Tales from the Darkside

Every anthology TV series has its duds. It's just par for the course with these types of shows. It does seem that Tales From the Darkside had far more duds than brilliant episodes. Still, even the duds are dripping with mood. In that respect, it's a far creepier show than, say, Tales From the Crypt. That show might be more consistent in terms of the writing and the acting, but Tales From the Darkside wins in terms of mood and atmosphere.

Some of the more interesting episodes are Halloween Candy, Trick 'R Treat, Anniversary Dinner, Miss May Dusa, Baker's Dozen, and The Geezenstacks. There's some creepy, haunting stuff in there.

Tales From the Darkside is still worth checking out, but just be prepared to have to wade through a lot of bad/mediocre episodes to get to the good ones.

Although I was in my early teens when I watched tales from the darkside, if left an impression on me. As a matter of fact, I still remember the first TFDS episode. The Halloween episode in which a rich old, whom everone in the town owns money to, has fun with his debtor's children by making them search for the outstanding notes in his creepy mansion. If a child found the outstanding-notes, that families debts would be wiped off. Of course, none of the children every found them...running out of the house scared out of their minds....until a real witch shows up! Needless to say, the old miser is paid a visit by the devil himself! I still rmemeber it to this day. Anyway, TFDS has dozens of episodes with eerie endings. If you like the late 80's tv series MONSTERS, you would also enjoy "tales from the darkside". It is just too bad that they don't show it any more....

The premise which inspired "Distant Signals" is guaranteed to ignite the inspiration of anyone who has loved the characters of a TV series. Mr. Smith (Lenny Von Dohlen), an otherworldly visitor, approaches the creator of a 1965 detective series (David Margulies) which was canceled in mid-season. This "fan" offers him $2 million - in gold - to write and direct six more episodes, including a vital series finale, which will remove the wandering hero from "limbo." Darren McGavin, with heartbreaking pathos, portrays the actor who is physically and metaphysically transformed from an aging dead-drunk bartender into his former self as a mythic star. This peculiarly "impossible," yet patently real idea glows with magic and life as an example of how a mere half hour installment of a small screen anthology can represent "the height of televisual art."

I finished first season and, although there's some real masterpieces, most of it is just mediocre and there's even some episodes that make 20 minutes seem like eternity. Still, I recommend this show because good ones are worthy of getting through bad ones to see them.

6/10

I don't know what the last reviewer was talking about but this show is truly scary. I can recall watching this show when it orig. aired and the opening seq. alone scared me to death. When it would come on and I was alone I would run from the living room and in to my bedroom w/ the covers over my head. I remember that I also forgot to turn the television off so hidding from the scary intro. did not work : ) As for the episodes, I remember that the opening credits and closing credits , but I don't remember EVERY episode. I remember several classic ones that are a MUST. One involved a woman that wanted to stop over eating and loss weight. So she went to buy a "special" pair of glasses. Lets just say it did not end good for the woman. I wish I could tell you more but I don't want to spoil it. It's very creepy and scary episode. Another classic was one w/ a puppet master whos dummy comes to life and tries to take over and kill his master.

The shows were not as scary as maybe some would like but I doubt anyone would be disappointed in this show. It is a VERY VERY CREEPY SHOW. Trust me. You watch this show at night or in the daytime alone or with someone and you will be very creeped out and perhaps scared.

"So try and enjoy the daylight."