'Since Aunt Ada Came to Stay'. A professor, Craig Lowell (James Farentino), is married to the lovely Joanna (Michele Lee, the real life Mrs. Farentino at the time). Her Great-Aunt Ada (Jeanette Nolan) has been staying with them for a while, and Craig soon discovers that the old crone is actually a witch who has nefarious plans for his wife. It's all about Farentinos' performance here, as he makes you feel for a practical, logical character who has to become a believer in a short amount of time. But special guest star Nolan, who once played Lady Macbeth opposite Orson Welles, is clearly having a high old time as a genuinely spooky character. There's atmosphere to spare in this solid segment that takes up over 50% of the total episode running time. Scripted by Alvin Sapinsley, based on a story by A.E. van Vogt, and directed by William Hale ('The Time Tunnel', 'The Invaders').
'With Apologies to Mr. Hyde'. Another short and pretty lame comic vignette from series producer Jack Laird, who also appears on screen as the Igor to a Dr. Jekyll (Adam West), whose special potion is not to his liking. This is just a waste of time, with an extremely mild punch line, but at least it's a VERY short segment. Directed by Jeannot Szwarc, one of the most prolific of 'Night Gallery' directors.
'The Flip-Side of Satan'. A good, fun, spookshow of a segment, and an engaging vehicle for Arte Johnson of 'Laugh-In' fame. He plays J.J. Johnson, an obnoxious (and, it turns out, callous and rotten) disc jockey relegated to working the graveyard shift at a remote European radio station. Johnson, the only person on screen throughout this segment, is excellent, and the viewer will soon realize that there will be some major comeuppance for a damned character such as J.J. Written by Malcolm Marmorstein and Gerald Sanford, based on a story by Hal Dresner, and directed by Jerrold Freedman, who'd worked on two previous episodes.
Seven out of 10.
'With Apologies to Mr. Hyde'. Another short and pretty lame comic vignette from series producer Jack Laird, who also appears on screen as the Igor to a Dr. Jekyll (Adam West), whose special potion is not to his liking. This is just a waste of time, with an extremely mild punch line, but at least it's a VERY short segment. Directed by Jeannot Szwarc, one of the most prolific of 'Night Gallery' directors.
'The Flip-Side of Satan'. A good, fun, spookshow of a segment, and an engaging vehicle for Arte Johnson of 'Laugh-In' fame. He plays J.J. Johnson, an obnoxious (and, it turns out, callous and rotten) disc jockey relegated to working the graveyard shift at a remote European radio station. Johnson, the only person on screen throughout this segment, is excellent, and the viewer will soon realize that there will be some major comeuppance for a damned character such as J.J. Written by Malcolm Marmorstein and Gerald Sanford, based on a story by Hal Dresner, and directed by Jerrold Freedman, who'd worked on two previous episodes.
Seven out of 10.