Description: Season 1, Episode 17
- Twilight Zone Casino Episode
- Twilight Zone Casino Slot Machine Episode
- Twilight Zone Gambling Episode
- Twilight Zone Episodes Season 1
A compulsive gambler cajoles his friend to use his telekinesis to affect the results of the gambling tables in Las Vegas. Technical Specs Director: Robert Florey Writer: Rod Serling Cast: Rod Serling, Everett Sloane, Vivi Janiss, William Kendis, Lee Millar, Lee Sands, Marc Towers, Art Lewis, and Arthur Peterson Composer: None (Stock Music) Air Date: 1/29/1960 Production Code: 173-3627 Overview After winning a free trip to Las Vegas, Franklin and Flora Gibbs (Everett Sloan and.
Air Date: January 29, 1960Plot Summary: While on vacation with his wife, a stingy man becomes obsessed with a slot machine.
Review: For the most part, this is one of the more straightforward episodes, but it's also another instance of a theme that would be explored more in depth by a different episode; specifically in 'Nick of Time.' Essentially, a grouchy old bastard, named Franklin, goes on vacation with his wife to Las Vegas. My theory is that, considering Franklin and the wife sleep in separate beds, Franklin thought he'd be able to get a prostitute and now he's a miserable fuck since that plan didn't pan out. Giving further merit to my theory is the extra hot background chickadees and the scandalously short skirts on the casino girls. For some reason, Franklin had no intention of gambling and thinks people throwing away their money recklessly is stupid (I have to agree to an extent). The wife, of course, just wants to have a little fun, but that is difficult when Franklin is such a hardass. At one point, Franklin intends to go to his room to pout when a wannabe Jerry Lewis gives Franklin a free spin on a slot machine. To his astonishment, Franklin wins a decent amount of money. Trying to control his excitement, Franklin and the wife go back to their room, but Franky-boy thinks he hears someone calling his name.
While sleeping in that separate bed, Franklin decides he must go back to the slot machine but under the delusion that he feels compelled to return the winnings. Yeah, that makes soooo much sense. It's not long before Franklin is completely enthralled and begins to spend his own money--cashing check after check to continue playing. The wife, becoming concerned, tries to get Franklin to stop, but he goes off into a crazed tirade. To be fair, Franklin does sum up the scheme that is behind slot machines..although, does anyone really think that the big payoffs come from the stupid slots? Through his ravings, other patrons catch notice of his obsession as well as the casino employees who address that he's going off the rails and has been on the same slot machine all night. When Franklin is down to his last dollar, the slot machine inexplicably breaks. Believing the machine is doing this on purpose, Franky-baby knocks the machine over and is promptly thrown out of the casino. Still enamored in the situation, Franklin restlessly stays at his hotel room when he thinks he hears someone calling his name again. I actually think the voice they use is really creepy. In fact, had the tone been presented differently, this could have been a moderately scary episode. Franky-boy thinks he sees the slot machine coming after him and appearing throughout the hotel room until he clumsily falls out a window and dies. Oh great, another fucking idiot dying from a swan dive..killing me here TZ! At the end, casino employees discuss how they had never seen anyone so obsessed with a 24 hour gambling session. Then the slot machine appears and spits out Franklin's last dollar that rolls toward his corpse's hand.
Eh, not too bad overall. There was definitely a chance to make this creepy, but the music was off and the approach didn't allow for a proper execution. I think this is where 'Nick of Time' shined in order to take on these themes. While 'The Fever' emphasizes greed and gambling, which I don't feel were handled completely, the real idea is in regards to obsession. Nevertheless, still a cool episode and one that I would say is somewhat classic as I do see it get more airings than others.
| The Scary Door | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Anthology |
| First appearance | 'A Head in the Polls' (2ACV03) |
| Production | |
| Runtime | 15 seconds |
The Scary Door is a science-fiction horror television program in the 31st century. It is a spoof of the classic science-fiction TV series The Twilight Zone, and references several other TV shows and films, including the ending of War of the Worlds. Seven episodes of The Scary Door have so far been seen in Futurama media.
- 2Episodes
- 2.1The Last Man on Earth
- 2.2The Gambler
- 2.3The Most Evil Creature of them All
- 2.4First Degree Irony
- 2.5That Humblest of God's Creatures
- 2.6The Aliens Are Among Us
- 2.7Be Careful What You Wish For
- 4Additional info
While referencing multiple shows and films, the main reference to The Scary Door is the classic TV series The Twilight Zone, famous for its dramatic stories with big twists by the end, often revealing that everything was entirely the other way around of what one would have expected, or introducing extreme irony; for example in Time Enough At Last, a man who loves reading enjoys the fact that he is the sole survivor of human race as he finally gets time to read - but then he breaks his glasses.
Most obviously, the opening sequence to the two are very similar: the camera drifts through space, with several strange objects flying around, with a host (originally Rod Serling) introducing the viewer to the strange area of The Twilight Zone (or in Futurama's version, one enters The Scary Door).
While some episodes clearly are references to specific episodes of The Twilight Zone (for example Last Man on Earth, which has almost the exact story as Time Enough At Last but takes it a bit further in irony), others are less specific. The Gambler has multiple references to episodes of The Twilight Zone, as well as a lot of original scenes. Others, such as The Most Evil Creature of Them All, are not specific references to episodes but rather mockery of the show overall, which sometimes is extremely overdramatic and always have a twist. The soundtrack is also very similar, including the dramatic twist music in every episode.
The name of the episodes aren't official but describe the main subject of the episode.
The Last Man on Earth
Appearance: 'A Head in the Polls' (2ACV03)
Transcript
- [Opening credits.]
Announcer: You are entering the vicinity of an area adjacent to a location. The kind of place where there might be a monster, or some kind of weird mirror. These are just examples; it could also be something much better. Prepare to enter: The Scary Door.
- [Scene: In a desolated world, a man with glasses walks through a library that was somehow spared from destruction.]
Announcer: As per your request, please find enclosed the last man on Earth.
Man: Finally, solitude. I can read books for all eternity!
- [He drops his glasses and they break]
Twilight Zone Casino Episode
Man: It's not fair.. [panicked] it's not fair! [calmer] Wait, my eyes aren't that bad; I can still read the large-print books.
- [As he reaches for a book, his eyes fall out]
Man: [hysterical] It's not f-.. [calmer] Well, lucky I know how to read Braille.
- [His hands fall off. He screams, and then his tongue falls out. Then his head falls off.]
Credits
- Announcer: Maurice LaMarche
- The Last Man on Earth: Maurice LaMarche
Reference
- The Twilight Zone episode Time Enough at Last.
The Gambler
Appearance: 'I Dated a Robot' (3ACV15)
Transcript
- [Opening credits.]
Announcer: You're entering a realm which is unusual. Maybe it's magic, or contains some kind of monster.. The second one. Prepare to enter the Scary Door.
- [Scene: An elderly man wearing a green visor exits 3-Eyed Jack's Casino.]
Announcer: Please send the man 'round back and pick up Clyde Smith. A professional gambler who's about to have an unfortunate accident.
- [While crossing the street, Clyde is hit by a car.]
- [Clyde wakes up in front of a slot machine. He pulls the lever and it comes up with three Bars.]
Clyde: [laughs] A casino where I'm winning? That car must've killed me; I must be in heaven!
- [He pulls the lever again, three Bars come up again.]
Clyde: A casino where I always win? That's boring. I must really be.. [dramatic] In hell!
- [Enter man.]
Sebastian Cabot: No, Mr. Smith, you're not in heaven or hell. You're on an airplane!
- [Man opens curtain, revealing airplane windows. Clyde looks out the window and sees a gremlin on the wing, tearing out the wiring.]
Clyde: There's a gremlin destroying the plane! You've gotta believe me!
Sebastian Cabot: Why should I believe you? You're Hitler!
- [Man holds up a mirror, revealing that Clyde's reflection is that of Adolf Hitler.]
- [Clyde is transformed into Hitler. He turns to the person next to him.]
Clyde: Eva Braun, help me!
- [Eva Braun pulls off her face to reveal that she's actually a giant fly. Clyde screams.]
Credits
- Announcer: Maurice LaMarche
- Clyde Smith: Dave Herman
- Sebastian Cabot: Phil LaMarr
Reference
- The Twilight Zone episodes Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,A Nice Place to Visit, and The Man in the Bottle. The casino name is itself a reference to Twin Peaks, itself referencing the western 'One Eyed Jack, written by Rod Serling.
The Most Evil Creature of them All
Appearance: 'Spanish Fry' (4ACV17)
Transcript
- [Opening credits.]
Announcer: You're on a scenic route through a state recreational area known as the human mind. You ask a passer-by for directions, only to find he has no face or something. Suddenly up ahead, a door in the road. You swerve, narrowly avoiding The Scary Door.
- [Scene: A scientist is in a Frankensteinesque laboratory mixing chemicals in a beaker.]
Scientist: I have combined the DNA of the world's most evil animals to make the most evil creature of them all.
- [A pod reminiscent of the ones from the movie 'The Fly' opens with a cloud of steam. It clears, revealing a naked human male.]
Credits
- Announcer: Maurice LaMarche
- Scientist: Billy West
- Man: Dave Herman
Notes
- This episode was originally a deleted scene from 'The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz'.
First Degree Irony
Appearance:'Let's Twist Again' (US#028)
Transcript
- [Opening credits.]
Announcer: Imagine, if you will, a three by seven inch wooden frame -- a frame that's a gateway to a world of imagination. Wipe your mind on the welcome mat. You're about to enter The Scary Door.
- [Scene: A man in a car]
Announcer: Meet Brad Thompson, a man on his way home from a boring day at the office.
Brad: Man, I wish something exciting would happen.. anything at all.
- [A fire truck drives behind him.]
Brad: What's this? A fire truck is trying to pass me? To get to my neighborhood? I'll bet my neighbours house is on fire. I'd better speed up if I want to watch that.
- [He gets to his neighbour's house]
Brad: Wait a minute. My neighbour's house isn't on fire. But then, what's with all the smoke?
Erie pa casino presque isle sports book. Man: Oh.. hi Brad, sorry to be the one to have to tell you, but.. you're on fire!
- [Brad is shown on fire]
- [Brad's skeleton is on the floor]
Fireman: We tried to warn him that he was spontaneously combusting, but he drove away from us.
Announcer: Official cause of death, third degree burns.. actual cause of death, first degree irony!
That Humblest of God's Creatures
Appearance:Bender's Game
Transcript
- [Opening credits.]
Announcer: Imagine, if you will, an announcer you can barely understand. He refers to a [mutters], but you're not quite sure what he said. He seems to be eating something, or perhaps he's a little drunk. It's remotely possible that he just said something about the Scary Door.
- [Scene: A farm. Suddenly, it is attacked by UFOs shooting at everything in sight. Military forces are there, firing at the UFOs.]
Private: It's all over! Our guns and bombs are useless against the aliens.
- [The UFOs starts to crash.]
Announcer: In the end, it was not guns or bombs that defeated the aliens, but that humblest of all God's creatures, the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
- [A Tyrannosaurus Rex is seen crashing a UFO and eating the alien inside.]
Credits
- Announcer:Maurice LaMarche
- Private:Dave Herman
- Farmer:Billy West
Reference
- The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells.
The Aliens Are Among Us
Appearance:'Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences' (6ACV11)
Transcript
- [Opening credits.]
Announcer: You're taking a vacation from normality. The setting: a weird motel where the bed is stained with mystery. And there's also some mystery floating in the pool. Your key card may not open the exercise room because someone smeared mystery on the lock. But it will open the Scary Door.
- [Scene: Outside Capitol Hill where a press conference is taking place.]
Announcer: Submitted for your Emmy consideration: a popular Senator with unpopular ideas.
Man: Oh? How can you be so sure them aliens aren't already among us?
Senator: I'll tell you how! [takes off the man's face revealing an alien lifeform] Because you ARE ONE!!!
- [musical sting]
Credits
- Announcer: Maurice LaMarche
- Senator: Billy West
- Man/Alien: John DiMaggio
Be Careful What You Wish For
Appearance:'Benderama' (6ACV17)
Transcript
- [Opening credits.]
The Scary Door narrator: Enclosed is a .pdf attachment, a picture of yourself in a boat on a river. It's a river that flows in two directions. Make that three. It's a magic river. That's how. It is flowing down the eerie canal to.. The Scary Door. That's eerie with two Es. [C.U.: On TV, a scientist's laboratory. The scientist finishes welding a Robot.] Consider, if you have the energy, Dr. Daniel Zenus, an inventor with a terminal case of the lazies.
Dr. Daniel Zenus: This Robot will do everything for me! Robot, activate yourself and do my research.
- [The Robot flips its own on switch and powers up. It begins tinkering with test tubes as the scientist leans back in a chair with a pillow.]
- [Cut to: Later.]
Dr. Daniel Zenus: Next, assume my social obligations.
- [The scientist kicks back in an armchair as the Robot, wearing a black tie, offers his arm to the scientist's wife. She takes it and they exit. We see a clock. The hands spin. Years later, the scientist, now older, is still kicking back as an official enters.]
Official: Dr. Zenus, for a lifetime of scientific achievement, we present this award to.. Your Robot!
- [The official gives the Robot the trophy. A boy enters.]
- [The boy turns away from the scientist and hugs the Robot.]
Dr. Daniel Zenus: If only I'd programmed the Robot to be more careful what I wished for! Robot, experience this tragic irony for me!
- [The Robot falls to his knees.]
Twilight Zone Casino Slot Machine Episode
- [The scientist pops open a beer and takes a sip.]
Dr. Daniel Zenus: Ah!
Credits
- Announcer/Robot: Maurice LaMarche
- Dr. Daniel Zenus: David Herman
- Official: Phil LaMarr
- Boy: Lauren Tom
Notes
- In the Comic-Con reading of this episode, LaMarche was the voice of Dr. Zenus as well as the announcer and Billy West did the voice of the robot.
The comic 'Let's Twist Again' reveals that the ideas for The Scary Door come from an alternate universe where everything is ironic and there is only one writer for the show.
Twilight Zone Gambling Episode
Trivia
- The third episode which appears behind the ending credits of 'Spanish Fry' was originally going to appear in 'The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz', but the scene was deleted.
- One episode was seen in each of the first five seasons, including one in the four movies that encompass season 5. Season 6, however, includes two episodes of The Scary Door.
Appearances
Twilight Zone Episodes Season 1
- 'A Head in the Polls' (2ACV03)
- 'The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz' (3ACV05)(in a deleted scene)
- 'I Dated a Robot' (3ACV15)
- 'Bender Should Not Be Allowed on Television' (4ACV06)(sign)
- 'Spanish Fry' (4ACV17)
- Bender's Game
- 'Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences' (6ACV11)
- 'Benderama' (6ACV17)
- 'Let's Twist Again' (US#028)
