Hi TZ radio fans!

Let me first apologize for not posting a blog in more than 2 months - shame on me!!! The only excuse I have is to say I've been traveling quite a bit to promote my new celebrity-voiced audio New Testament which is called "The Truth & Life Dramatized audio Bible." It is a fully dramatized word-for-word 'radio drama' from the RSV-CE translation and features Neal McDonough (Jesus), Stacy Keach (John), Michael York (Luke), Sean Astin, (Matthew), Malcolm McDowell (Caiaphas), Julia Ormond (Mary, Mother of God), Blair Underwood (Mark), Kristen Bell (Mary Magdalene), John Rhys-Davies (Narrator) and Brian Cox (The Voice of God).

The Truth & Life is 22 hours on 18 CDs with movie-quality sound effects and an original music score. I'm very proud of it of everyone involved who worked so hard during the two year production schedule - especially Jason Fiedler, Mike Gastella and William Hayes at bMedia. It was brilliantly directed by Bible scholar Brenda Noel and my fellow producer was Raymond Arroyo. Jim McClain from bMedia is the co-producer and the executive producer is Michael Stark. For video footage of the behind-the-scenes "making of" this project along with audio clips (and to purchase it on CD or via download) visit www.truthandlifebible.com

A few weeks ago I was on Laura Ingraham's national radio show and it shot to #1 on AMAZON and has been #1 or #2 ever since .... ahh the power of radio - thanks Laura! Stacy Keach and I were guests on Raymond Arroyo's TV show "The Word Over" on EWTN. Here's a utube of it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5w1UMDFBLM Stacy and I come on about half-way into the show. I'm hoping to produce the Old Testament next and potentially the entire Bible in Spanish.

On the TWILIGHT ZONE radio dramas front I hope you all enjoyed "Ten Days" starring Ned Bellamy (who plays "Pontius Pilate in the Truth & Life audio New Testament). Ned did an amazing job as Pilate and as the lead in "Ten Days" which was written by the very talented Mark Valenti. Great job Mark! The next new TZ show is "Snow Angel" starring Sean Astin and written for the Twilight Zone by JoBe Cerny. It's a Christmas story that I hope you will enjoy with the whole family. Then, next year it will be new stories for the Twilight Zone called "The 25th Hour," "Another Place In Time," "The Nanobots," "Missing Presumed Dead," "Rest Stop," and "Twenty Twelve" to name a few.

I hope you'll continue to listen to THE TWILIGHT ZONE RADIO DRAMAS and that you'll visit us often on our official website. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hi TZ radio fans!

Well, I hope you enjoyed "The Time of Your Life" starring John Rhys-Davies as THE DEVIL! John is great in everything he does and he sure gave us something extra as Hal Scratchman, a traveling salesman who can turn back time with a mysterious clock. Ann Sonneville is amazing too as Susan Sternwood as is Jeff Lupetin as her husband Paul who is brought back to life after he's killed on the job as a policeman. And Kudus to M. J. Elliott for delivering an incredible script to work from -- in my opinion, it's one of our best TZ shows to date. Thanks to everyone involved!

The next one to keep an 'ear' out for is "...and Cauldron Bubble" starring Virginia Williams http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1075208/ who you last heard in "Eye of the Beholder." In this story, a college production of "Macbeth" is running rehearsals when a series of increasingly serious accidents involving the cast and crew has people worried about its reputation as a jinxed play. Only the school janitor seems to have a clue as to the mysterious events. Virginia is brilliant in the role of college student Diane who is playing "Lady Macbeth." She decides that the production needs a 'protection spell' cast on it so it can take the hoodoo off. Glen, the wise school janitor takes a keen interest in the happenings and impressionable college students. Glen is played by veteran actor Ron Dean http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212939/ and he and Virginia are supported by a great cast, including the always amazing David Darlow http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0201436/ as theatre director Mr. Galvin. This script is by Christine Watson who has written several TZ stores for us -- this being the first we've produced so far. Christine turns in a haunting yet whimsical script that I'm sure you're going to enjoy. Way to go Christine!

For those of you looking forward to the TZ episode "Ten Days" starring Ned Bellamy, we post-poned the production and is scheduled for this month. It will air the first week of November so be sure to listen for it.

I'm behind in keeping up with this blog -- very sorry. I've been immersed in producing a Catholic audio New Testament starring many wonderful celebrities. Being Catholic, I really wanted to produce an audio Bible for the Catholic faith and we just completed the New Testament portion. Now on to the Old Testament and then to the entire Bible in Spanish with Hispanic celebrities. This will take the next 3 to 4 years to produce. I'm calling this Catholic audio Bible, "The Truth & Life Dramatized audio Bible" and here's a link to watch video of the production process as well as some of the finished audio chapters: www.truthandlifebible.com This audio New Testament hits stores the first week of November.

We just finished Volume 3 of "The New Adventures of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" titled "Encore For Murder" written by Max Allan Collins. Max does double-duty on this one as writer and actor : ) He plays a creepy character named Ronald Meese and I can't wait for you to hear him in the role. Stacy Keach does triple-duty on this episode, starring as Hammer, writing and composing all of the music and serving as Executive Producer! Stacy is always amazing as Mike Hammer and he doesn't disappoint in this latest installment in the series. And thanks to everyone in the cast which includes David Pasquesi, Tim Kazurinsky, Franette Leibow, Ric Peeples and Norm Woodel to name a few. I KNOW you are going to love this nearly 3-hour production, being released by Blackstone audio in November. I dare say it's the best one we've produced yet. Please look for it.

Just a reminder:

I've decided to create a 20-CD boxed set of the best TWILIGHT ZONE radio dramas produced to date, which will be released to retail outlets this Fall. I'm tentatively calling it THE VERY BEST OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE RADIO DRAMAS and I'm asking YOU the fans to vote on the 20 best episodes. Here's how it works: Simply email me your 20 favorite episodes (all of the episodes are listed and available for download on this official website). My email address is camari@falconpicturegroup.com We will catalog all of the votes and the 20 episodes that receive the most votes will be included in the boxed set. I will post the 20 episodes that were voted the best on our website in October. The person or persons who's email vote includes the most from this list of 20 will win a $300 cash prize and 3 sets of the 20-CD box set. Rules: (1) All entries must be emailed to me on or before October 1st, 2010. (2) Duplicate prizes will be awarded if there are ties. (3) Only one vote per email address. (4) Carl Amari, Falcon Picture Group and our affiliates and partners are not responsible for emails that are not delivered into my email inbox.

There are about 170 TWILIGHT ZONE RADIO DRAMAS available to date. Choose your 20 favorite, email it to me at camari@falconpicturegroup.com and you'll have a chance to win!

Well, that's all for this time -- thanks and we'll see you next month for more NEWS FROM THE ZONE!

Hi TZ radio fans!

I hope you enjoyed "Mrs. Pierce is Praying For Me" starring Tim Kazurinsky, which is a brand-new episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE never before seen or heard. This month you're in for another treat: It's another brand-new episode (never seen or heard) called "The Time of Your Life" starring the amazing actor John Rhys-Davies. John plays Hal Scratchman, a traveling salesman with only one item to sell - a mysterious horrifying-looking clock, all black, with a red dial. The person he wants to sell it to is a young woman, still mourning the death of her husband, with the promise to bring him back if she agrees to his 'terms.' The supporting cast features Ann Sonneville as Susan Sternwood, Jeff Lupetin as her husband Paul, David Darlow as Susan's phycologist and JoBe Cerny as Oscar Kenner, Susan's nerdy, self-pitying neighbor. Written by prolific radio writer M.J. Elliott I think this one will knock your socks off. I think it is one of the best scripts ever written for THE TWILIGHT ZONE. It is scary, yet funny, and has a twist ending that I challenge anyone to see coming. Had this episode been written for Rod Serling and his TV series - I'm certain Rod would have happily produced it. So BRAVO to M.J. for this incredible script and to the actors who brought it to life - -with special thanks to John Rhys-Davies who turns in a tour de force performance as Hal. I can't wait for everyone to hear it.

The next brand new story you'll hear is "Ten Days" written by Mark Valenti. This is Mark's first story for THE TWILIGHT ZONE but don't let that fool you. He's written many Film and TV screenplays and "Ten Days" does not disappoint. It's the story of Michael Franklin, a driven, workaholic who focuses on business at the expense of genuine human contact. When Michael finds out he has only 10 days to live - he realizes that he's been living his life all wrong - but is it too late to do anything about it? Ned Bellamy stars as Michael Franklin and he delivers a powerful performance that I'm sure will keep you glued to your seat. To learn more about Ned Bellamy, here's his imdb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0068709/

Just a reminder:

I've decided to create a 20-CD boxed set of the best TWILIGHT ZONE radio dramas produced to date, which will be released to retail outlets this Fall. I'm tentatively calling it THE VERY BEST OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE RADIO DRAMAS and I'm asking YOU the fans to vote on the 20 best episodes. Here's how it works: Simply email me your 20 favorite episodes (all of the episodes are listed and available for download on this official website). My email address is camari@falconpicturegroup.com We will catalog all of the votes and the 20 episodes that receive the most votes will be included in the boxed set. I will post the 20 episodes that were voted the best on our website in October. The person or persons who's email vote includes the most from this list of 20 will win a $300 cash prize and 3 sets of the 20-CD box set. Rules: (1) All entries must be emailed to me on or before October 1st, 2010. (2) Duplicate prizes will be awarded if there are ties. (3) Only one vote per email address. (4) Carl Amari, Falcon Picture Group and our affiliates and partners are not responsible for emails that are not delivered into my email inbox.

There are about 160 TWILIGHT ZONE RADIO DRAMAS available to date. Choose your 20 favorite, email it to me at camari@falconpicturegroup.com and you'll have a chance to win!

Well, that's all for this time -- thanks and we'll see you next month for more NEWS FROM THE ZONE!

Hi TZ radio fans!

Well, another month has passed and here at Falcon Picture Group we've been hard at work producing more TWILIGHT ZONE radio dramas! This month, Tim Kazurinsky stars in "Mrs. Pierce is Praying for Me" a brand-new story of THE TWILIGHT ZONE by brilliant writer and TZ script supervisor, Dennis Etchison. Next month, I'm psyched for all of you to hear "The Time of Your Life" starring John Rhys-Davies as Hal Scrachman - a traveling salesman who is such a little Devil! In this original story by prolific writer M.J. Elliott, a young woman, still mourning the death of her husband, is visited by a traveling salesman who sells her a clock that can bring her dead husband back -- for a price. Internationally renowned actor John Rhys-Davies is right at home as the mischievous clock salesman and the supporting cast is a who's who of Chicago's finest actors.

I've decided to create a 20-CD boxed set of the best TWILIGHT ZONE radio dramas produced to date, which will be released to retail outlets this Fall. I'm tentatively calling it THE VERY BEST OF THE TWILIGHT ZONE RADIO DRAMAS and I'm asking YOU the fans to vote on the 20 best episodes. Here's how it works: Simply email me your 20 favorite episodes (all of the episodes are listed and available for download on our official website). My email address is camari@falconpicturegroup.com. We will catalog all of the votes and the 20 episodes that receive the most votes will be included in the boxed set. I will post the 20 episodes that were voted the best on our website in October. The person or persons who's email vote includes the most from this list of 20 will win a $300 cash prize and 3 sets of the 20-CD box set.

Rules:
(1) All entries must be emailed to me on or before October 1st, 2010.
(2) Duplicate prizes will be awarded if there are ties.
(3) Only one vote per email address.
(4) Carl Amari, Falcon Picture Group and our affiliates and partners are not responsible for emails that are not delivered into my email inbox.

There are about 160 TWILIGHT ZONE RADIO DRAMAS available to date. Choose your 20 favorite, email it to me at camari@falconpicturegroup.com and you'll have a chance to win!

Thanks and we'll see you next time for more NEWS FROM THE ZONE!

Hi TZ radio fans!

Well this month be sure to tune in to the TZRD "Eye of the Beholder" starring Virginia Williams. Virginia is an amazing actress who you've seen on TV in "The Mentalist," "How I Met Your Mother," "Two and a Half Men," "Monarch Cove, "As the World Turns" and many other popular shows. She will soon be seen as a regular on "Facing Kate" a new series currently filming. Virginia, who played "Rachel" in my Word of Promise audio Bible absolutely nails the starring role of "Janet Tyler" a woman who is born with a particular handicap - ugliness. This is one of the most famous episodes from the classic TZ TV series and I think you'll really like this radio adaptation, which was written by Barry Richert.

Next month it's a brand new TZRD story by Dennis Etchison called "Mrs. Pierce is Praying for Me" starring Tim Kazurinsky. This one is about Wally Beecher, a small-time hustler who's down on his luck and running from the mob. When they put the squeeze on him by beating and nearly killing his brother, Wally learns a lesson about what really matters. His brother always got him out of jams when they were kids, but this time it's his brother who needs help. But how? And was his brother really the one who helped him years ago? Seems there was an old woman, Mrs. Pierce, who lived down the hall in the building where they grew up who just might have had a hand in helping the boys out.

This memorial day weekend, Stacy Keach flew into town to record Volume 3 of THE NEW ADVENTURES OF MICKEY SPILLANE'S MIKE HAMMER titled "Encore For Murder." This story, along with Volumes 1 and 2, are brand new audio adventures of the world's toughest Private Eye. Volume 1 was written by M.J. Elliott and Volume 2 and 3 were written by Max Allan Collins. Max was hand-picked by Mickey Spillane to continue writing MIKE HAMMER stories after his passing. When mixed, "Encore For Murder" will be a 3-hour full-cast audio drama, complete with sound effects and original music (the music is written and performed by Stacy Keach). There are 21 actors in this one, including David Pasquesi and Tim Kazurinsky. Stacy Keach stars as MIKE HAMMER, a role he played to perfection on TV. These audio adventures are available at retail and at my Falcon Picture Group site and through Blackstone audio's site. They are produced by yours truly for Falcon Picture Group and Blackstone audio under license from Mickey Spillane's estate. I can't wait until this one is ready as I know listeners are going to love it. Max Allan Collins came out for the recording session and helped me with the massive task of directing (THANKS MAX!).

Here's a cast photo from the Sunday May 30th MIKE HAMMER recording session:


Well, that's all for now. Join me next time for more NEWS FROM THE ZONE!

Hi TZ radio fans!

Well this week, don't miss the brand new TZ radio play "Beewinjapeedee" written by JoBe Cerny. It stars the always amazing Sean Astin as a documentary filmmaker who travels to the Everglades in search of his brother's killer. While there. he meets a legendary Indian Princess with a ravenous appetite. In the studio we're working on the TZ radio episode "Eye of the Beholder" which stars Virginia Williams as Janet Tyler, a woman who is born with a particular handicap - ugliness.

The following description of the TV episode is from the website: http://spacedoutinc.org/DU-11/TwilightZone.html

In the TV version Janet is shown in a hospital on her eleventh visit to seek medical assistance for her deformity. The medical staff shows great compassion and sympathy for her despite their country’s political determination to ruthlessly eliminate non-conformity. “Some people want to live, no matter what,” says one nurse confidentially to another, showing their personal sympathy for Janet despite her severe social handicap. Director Douglas Heyes employs a particularly striking method of captivating our attention - he keeps all the characters faceless for most of the episode, as though to add to the bleakness and oppression all around. Poor Janet Tyler is wrapped in bandages, and the doctors and nurses who care for her also have their faces hidden by shadows, as though their compassion for Janet places them in some twilight zone between their political duties and their humanity - they are faceless minions of an oppressive society.

Naturally, being Twilight Zone, the episode features a twist at the end to demonstrate the adage that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

Because this episode is so visual it created certain challenges when adapting it to radio. Once again I called upon Barry Richert, who faced similar challenges when adapting "The Invaders." Barry did an awesome job with the script and so far I am delighted with what I've heard in the mix stage. A mix for a typical TZ radio episodes takes about a week, so I'll keep you updated and be sure to listen for it in June.

Max Allen Collins just turned in his first draft to Stacy Keach and me on Volume 3 of "The New Adventures of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer." Working from the plot for an unwritten novel found in the files of the late Mickey Spillane, Max Allan Collins ("Road to Perdition") has fashioned a compelling noir thriller that is vintage Mike Hammer all the way titled "Encore For Murder." This 3-hour radio novel will be fully dramatized and star Stacy Keach as Mike Hammer, the toughest P.I. of them all. Look for it to be released by Blackstone Audio in the Fall.

In other news my "Word of Promise audio Bible" was recently nominated for 4 audio awards and for "Audiobook of the Year" please see:

http://news.thomasnelson.com/2010/04/14/the-word-of-promise-audio-bible-named-an-audiobook-of-the-year-finalist/

Well that's all for now, check back in a month for more NEWS FROM THE
ZONE!

Hi there TZ radio fans,

Last week we recorded a brand new TZ story called “Beewinjapeedee” written by JoBe Cerny, who often directs the TZ episodes. It stars Sean Astin as a documentary filmmaker who travels to the Everglades in search of his brother’s killer and encounters a legendary Indian Princess and shape-shifter with a ravenous appetite. Incredible actress Elizabeth Ledo plays the Indian Princess while Christopher Sullivan, Tyron Patton, Oksana Fedunyszyn and Roger Mueller round out the cast. This episode airs next month so be sure not to miss it.

The next TZ to be produced after "Beewinjapeedee" is "I Sing the Body Electric" which is the only TZ episode to be written by Ray Bradbury. Ray was not happy with the televised version of his script so our own Dennis Etchison crafted a brilliant radio play based partly on the TV episode and partly on Ray's original notes and script. Here's the plot: When the mother of three young children dies, the father brings home a robot Grandmother to help raise them. The amazing Dee Wallace stars as the robot Grandmother and David Pasquesi plays the scientist who creates her. My 11-year old son, C.J. Amari, who can be heard in several TZs (including the boy talking via a toy telephone to his dead Grandmother in "Long Distance Call") plays Tommy. You can see C.J. in the film "Letters To God" opening nationwide April 9th, 2010. Here's the movie's official website:

http://www.letterstogodthemovie.com/

C.J. is the voice of the animated boy in the soon-to-be-seen animated Pop Tarts TV commercials -- Well, I sound like I'm bragging so I'll stop : )

On other Falcon Picture Group projects, Max Allan Collins is writing another "Mike Hammer" radio play, which we're slated to record and produce the first week of April. It's called "Encore For Murder" and it will serve as Volume 3 in "The New Adventures of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" audio series.

Mike Hammer, the toughest P.I. of all, draws a seemingly routine assignment – playing bodyguard to diva Rita Vance on the eve of her big Broadway comeback. But Rita is an old flame of Hammer’s, and when their romance is rekindled, the detective finds the actress facing death threats and himself the target of one hit man after another. When the actress disappears, the show must go on, which with Mike Hammer means swift, violent retaliation. While the cops and feds go down a false trail, Hammer seeks to make a rescue before Rita’s curtain comes down. But first he must make sense of a mystery that takes him from a Soho art gallery to a mountain lodge, from Little Italy to a waterfront confrontation that is way, way off Broadway.

Working from the plot for an unwritten novel found in the files of the late Mickey Spillane, Max Allan Collins ("Road to Perdition") has fashioned a compelling noir thriller that is vintage Mike Hammer all the way. As were the other two Volumes, Volume 3 will be released by Blackstone Audio. The release date is scheduled for September of this year.

Well, that's all for now, I hope you'll join me next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!

Hi there TZ radio fans,

Well, this week you'll hear a radio adaptation of the classic story "Once Upon a Time" which was originally seen December 15th, 1961. The TV episode was written by the great Richard Matheson and featured silent film star Buster Keaton as Woodrow Mulligan, a grumpy janitor in 1890, dissatisfied with his time and place. He works for Professor Gilbert, who has just invented a time helmet. Seizing the opportunity, Mulligan uses the helmet to transport himself to the future of 1960, which of course turns out to not be what he was hoping for.

"Once Upon a Time" was one of the Twilight Zone's comedy episodes. The portions of the episode set in the 1890s have no sound and include silent film intertitle cards (except for Rod Serling) with music provided by a saloon piano.

In our radio version of "Once Upon a Time" adapted by Matthew Elliott, the brilliant actor John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings / Raiders of the Lost Ark) stars as Woodrow Mulligan with Mike Starr as Rollo. John completely nails the role of Mulligan and of course Mike Starr hits the ball out of the park as always.

I received the rough mix on this show last week and, other than the acting, I was pretty disappointed with it. I'm a big believer that anything you can do on TV can be done on radio - and in most cases, even better because the theatre of the imagination sets a bigger stage. However, I think comedy (in general) is better represented in a visual medium. For example -- Abbott & Costello, Martin & Lewis, Red Skelton, Milton Berle and many others had more success in visual arenas. "Once Upon a Time" in my humble opinion was only an okay show on TV so there is really only so much you can do with it. And because it's a comedy episode it just doesn't translate as well to radio. After hearing the first draft I made extensive notes for the Cerny team and they went to work on bettering it. Yesterday I received the final mix and although I think it's much better now, it still has some problems. The TV episode and the radio episode have so many scene changes and jump-cuts to different character's points of view, listeners may have a tougher time following the perspective on this one than they would in the video version. All that said, I think it's still a fun radio show and I hope listeners will enjoy it. Every one of these shows is like a newborn baby to me - this baby just isn't as 'cute' as most of my others ; )

The next new TZ story will be broadcast the week of March 22nd and is already produced. It's called "Now You Hear It, Now You Don't" and stars marvelous actress Dee Wallace as Rose Lynbrook, powerful CEO of Lady Lynbrook Cosmetics. Rose is in her mid 50's and is still quite beautiful, though her best years are behind her, she is too vain to wear a hearing aid despite a degenerative hearing loss. After she's almost killed by a bus because she didn't hear it approaching, she reluctantly is fitted for a hearing aid that is a prototype for a new cutting-edge model. Recently remarried to a younger man, Rose begins suspecting he is cheating on her with her young assistant and that the two are plotting to murder her in order to take over the business. These suspicions are fuelled by the conversations she's able to overhear thanks to the powerful hearing aid.

I decided to take a stab at writing a TZ episode and this is my first. The inspiration to write this story came from my 81 year old mom Rose Amari who has had substantial hearing loss over the last few years. She never wanted to wear a hearing aid but I'm happy to say she's just gotten one and it's been a real blessing (hi mom!). I know my writing limitations so I called on Dennis Etchison to take my story and adapted it into a TZ radio script. As always, he didn't disappoint. Dee Wallace is brilliant in her portrayal of Rose Lynbrook. Norm Woodel portrays her younger, power-hungry husband Wayne Benson and Rob Riley is Rose's friend and confidant Dr. Wrightson. Jennifer Joy, who plays "Eve" in my "Word of Promise" audio Bible plays Sally, Rose's assistant and Wayne's mistress. I'm really happy with the final mix and I can't wait for you to hear it. When I think of "The Twilight Zone" this is the kind of story that comes to mind - murder, mystery, intrigue, plot twists and an element of the supernatural. I hope you will enjoy it.

Well, that's all for now, I hope you'll join me next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!

Hi there TZ radio fans,

Well, this week is "The Walk-Abouts" a brand new story by writer Steve Nubie. As you may know, we've been producing this series since 2002 and we started with radio adaptations of the original 156 TV episodes. Because we've nearly adapted all of the 156 originals, CBS Enterprises (the owners of the Twilight Zone) is allowing us to write and produce brand new stories never seen or heard before. "The Walk-Abouts" is one of them. It's the story of a writer of conspiracy books who claims to have concrete evidence that UFO’s and Aliens really do exist. His goal is to write a best seller blowing the lid off the topic – but in doing so, he may make an enemy or two. I think you're going to love this episode -- it has some great twists and turns. My pal Mike Starr plays the lead and the supporting cast includes David Pasquesi (recently seen co-starring with Tom Hanks in "Angels & Demons"), JoBe Cerny, Richard Henzel, Linda Kimbrough and Tim Dadabo.

The first week of February you'll hear "The Invaders" starring Kathy Garver in the role of an elderly woman fending for herself against alien invaders while living in shack in the middle of nowhere. The role was played by the great Agnes Moorehead in the original TV version and she had no dialog at all. Producing a radio version of a story with no dialog for the lead posed challenges so we gave her a blind husband, played by Chicago actor Tony Mockus. Because he can't see, she describes what is happening to him and thus the listener can follow along. I think you're going to really like what we did with this classic story by the great Richard Matheson. Once again we called on Barry Richert to adapted it for radio.

Then the week of February 22nd, you're in for another treat. We'll be presenting a radio adaptation of the classic story "Once Upon a Time" which was originally seen December 15th, 1961. The TV episode was written by Richard Matheson and featured silent film star Buster Keaton as Woodrow Mulligan, a grumpy janitor in 1890, dissatisfied with his time and place: A backwater town called "Harmony" with seventeen-cent cuts of meat, two-dollar hats, livestock freely roaming the streets, and penny-farthing bicycles that frequently knock him down while going the speed limit. He works for Professor Gilbert, who has just invented a time helmet. Seizing the opportunity, Mulligan uses the helmet to transport himself to the future of 1960, which of course turns out to be a surprise with even higher prices and more noise and chaos. He meets Rollo, a scientist and authority on the 1890s, who helps him to repair the broken helmet in the hopes of returning to the past. But Rollo double crosses Mulligan and tries to go back alone, but Mulligan will have none of it and jumps on Rollo and they are transported back together. The 1890s turn out to be not entirely what Rollo expected and he's very unhappy. Mulligan, however, is relieved, and when he hears Rollo griping, Mulligan sets the helmet for 1960, puts it on Rollo's head, sending him back to his own time.

"Once Upon a Time" was one of the Twilight Zone's comedy episodes. The portions of the episode set in the 1890s have no sound and include silent film intertitle cards (except, of course, for Rod Serling) with music provided by a saloon piano. Much is made of the fact that Mulligan shows up in the 1960s with no pants due to his getting run over by a "high speed" bicycle. A running gag involves a frustrated Mulligan being chased by a policeman in both the past and the present.

Buster Keaton was one of the biggest stars of the silent era, starring in and devising elaborate stunts and gags for such classic comedies as "The General" and "Steamboat Bill, Jr." His career unfortunately hit the skids with the advent of sound films, and he spent decades struggling in Hollywood. A big fan of Keaton, Serling intended this episode to be an homage to Keaton's early work.

In our radio version of "Once Upon a Time" adapted by Matthew Elliott, the brilliant actor John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings / Raiders of the Lost Ark) stars as Woodrow Mulligan with Mike Starr as Rollo. John completely nails the role of Mulligan and I can't wait for you to hear it. John is a great friend -- he portrayed "Saul" to perfection in my Word of Promise audio Bible. He will also be heard starring in "The Time of Your Life" a brand new TZ radio drama also written by Matthew Elliott. That one is scheduled for August 2010 so don't miss it!

Well, that's all for now, I hope you'll join me next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!