This is the first episode of the second season of "Night Gallery". While the show was introduced by Rod Serling, most of the episodes were not written by him. However, in the first segment, "The Boy Who Predicted Earthquakes", the teleplay was written by Serling himself.
Michael Constantine plays an angry program director for television. He's frustrated when a kid is given his own segment on TV where he predicts the future--and the kid (Clint Howard) is amazingly accurate. Naturally after the kid is so uncanny, Constantine signs the kid to be a regular. Sadly, however, by the end, the episode (and the planet) just fizzle. I'd give this one a 3, as there just isn't much of a payoff.
By the way, the weird horror movie that Michael Constantine is watching is "The Island of Lost Souls".
"Miss Lovecraft Sent Me" shows a change starting in the second season. Unlike season one, the scripts now included some kooky and occasionally funny shorts. This one is pretty broad in its humor with Joseph Campanella playing a vampire. And, the reference to 'Miss Lovecraft' is a homage to the horror writer HP Lovecraft. Not funny, though, I'd give this one a 3.
"The Hand of Borgus Weems" has George Maharis playing a freaky guy. He claims that his hand is evil and has a mind of its own--a hand that wants to kill. So, he goes to see a doctor (Ray Milland) and requests that he cut it off to end his risk to others! This one is pretty creepy and had an excellent ending. I'd give this one an 8--by far the best of this show.
"Phantom of What Opera?" stars Leslie Nielsen as the Phantom. This is another short kooky one. While far from great, it is kind of cute and I'd give it a 6.
Overall, a somewhat weak episode other than the Borgus episode.
Michael Constantine plays an angry program director for television. He's frustrated when a kid is given his own segment on TV where he predicts the future--and the kid (Clint Howard) is amazingly accurate. Naturally after the kid is so uncanny, Constantine signs the kid to be a regular. Sadly, however, by the end, the episode (and the planet) just fizzle. I'd give this one a 3, as there just isn't much of a payoff.
By the way, the weird horror movie that Michael Constantine is watching is "The Island of Lost Souls".
"Miss Lovecraft Sent Me" shows a change starting in the second season. Unlike season one, the scripts now included some kooky and occasionally funny shorts. This one is pretty broad in its humor with Joseph Campanella playing a vampire. And, the reference to 'Miss Lovecraft' is a homage to the horror writer HP Lovecraft. Not funny, though, I'd give this one a 3.
"The Hand of Borgus Weems" has George Maharis playing a freaky guy. He claims that his hand is evil and has a mind of its own--a hand that wants to kill. So, he goes to see a doctor (Ray Milland) and requests that he cut it off to end his risk to others! This one is pretty creepy and had an excellent ending. I'd give this one an 8--by far the best of this show.
"Phantom of What Opera?" stars Leslie Nielsen as the Phantom. This is another short kooky one. While far from great, it is kind of cute and I'd give it a 6.
Overall, a somewhat weak episode other than the Borgus episode.