The Twilight Zone / The Dummy / Notes**

 

I had no intention of watching any other Twilight Zone episodes until 4th of July time, providing myself a break from my favorite show, but not too long ago on the subReddit for TZ a fan brought "The Dummy" up, propping it up as one of the scariest episodes. I've always considered it damn creepy. I think because the episode takes place at a night club, featuring such a vulnerable, susceptible victim as Robertson's Jerry, with an agent in Frank just trying to get him to behave--perform when expected, walk among the customers and amuse them--continuing late into the night and early morning, there is a special relationship I have with "The Dummy" when its 10:00 PM or so. I know I bring up SYFY marathons ad nauseum, but I think it is because a lot of my personal joy comes with past experiences of "The Dummy" at the tail end of prime time lineups. This is prime New Year's Day viewing always. When you get the usual suspects, this episode and "Living Doll" feel so right in the same prime time lineup. All of a sudden, now, I want to watch "Living Doll". So already I might go back on my intended break...God, I'm such a Twilight Zone cuck.

Something I noticed in particular tonight was Cliff Robertson's eyes. When Frank is talking to him--more like scolding him and just trying to get through to him that a lot of his problem is in his head--Jerry's eyes are constantly moving back and forth, to the left and right. Jerry wasn't really listening. Willie was on his mind. Jerry wanted Willie gone. But Willie wasn't going anywhere. Cliff is such an underrated actor. There are those gifted actors of the past that I think will pop up on the radars of future generations and get their just-do. He'll be long gone but his work will live on. His contributions to the Twilight Zone are exceptional. I really look forward to the summer when I can return to Cliff's other classic TZ episode.