Tales from the Darkside (TV Series) All a Clone by the Telephone (1985) User Reviews

Odd & a little bit too strange to be great.

[poolandrews · 5/10 · 6 April 2008]

Tales from the Darkside: All a Clone by the Telephone starts as freelance writer Leon (Harry Anderson) has been out of work for six months & is bugging his agent Seymour Furman (Dick Miller) to rectify the situation. Then much to Leon's surprise his telephone answer machine develops a life of it's own, every time someone phones Leon they get either some insulting message or precisely what they want to hear. Leon isn't happy about this & disconnects his answer machine that comes up with a way to get itself plugged back in...

All the 1's episode 11 from season 1 this Tales from the Darkside story originally aired in the US during January 1985, directed by Frank De Palma this is an OK episode with an unusual premise but it's not an episode I think I would want to watch again anytime soon. The script by Haskell Barkin is certainly original, I personally can't think of another film or telly programme in which an answer machine develops a life of it's own, can you? However for all it's imagination I just didn't find much here to enjoy, once you get over the initial fascination of the idea & it wears off which is pretty quickly there really isn't much here to get excited about. The moral of All a Clone by the Telephone is that technology & in particular phones are taking over our lives & even taking control of them which for a show made in the mid 80's was pretty insightful as now the entire world & it's brother has a mobile phone with various designs, cameras, ring-tones & all that stuff that many people seem to think denotes social standing or something. Just because you have an expensive phone with an irritating ring-tone doesn't mean you are posh. Anyway, All a Clone by the Telephone is a twenty minute oddity that's worth an one time watch for it's curiosity value but little else.

The Tales from the Darkside production team were masters at setting stories in one or two simple locations & with only a couple of cast members & All a Clone by the Telephone continues this trend. It's well made with a cameo from the king of cameos Dick Miller.

All a Clone by the Telephone is a odd way to pass twenty minutes but while it's a original concept there's not much anyone could do with it &, you know, a telephone answering machine has limited possibilities as the star of a telly programme.

Fun story

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 10 May 2015]

As a title, ALL A CLONE BY THE TELEPHONE gives you some idea what to expect from that nonsensical story. It's a light, semi-serious story about a struggling screenwriter (gee, it's amazing how many of these episodes have the same type of character in them - writing from life perchance?) who discovers that his answering machine literally has a life of its own, leaving messages on people's phones and generally having unauthorised conversations with all and sundry.

The screenwriter tries to beat this possessed mechanism but eventually comes to love it in a twist late on. And this story isn't too shabby really - the premise is handled well, and the kooky atmosphere brings the laughs to life. It's always great to see Dick Miller in support too, here playing a typically bullish boss character.

Tales from the Darkside: All a Clone by the Telephone

[Scarecrow-88 · 6/10 · 1 November 2011]

Here's an absurd story if I ever heard one: Harry Anderson (Night Court) is a struggling writer (Dick Miller is another one of those great small parts is his long-suffering agent) whose answering machine contains a voice (his voice, mind you) that starts to ruin/run his life! It gets even stranger (if that is possible), when Harry erases his "alternate universe" voice out of anger (for proposing to an estranged girlfriend) and reaps the wrath of its "friends"! "Friends?" you ask? Telephones ringing with voices reading traffic reports or operators telling him he called the wrong number, Harry is slowly becoming a basket case, unemployed, his life spiraling out of control. Perhaps Harry should plug his answering machine back up before everything goes completely to hell in a handbasket? When his voice pitches a big miniseries to a famous producer, Harry might have to renegotiate terms with it. Just writing the synopsis has me shaking my head in disbelief. What a bonkers plot in this episode of "Tales from the Darkside". The series, because it features a wide array of directors and writers, would be all over the map in quality and mood of material, so something like "All a Clone by the Telephone" is just an example of the surreal end of the spectrum. To be honest, while going through the first season, there have been so few episodes which have been good and scary (Tom Savini's "Inside the Closet" a definite highlight; truly an unsettling experience, due specifically to that chilling ending), with far more instances where the stories and characters were more approaching broad comedy within a bizarre scenario. Seeing Harry Anderson tormented by his own "alternate" evil voice across an answering machine while those it talked to confront him about things he himself didn't actually say certainly has to be one of the series most oddball tales. Anderson, with a knack for physical comedy, knocks it out of the ballpark, but I have to say that I really am still yearning for that really great episode with all the pieces in place. There have been some good episodes here and there, but I think when the show continues to play as a fantasy comedy it squanders its potential.

A decent but strange episode.

[b_kite · 5/10 · 9 November 2019]

Harry Anderson plays a struggling television writer who can't seem to ever get his big break. Things get even more strange however when he realizes his new answering machine is leaving strange messages to those close to him, particularly his agent and girlfriend. He soon discovers that it has a life of its own, and wants to take over his as well. Honestly this is a pretty middle of the road episode, made by Harry Anderson (of Night Court fame) and by the appearance from Dick Miller as well. It wraps up with a decent ending despite there being no real horror influences here at all, and the fact why the machine does what is does (where just told its from an alternate reality or something) and how it still manages to manipulate despite being erased also leaves some questions.

All a Clone

[BandSAboutMovies · 3/10 · 19 August 2022]

Yes, two Tales from the Darkside episodes in a row have now had a corny pun for a title, but at least this episode presents a truly horrific concept that today's audience might not understand: TV screenwriter Leon (Harry Anderson) has his life taken from him by the voice of his answering machine.

One of eight episodes directed by Frank De Palma - he also worked on the spiritual sequel series Monsters - and written by Haskell Barkin (who wrote the other punnily titled "Djinn, No Chaser"), this episode starts with that strong premise and then works to a silly conclusion, one of the things outside of budget that holds this series back from being thought of in the same breath as The Twilight Zone or Night Gallery.

That said - this one does have Dick Miller in it, playing Leon's agent. Marcie Barkin from Fade to Black and Smokey and the Good Time Outlaws is also in this as Leon's long-suffering partner.

The Secretary of the Answering Machine

[claudio_carvalho · 5/10 · 10 March 2022]

The failed screenwriter Leon buys an answering machine to help him to find a job. But soon he learns that something is wrong with the device, when his agent Seymour Furman comments his message. He finds that somehow the machine is from an alternate universe and creates its own messages.

"All a Clone by the Telephone" is another silly episode of "Tales from the Darkside". The plot is funny in the beginning but terrible in the ending. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "All a Clone by the Telephone"

Does the phrase "alternate universe" mean anything to you?

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 2 January 2024]

Harry Anderson of 'Night Court' fame is aces as Leon, a TV writer struggling to find work, despite the best efforts of his agent Seymour Furman (the always welcome Dick Miller of such features as "Gremlins"). Then, one day, his answering machine takes on a life of its own, placing calls to others, including Leons' fed-up girlfriend Dolores (Marcie Barkin, "Fade to Black"). Even when Leon unplugs the machine, this disembodied voice from the machine remains a persistent, nagging presence in his life.

One of the best of the early 'Tales from the Darkside' episodes, this gives the usually comic actor Anderson a good serious showcase, and he's convincing as a guy who suspects that he may be losing it. It also allows him to have some fun, playing this sort of "alternate reality", more obnoxious & pushy version of himself, in this tale of technology (such as it was almost 40 years ago) run amok. Miller, Ms. Barkin, and Tom Newman ("Cape Fear" '62), as network executive Quentin Karp, offer fine support.

Overall, this was a good episode that impressively walked a line between humor and more serious elements - without ever getting particularly unpleasant.

Seven out of 10.

The dummy and the machine

[kapelusznik18 · 5/10 · 28 February 2016]

***SPOILERS*** Frustrated writer Leon, Harry Anderson, brought himself an answering machine to help him with his work in getting offers, by phone, from those in Hollywood and the TV studios interested in his work. Getting no positive calls at all but rejections the answering machine lends Leon a hand in calling in TV & movie scripts to major Hollywood producers that are first rate and a lot better that Leon can ever come up with. The machine also tries to improve Leon's down in the dumps love life by leaving his girlfriend Dolores, Marcie Barkin, a sweet and tender massage that has her fall madly in love with him even going so far as accepting, by the machine not him, his proposal of marriage to her.

You would expect Leon to be grateful for what his answering machine is doing for him but it has just the opposite effect. Feeling he's being upstaged by that piece of nuts and bolts as well as transistors Leon disconnects it and rips it apart only to later find out from his agent Seymour Furman, Dick Miller,that one of the scripts that the machine phoned into big time Hollywood producer & director Quentin Karp, or was it Terrintino, played by Tom Newman was eagerly accepted by him! But the rub in all this for Leon is that he has no idea what the script was about since his destroyed the answering machine that called it in!

***SPOILERS***It took Leon a while to reassemble that machine so it can tell him what the award winning script was all about so he can convince Karp that he wrote it. This time around the machine wasn't so helpful to Leon and to play along with him it had him now banging out scripts day and night as well as weekends holidays to get him to improve his writing talents. Which in a way was an act of tough love-as well as revenge-on Leon's answering machine's part.

Should be worse than it is.

[shellytwade · 5/10 · 15 January 2022]

This episode is pretty silly but due to the quality presence of Harry Anderson the episodes rises above the writing. Definitely not one of the best ones but it's not a bad time to waste watching on a Sunday afternoon.

all a clone by the telephone

[holt-lover · 10/10 · 2 March 2007]

I liked this episode quite a bit. The premise is a man named Leon (Harry Anderson) buys an answering machine that basically talks to everybody he knows and tells them what the machine wants them to hear, thereby controlling Leon's life. Eventually, the machine makes Leon so mad that Leon yanks the power cord on it, and then every other automated machine calls him constantly at his home, his agent's office, or just from phones of other people. The machine then makes a call favorable to Leon, and Leon has to beg forgiveness from the machine and offer something in return for its assistance. I like the actors in this episode and Harry Anderson does a good job. Interesting to see him in something from the 80's besides "Night Court".

Very enjoyable episode

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 15 March 2013]

A magical, but pesky and obnoxious answering machine helps luckless TV writer Leon (an excellent performance by Harry Anderson of "Night Court" fame) discover new material and get his floundering career back on track. However, said answering machine begins to take over Leon's life. Director Frank De Palma, working from a crafty script by Haskell Baskin, relates the ingenious premise at a snappy pace and milks the wickedly funny sense of inspired quirky humor for all its worth. Moreover, the basic premise of how technology has become an inescapable part of everyday existence remains timely and topical even today. The energetic acting by the pumped cast keeps it buzzing throughout: Anderson has a ball with his juicy lead role, the always welcome Dick Miller contributes a lively turn as Leon's agent Seymour Furman, the adorable Marcie Barkin brings charm and sass to her part as Leon's fed-up girlfriend Dolores, and Tom Newman has a neat bit as hot shot producer Quentin Karp. The surprise ending is a doozy. A cool show.

A machine with it's own voice, a technology boss.

[blanbrn · 8/10 · 14 March 2007]

Overall this TFTD episode is one of the better ones, it features good acting from TV comedy man Harry Anderson and the plot is interesting and good. Anderson is an out of work TV screen writer who needs a job, plus he's lonely in his apartment, but he always takes calls from his answering machine. All of a sudden this answering machine takes on a life of it's own a talking voice that starts to talk for him and leave messages to other people pretending to be his voice. Basically this is a machine taking over the life of a man! At first this seem odd only finally a shared plan is thought of between answering machine and man as the Anderson character takes it's advice on his new job, and this will finally work to his advantage! Really this was a well done episode that featured good acting with a good story, and it sent a message this during the mid 1980's that machines of all types are taking over man and they are really the future!

The Answering Machine From Hell!

[buckikris · 10/10 · 30 April 2016]

This is another great episode from Tales From The Darkside. When Leon( Harry Anderson) buys this new answering machine he gets more than he bargains for. The story starts off when Leon goes into see his publisher,Seymore Furman(Dick Miller). Seymore tells Leon about how he loves his recording on his answering machine. Leon tells him it's just a basic greeting. When Leon gets home he gets all these messages about all the negative things he has said about people/relatives. He is confused, he doesn't understand whats going on. Then one day he finds out his answering machine has a mind of it's own. It starts talking to him, eventually making him crazy; so he decides to unplug it. The next day his publisher tells him he got a call from a very important director concerning a mini-series. Leon goes to meet Quentin Karp, (Tom Newman). Quentin wants his story to fill a mini-series, but Leon has no idea what he is talking about, so he wings the interview. Little does Leon know his answering machine has got him the job, but there is a catch. So Leon goes home plugs the machine back in and asks what it wants. In reply FAME, so Leon becomes a slave to his answering machine. He does all the dirty work with no credit. This is a great episode, because we forget how attached we become to machines, they control our lives. It is more true today than it was back in 1985, more love for machines than for people.