season
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – In a classic sign that summer is coming, the Rec Park merry-go-round took its official first spin Tuesday morning. In keeping with tradition, students from nearby Horace Mann Elementary joined the Binghamton Mayor to inaugurate the season. Students waited their turn to ride on the carousel that, several years ago, was refurbished to include some images that pay homage to Binghamton native and Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling. Mayor Jared Kraham hopped on a horse to ride alongside the kids. Fourth grader Everett Rabideau says he prefers the gentle spin of a carousel over the intensity of a roller coaster. 'I think it's cool because we're right there, and every time at recess we get to come to the park. Sometimes, they'll let us go on the carousel if it's open. I think it's cool that we get the first opportunity to go on the carousel,' said Rabideau. Five of our area's six carousels should be back in action this weekend as they traditionally open on Memorial Day Weekend. The Ross Park carousel in Binghamton is still being refurbished. Each municipality sets its own schedule, which can often be found online. NY lawmakers push AI safety bills Elementary students join Mayor Kraham for first carousel ride of the season Local Rotary Clubs prepare for Band Organ Rally and Carousel Festival Binghamton High School recognized for musical excellence BLAST raises awareness for mental health with latest show 'Next to Normal' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A new dimension: Rod Serling documentary filming wraps in Rhode Island
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Submitted for your approval: Filming has officially wrapped in Rhode Island for a documentary on Rod Serling—the visionary force behind an iconic science-fiction series. The authorized documentary will explore Serling's life and his impact on television as the creator, narrator, and central writer of 'The Twilight Zone.' The Rhode Island Film & TV Office describes the film as an 'intimate portrait' of Serling, highlighting how his work helped shape the industry. Steven Feinberg, RI Film & TV Office executive director, called Serling 'prolific, creative and insightful' and a 'provocative storyteller.' He added that Serling's narratives have impacted millions of lives and said he 'has and always will be an inspiration.' When the first episode of 'The Twilight Zone' aired in October 1959 on CBS, no one knew it would later be renowned as one of the greatest TV programs of all time, or the profound impact it would have on the industry. The RI Film & TV Office described the series as a 'genre-bending show' that tackled social and political issues like war, racism, and the dangers of technology through the lens of sci-fi stories. 'The show was not simply great primetime entertainment, but rather, a cultural phenomenon of tales of morality with thought-provoking social commentary,' the office said. The film, which remains untitled at this time, has been authorized by Serling's daughters, Jodi and Anne Serling, who are also serving as executive producers. Although Serling was from upstate New York, production took place across several Rhode Island locations, including Providence, East Greenwich, and South Kingstown. According to the RI Film & TV Office, recreations of Serling's life were shot in these locations, 'mirroring the same cinematic black-and-white style of 'The Twilight Zone.'' For these reenactments, Rhode Island native Tom DeNucci portrayed Serling. The documentary is a collaboration between Rhode Island-based Verdi Productions and Appian Way, the production company founded by Leonardo DiCaprio. 'Our company's goal is to keep creating jobs in Rhode Island with high-profile and meaningful projects that our small state can be proud of,' Chad A. Verdi, Verdi Productions president, said. Verdi also hinted at future collaborations with Appian Way, saying more projects could be on the horizon for Rhode Island. NEXT: Documentary premieres at Providence Place, revealing artists' four-year mall residency Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
