Rod Serling Interviewed by Mike Wallace (2/2)

In this 1959 interview by Mike Wallace, Rod Serling discusses his ups and downs as a television writer. As the air date for The Twilight Zone approaches, Serling speaks about his early days of writing such trivia as product endorsements and his disappointment with censorship.

Incredibly intelligent and honest, Serling states that he is tired of fighting censorship and is working hard on The Twilight Zone. Weary of the censorship battle and the big corporate money behind most of it, Serling is resolved to do everything he can to make The Twilight Zone a successful television series.

Here is a man committed to his craft, turning down multiple offers paying huge money. It would be fascinating to see a follow up Wallace/Serling interview just a few years later.

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Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• rod
• serling
• interviewed
• by
• mike
• wallace
• documentary
• the
• twilight
• zone
• censorship
• in
• television

[MrAlexKeaton]

I think Rod is disappointed at the end as Mike Wallace is talking about how Rod Serling went from a trailer home to a great big house. The whole point Rod had been making was that money and status are not the important things...

[hwy61media]

@MrAlexKeaton I agree. I also think Rod suffered many disappointments in his career but in the end, the body of work he left behind speaks for itself. Thank you for commenting. -Michael

[Infinitesimalism]

It's remarkably evident that this interview illustrates a tough interview at the hands of Mike Wallace in his early years, interjecting Rod's thoughts with potential counterpoints and Rod ever so calmly yet intelligently elucidates his stance against censorship and the hindrance of the artist in popular culture.

[hwy61media]

@Infinitesimalism You can't trip up an honest, intelligent man. Must have been frustrating for Mike :) Thanks -Michael

[calabiyou]

rod serling's quality reververates down to our present day

[4085jones]

Rip rob sterling

[VanityConcubine]

I'm Mike Wallace... I don't listen to a word my guest says, and I interrupt completely irrelevant questions. We'll be back in a moment.

[NinjaMastiff]

I feel that it's necessary to apologize to Mr. Serling for where television has arrived today. To think that a general audience would actually watch this in its entirety without explosions, sexual provocation, random acts of ludicrous, improbable violence or a series of flashy colors and computer generated visual bally-hoo is embarrassing to current American culture.

I'm sorry Rod, that all your ambient ambitions arrived here.

[Shuracrab]

One more thing. Question: is my work quality if not many get to see it and call it "quality"? Thats a question every 'man should answer for oneself...I say yes, because thats how you appreciate you work and the effort you put into it even for it is publicly criticized or critically acclaimed, and most importantly that's how you appreciate your life even if your are struggling to pay for groceries. Dont let the majority define quality for you, but rather bless someone with another view of it.

[Shuracrab]

so i dont falt Mr. Wallace because identifying success with the attainment of riches is custom in society and have been prior to '59. We fail to realize its the sharing of the god-given gift that garners the cash, but thats not highlighted. it's rather the cash itself. this cause many people to feel worthless without cash even if they have a family. So instead of the art, and creativity many focus on the income. Saddled with the burden of trying to "earn a living" rather than just living.

[Shuracrab]

A man when blessed with the opportuntity to share his talents with the world is often solely identified with the attainment of riches , because that is how the prosperous life is defined or a story is identified in the world. So if without money, your life is pretty much considered nothing. Unfortunately, it usually isnt until someone passes that there are remembered for what they shared or contributed. celebrity or non-celebrity. rich or homeless...

[jprevete]

I caught parts of the Twilight Zone marathon on local NY TV on New Year's Day and felt compelled to look for interviews on Serling....thanx for the post...I had forgotten what a brilliant contributor he was....a man far ahead of his time....

[cockandballs83]

This guy is an example of old American and made success based on merit and talent verces THE SHIT HOLLYWOOD IS TODAY!