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ARTICLE
DVD Review: Tales from the Darkside - The Second Season
by R.J. Carter Published: November 18, 2009
George Romero's lighter version of Night Gallery may not have made your hair stand on end, but Tales from the Darkside did manage to have that marvelous sense of the absurd that permeated the EC Comics (and no, I'm not confusing Tales from the Darkside with Tales from the Crypt -- merely noting the similarities in style). Further, being a television series done somewhat on the cheap, it was a modest platform for both television stalwarts and up-and-comers to find equal footing and give some career boosts.
One of my two favorite episodes of this season also happens to be the first. "The Impressionist" stars veteran comedian (and voice of Cool McCool) Chuck McCann as Spiffy Remo, a stand-up comic whose impressions are so dead on that he's approached by the government to use his skills to mimic an alien. Now, the alien isn't captive -- he leaves of his own accord near the end of the episode -- but he desperately wants to give us the secret of cold fusion. But the alien won't -- can't, apparently -- unless someone walks and talks just like him. Deviation from the pattern results in violence. When Remo finally succeeds, he's released to return to his act -- but doing dead actors will never measure up to his greatest achievement. Fortunately for him, he did such a good job with that impression, the aliens want to take him on for a full-time gig in their flying saucer.
With "Effect and Cause," a girl's house begins rearranging itself, subtly correcting things so that events occur prior to the events that would have kicked them off. This one was a bit difficult to follow, inconsistent in its premise, and there was never really any reason given for why things began to go awry. But then, that was part of both the charm as well as the greatest detraction from many of these episodes -- sometimes, stuff just happens, and giving a reason would just distract from the scene.
Most times you wouldn't learn the reason for events until the closing comments, such as in "The Old Soft Shoe" (starring Paul Dooley and John Fiedler), a riff on the tried-and-true haunted hotel room paradigm. Sometimes the reasons were simply silly, like in "Comet Watch" when an amateur astronomer plans to watch Halley's Comet, only to have Sir Edmond Halley himself fall out of the telescope (although that's a particular notion I'd be hard pressed to critique the episode writers on).
Moreso than the plots, Tales from the Darkside is fun to watch just for the sheer face-spotting. Yes, of course, that's Jerry Stiller playing the role of a hate-spewing radio host, and the inimitable Darren McGavin in the self-referential "Distant Signals." But will you recognize Penelope Ann Miller in her debut role as an interdimensional advanced alien visitor in "Ring Around the Redhead" or a very young Seth Green as a little boy complaining about "Monsters in My Room?" And is that Marcia Cross all vamped up in "Strange Love?"
This three-disc compilation of the second season includes a brief interview with series creator, George Romero.
Tales from the Darkside
The Second Season
Disc 1
Disc 2
Disc 2
01. The Impressionist
02. Lifebomb
03. Ring Around the Redhead
04. Parlour Floor Front
05. Halloween Candy
06. The Satanic Piano
07. The Devil's Advocate
08. Distant Signals Bonus: On Air with George Romero
09. The Trouble with Mary Jane
10. Ursa Minor
11. Effect and Cause
12. Monsters in My Room
13. Comet Watch
14. Dream Girl
15. A New Lease on Life
16. Printer's Devil
17. The Shrine
18. The Old Soft Shoe
19. The Last Car
20. A Choice of Dreams
21. Strange Love
22. The Unhappy Medium
23. Fear of Floating
24. The Casavin Curse
