Tales from the Darkside: Distant Signals starts as a mysterious man named Mr. Smith (Lenny von Dohlen) contacts writer Gil Hurn (David Margulies) & ageing actor Van Conway (Darren McGavin) to resurrect an old detective TV series called Max Paradise from 1965 which had been cancelled halfway through it's run. With the lure of lots of money both agree but why is Mr. Smith so interested in this old show? Who is going to want to see it & just who is the mysterious Mr. Smith?
Episode 8 from season 2 this Tales from the Darkside story originally aired in the US during November 1985, the first of four Tales from the Darkside episodes to be directed by Bill Travis this is one of those light hearted fantasies. The script by Theodore Gershuny has an affectionate story in which someone tries to revive an old TV series which has been cancelled, something I'm sure most of us can relate to as I'm sure there are loads of show's which people all round the world would like to see revived. I'd say Quincy (1976 - 1983) & Tales from the Crypt (1989 - 1996) get my vote but that's another issue & it'll never happen. The one thing that saves Distant Signals from being a complete waste of time is the quaint twist ending which has a sci-fi feel to it, it just works very well & may leave you with a fuzzy feeling inside. At least it's short at only 20 odd minutes & one has to say Tales from the Darkside has some quite imaginative & varied stories & isn't afraid to try something different even if it sometimes doesn't quite work.
If your looking for horror, scares, atmosphere & the supernatural then Distant Signals isn't the Tales from the Darkside episode for you, it's definitely one of those light hearted Disney style fantasies that I don't particularly like although as I've said the ending saves it somewhat. This episode is more expansive than usual with more sets, locations & cast members than usual, the acting is alright but nothing spectacular.
Distant Signals is the sort of episode that I wish the makers of Tales from the Darkside hadn't made, I much prefer the horror themed episodes to these strange fantasy ones.
Episode 8 from season 2 this Tales from the Darkside story originally aired in the US during November 1985, the first of four Tales from the Darkside episodes to be directed by Bill Travis this is one of those light hearted fantasies. The script by Theodore Gershuny has an affectionate story in which someone tries to revive an old TV series which has been cancelled, something I'm sure most of us can relate to as I'm sure there are loads of show's which people all round the world would like to see revived. I'd say Quincy (1976 - 1983) & Tales from the Crypt (1989 - 1996) get my vote but that's another issue & it'll never happen. The one thing that saves Distant Signals from being a complete waste of time is the quaint twist ending which has a sci-fi feel to it, it just works very well & may leave you with a fuzzy feeling inside. At least it's short at only 20 odd minutes & one has to say Tales from the Darkside has some quite imaginative & varied stories & isn't afraid to try something different even if it sometimes doesn't quite work.
If your looking for horror, scares, atmosphere & the supernatural then Distant Signals isn't the Tales from the Darkside episode for you, it's definitely one of those light hearted Disney style fantasies that I don't particularly like although as I've said the ending saves it somewhat. This episode is more expansive than usual with more sets, locations & cast members than usual, the acting is alright but nothing spectacular.
Distant Signals is the sort of episode that I wish the makers of Tales from the Darkside hadn't made, I much prefer the horror themed episodes to these strange fantasy ones.