The Watcher

This was one of the (then) fledgling UPN network's early shows. Sadly it was greatly overlooked by the viewing public, and was quickly canceled. The show was basically The Twilight Zone set under the glitzy glamour of Las Vegas. It was an anthology show with several mini-stories per episode. As an anthology, each episode featured a different cast of characters, although a few supporting characters do make regular appearances. It was hosted by The Watcher, (rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot) in a role similar to Rod Serling on TZ. It was quite a kick to see the group, Cheap Trick guest star in one episode as a fictional has-been rock group called Pandemonium. The strange, quirky little stories were for the most part well written. The production value was also very good. But the real star of the show was the city of Las Vegas - so beautiful, glitzy, and surreal, but beneath the neon glare was a shadowy underside.

This was an awesome show. It had well written thought provoking stories. There was a catchy soundtrack that ran through the show. Sir Mix-a-lot was the narrator and the show had a somewhat unique feel. I think the most comparable show to "The Watchers" was "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", but this show was still quite different. The show had an interesting format in that it would bounce between various stories in one episode. It would start by telling the first part of one story, then go on to tell part of another story, then come back again to tell the next part of the first story and so on. In between parts, Sir Mix-a-lot would give commentary on the various characters and their ethics or lack of. This is a must see for anybody that likes thought provoking TV shows with social commentary.