Insight

This syndicated series was produced by the Paulist Fathers, an evangelistic Catholic order of priests. For years, it was a staple of local TV programming in the USA, usually being aired on Sunday mornings or at very odd times, such as just before the station signed off for the night. To the Fathers, it was a way to spread the Word. To the stations, it was a cheap way to plug holes in their schedules and meet the community service requirements of their licenses.

I've also heard that the series was sometimes shown in Sunday schools and church group meetings, usually as the basis for a discussion.

As for the show itself, I found it to be a very mixed bag. Some episodes were interesting, thought provoking, and a bit offbeat, such as the one in which a group of people held a trial to impeach God. Many were preachy, predictable, and even unintentionally funny, like the one that ended with Edward Andrews signing "My Way." And some were just pulpits for 1960's-style liberalism, with noble criminals, brutal cops, and GI baby killers.

This is another one of the shows that has been almost totally forgotten. I saw episodes of Insight about a dozen times over the years, and almost every episode I saw remains fresh in the memory.The Paulist Fathers, who are also responsible for that superb series of great spiritual writings by and for people of all faiths, Classics of Western Spirtuality, produced the show, and got an astonishing array of Hollywood and Broadway talent to write, direct, and star in the different episodes. Despite its Catholic provenance, this show was far , far from propaganda, and actually reflected the best in post- Vatican 2 U.S. Catholicism. One hopes the Paulists still have some episodes on DVD

My favorite episode was "Chicken". This episode aired in the 80's. This episode would have impact today since it talks about gangs. I wish it was at least on VHS somewhere. I could show it to my newborn son when he gets a bit older! This was a great series. I agree with another use I saw post elsewhere that this series deserves more recognition. AND DVD status! I even checked e- auction sites. No one seems to have it. I would pay for even a copy taped off TV. Does anyone out there even have them on a tape? My wife has never seen the show, but said it sounds interesting. I wish there was more to show her than the info on here or what I remember about it!

Some "Insight" episodes are available on VHS from Paulist Press (http://www.paulistpress.com). They are grouped together in sets of 3; I have used "Christ Incognito: Classic insight Dramas: Jesus B.C., The Day Everything Went Wrong, The Man Who Mugged God" in my Sunday School class.

"Wrestling with God: Classic Insight Comedies: Packy, The Walls Came Tumblin' Down, This side of Eden" worked well, too; I remembered "Packy" about an actor's agent getting into heaven though I'd seen it once over 20 years ago.

They are working on DVDs but say that it is "a slow process".

"Insight" and "This is the Life" were two of TV's great "Hangover Morning" shows if you came home all messed up from Saturday night partying.....stark, creepy and presented like play filmed in a church auditorium. Big stars must have done this show for personal reasons--not for the paycheck--this was a very cheaply produced show! Yes, with all the CRAP on DVD , this needs to be seen!

Lloyd Bridges was on it way too much though. Deborah Winters was a teen actress who was in one LSD episode. She was great, and this lead to her teen trauma feature film; "The People Next Door"--which almost looked like the feature length version of "Insight" !